Ten school districts from across Los Angeles County came together Friday for the 35th anniversary of The Music Center's Very Special Arts Festival in downtown Los Angeles, which brings together students with disabilities and their peers.

About 1,200 students attended the free event, which featured activities ranging from face painting to dancing to performances by mimes. 

Eighty-two student groups performed on two outdoor stages - the largest number in the event's history, according to organizers.

"The kids practice very hard and look forward not only to getting on stage but to enjoying the camaraderie, the celebration and the opportunity to be embraced by their peers," Joann Waybright, a teacher at Park Western School, said in a statement. "The arts are a great leveler."