Taking My Autistic Son to the Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave at The Yost Theater

When most people hear the word “rave,” they probably don’t imagine babies, children, craft activities and parents dancing together in the middle of the afternoon.

That is exactly what made the Big Fish Little Fish family rave at The Yost Theater in Santa Ana such an interesting experience for our family.

Big Fish Little Fish creates daytime dance parties where parents can enjoy the atmosphere of a real club while bringing their children along. The event included DJs, music, colorful lights, balloons, confetti, dancing and activities for children.

It sounded fun—but as the mother of an autistic child, I also had to consider how Hiro might respond to such a highly stimulating environment.

The Challenge

Family events are not automatically autism-friendly simply because children are welcome.

A family rave can include loud music, flashing lights, large crowds, unexpected sounds and a lot of movement. Those features may feel exciting to one child and completely overwhelming to another.

Hiro enjoys exploring new places, but unfamiliar environments can require extra support. He sometimes needs to stop, take a break or lie down when his body becomes overwhelmed. I knew this event would involve several sensory experiences happening at the same time.

My question wasn’t whether Hiro could behave appropriately at a rave. It was whether I could support him well enough to experience the event in a way that worked for him.

What We Tried

I approached the event without expecting Hiro to experience it like every other child.

He didn’t need to stay on the dance floor, participate in every activity or appear excited every minute. He could watch from a comfortable spot, move closer when he felt ready or take a break when the environment became too much.

I paid attention to his cues instead of following a strict plan.

That flexibility is one of the most important things I have learned while traveling and attending events with an autistic child. Sometimes the best experience happens when I stop focusing on what we are “supposed” to be doing and allow Hiro to engage in his own way.

What the Family Rave Was Like

The Yost Theater gave the event the atmosphere of a real dance party. There was music, lighting and plenty of energy, but the experience was designed for families rather than a typical nighttime crowd.

Children could dance, move around and participate in activities while parents enjoyed the music with them. The event created an unusual opportunity for families to experience something together that is normally reserved for adults.

For an autism family, however, the same features that make the rave exciting can also create sensory challenges.

The music, lights, balloons, confetti and movement all add to the experience—but they also mean parents should think about their