Save Mickey from Sanfilippo Syndrome!

Join us Saturday, September 17th, 2022, Rain or Shine, for another FREE family-friendly event featuring great music, great vendors, the famous MickeyFest kids' corner, and more! We will be 

This year's fest is from 11am to 9 pm at the Fort DuPont Preservation Lands (260 New Castle Ave., Delaware City, DE). Both admission and parking are free.

The kids' corner will feature games, prizes, bounce houses, pony rides,  magicians, an obstacle course, crafts, and more! Special guests include pirates, mermaids, magicians, fire eaters, and face painters! Don't miss Declan's Pirate Parade at 4:15!

Live Music from Fat Daddy Has Been, Harvey Road, New Kings of Rhythm, Hippocampus, Chorduroy, Magical Mystery, Steve Pepper Band, Roger Girke & Jimmy Pritchard, Acoustic Goats, Lyric Drive, Tom Howell, Joe Ambrosino, Classical Mike, Gary Cogdell,  DJ's, and more. 

We'll have two stages this year!

Food from Outlandish, Maiale, Masala Kitchen, Uncle John''s BBQ, Sweet Josephine, Delaware Provisions, George & Sons Fresh Seafood, and more! 

The Mickey Market will feature Mickey Merch and over 30 vendors, raffles, and a 50/50. There will also be a full bar for guests 21+. Please drink responsibly. Rideshare info is coming. 

Lawn chairs are welcome, but please leave your pets and coolers at home.

We always need volunteers! To join us,  reach out to mickeyfest3@gmail.com

Funds raised go directly to Sanfilippo Syndrome research to help save Mickey, her little brother Declan, and all the other Sanfilippo warriors. Come join us for a great time for a great caus

Michaela ("Mickey") Merrill is 8 years old and suffers from Sanfilippo Syndrome (also known as MPS III), a terminal genetic disorder often referred to as Childrens' Alzheimer's. Mickey is a bubbly, delightful little girl with a big belly laugh and a giant smile she shares with everyone. She loves music, ice cream, and most of all snuggles

Michaela was a happy, seemingly quite healthy baby. As the disease progressed, however, she began to lag behind developmentally, especially in speech. Doctors found out she has hearing loss and is nearsighted, and ran tests to see  if these issues were related. The testing unexpectedly discovered that she has Sanfilippo. Mickey has subtype-A which is the most common and also, unfortunately, the most severe.

As the disease progresses, children with Sanfilippo like Mickey lose their abilities to speak and understand, to walk, and to eat. The current life expectancy is 10-20 years, with an average age of death of only 15 years old. Even at her young age, Mickey can no longer speak words and communicates mostly through actions.

Currently there is no treatment or cure, but promising research is happening as we speak in both the US and abroad, so there is still hope for her. With the degenerative nature of this illness, time is precious.