THE annual York 50+ Festival is planning to celebrate its 14th birthday in style.

Organisers are boasting that this year’s programme looks “better than ever”, with plenty of opportunities to try something new, from meditation to confidence building, rowing, bridge, creative writing, fishing and French.

Events get underway on Friday, September 21 and continue till Sunday, October 7, and include the International Day of Older People on October 1.

York 50+ promises a vast range of free and taster events and the organising team are hoping to attract people who haven’t been involved before and those new to York as well as regulars.

One of the aims of the festival is to highlight the importance of keeping active as you age and the many physical activities on offer include walking, yoga (with or without laughter), Tai Chi, Qi Gong and dancing of all kinds, from English and Scottish, to line dancing and circle dancing.

There will be special sessions for those who find daily pain a challenge, as well as a series of events looking at good health.

In order to combat loneliness in ageing, the festival will focus on what organisers term ‘halves’ - those who find themselves left without a life partner - as well

as No Kidding, a performance about facing the challenges of

ageing without children or relatives living nearby.

Advice will also be on hand, with drop-in sessions to find out more about older citizens advocacy services on offer.

Four information fairs will be held prior to the start date, offering the chance to find out more about a range of goods and services aimed at those in the 50 plus age group.

These are at Tang Hall community centre today, September 5, from 9.30-12.30, the Spurriergate Centre and St Sampson’s Centre on September 11, from 10am-3pm, and the Gateway Centre on September 14, from 10am-1pm.

The full festival programme is available at York libraries and other public places, including Visit York, West Offices and various community centres. It can also be found at www.yorkassembly.org.uk/y1/Festival .

For more information about other events contact Catherine Sotheran at yopa.festival@gmail.com