Easter Seals of Central Texas to Kick Off DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL, 10/19

Easter Seals of Central Texas presents its first annual Dia de los Muertos Festival, to be held from Noon until 10:00 p.m., Saturday, October 19, 2013 at Fiesta Gardens in downtown Austin, TX. This unique festival features a full day Dia los Muertos cultural experience with live music, performances, art, costume contest, food and drink. The festival brings together a dynamic blend of the Austin musical landscape with vibrant Dia de los Muertos traditions. Proceeds will benefit Easter Seals of Central Texas' mission of providing exceptional services to people with disabilities.

The event features Tejano inspired musical performances by artists including Little Joe y La Familia, TexManiacs featuring Augie Meyer, Flaco Jimenez and Rick Trevino, DaHeBeGeBees, Los Autenticos and more. The festival is also proud to celebrate the 73rd birthday of Grammy winner, Jose Maria De Leon Hernandez "Little Joe," a legend in Tejano music and leader of the band Little Joe y la Familia.

The festival features fun and excitement for the entire family as well as a Ni Zone with safe entertainment and activities for children of all ages and abilities. There will also be a Los Muertos costume parade, face painting in traditional styles for all ages, commemorative altars by local artists and merchandise evoking the spirit of the holiday.

The event benefits Easter Seals Central Texas which has served the Central Texas area since 1937. Denise Reams White, Vice President of Development says, "We are excited to engage with the Austin community around this exciting cultural event to raise money for our important mission. We look forward to growing it into a uniquely Austin yearly festival."

Currently, Easter Seals of Central Texas serves approximately 7,000 people in 22 Texas counties and provides in excess of $150,000 in uncompensated care to the local Central Texas area each year. Services are focused into multiple areas of care ranging from birth to advanced age including outpatient medical rehabilitation, workforce development and community and housing services.

Tickets go on sale Friday August 16, 2013. General admission tickets are $25 and VIP tickets are $55. For more information on Dia de los Muertos Festival, Easter Seals of Central Texas or to purchase event tickets, visit http://austindiadelosmuertos.com.

About Easter Seals of Central Texas: Since 1937, Easter Seals Central Texas (originally chartered as the Texas Society for Crippled Children), has been providing services to children and adults with disabilities and their caregivers. In 1949, a small building was dedicated as the Austin Cerebral Palsy Center serving a small population of Central Texas residents. Almost twenty years later, it became the Capital Area Rehabilitation Center, expanding its services, programs and persons served. In 1985, the Capital Area Rehabilitation Center became an official affiliate of the Easter Seals National and was renamed The Capital Area Easter Seals Society. Finally, in 1998, the name was changed to Easter Seals Central Texas. In 2006 ESCT opened its Hays County Workforce Development office and in 2007 Easter Seals moved its headquarters to the current location at 1611 Headway Circle. 2010 brought more change as ESCT expended to include more comprehensive community and housing services.