Over-50s festival proves big hit (From York Press)

York 50+ Festival festival proves big hit

7:45am Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News By Dan Bean, dan.bean@thepress.co.uk

ORGANISERS of the York 50+ Festival have hailed the “phenomenal” response from residents to this year’s event.

Sue Lister, co-ordinator of the annual festival for the over-50s, said, the main complaint was that there was so much on offer that people couldn’t get to everything that interested them. Enthusiasm abounded.”

She said there had been a “buzz” at the sporting events and alternative health workshops and taster sessions, and more than 100 people had attended a ceilidh for Palestine, a concert at St Sampson’s and a YKSoul fundraiser for the York Older People’s Assembly, which staged the festival earlier this month.

“The Vintage Velvet line dancers took us by surprise as they smashed age stereotypes at the 50+ Festival Show, and the model boats at Rowntree Park were a peaceful echo of the exciting Dragon Boat Races on the River Ouse,” she said.

There seemed to have been a great thirst for knowledge of the past, with a “show and tell” session providing a fascinating glimpse of a copy of the 15th century Nuremberg Chronicle, while the history of what was now the Buddhist Centre at Kilnwick Percy captivated everyone who attended.

Ms Lister said the audience had been involved in lively discussions after a presentation by York City of Sanctuary, working with the Real People Theatre, about homophobia and refugees.

Music, from country to classical, and from singing to dancing, was enjoyed, and people went for walks, attended talks, learned about herbal medicine, meditated with crystals and “turned rags into riches with the Ebor Ruggers in Dunnington.”

She said a photo gallery of events held during the festival could be found at yorkassembly.org.uk/festival, while the York Older People’s Assembly was now looking forward to a ninth festival next year.

To put an event in the programme, contact Sue on 01904 488870.