Festival plans unveiled (From York Press)
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Festival plans unveiled
12:00am Thursday 16th August 2012 in News
By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter
MORE than 100 events - from racketball and karate to underwater hockey and tap dancing - will be staged at this year's York 50 + Festival.
The York Older People's Assembly's 8th annual festival for the over 50s will take place between Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, October 7.
Festival coordinator Sue Lister says there has been an 'astounding response' this year from clubs, organisations and individuals to calls for a celebration of the passion, expertise, dedication and commitment of the over 50s.
"Spurred on by the Olympics, City of York Council's Sport & Active Leisure team has put together a record 21 events in the York 50+ Games," she said. "However, unlike the Olympics, this year the focus is on taking part, not competition. Basically it is an encouragement for us all to stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible and everything is free.
"Tennis is happening all over the city, there are sessions in racketball, volleyball, athletics, aikido, karate, indoor bowls, underwater hockey, Iyengar yoga and golf, as well as a tea dance and tap dancing.
"Why not take the plunge into aquafit or zumba gold, health walks or sequence dancing, short mat bowls or yoga, 50+ aerobics, table tennis or badminton?"
She said the York 50+ Information Fair will be held earlier than the main festival, on Thursday, September 13. The event at the Guildhall will be opened at 10 am by the Lord Mayor with a presentation of awards for the Older People's Champions for Sport & Active Leisure.
The fair will feature 30 stands offering advice, information, tasters, products and the 'chance of a good chat – something for everyone!'
Sue said people could bring their health questions to the NHS Trust, the Leeds/York (mental health) Partnership, LINk and Love Living, legal questions to Harrowells and Crombie & Wilkinson, transport questions to York Wheels and questions about 'handyperson needs' to Yorkshire Housing, while they could chat to Age UK about any other concerns.
*The full festival programme will be available by late August at www.yorkassembly.org.uk/festival and in libraries, community centres and city centre outlets by early September.
