The two-week NSW Seniors Festival encourages older residents to live life in colour. Photo: Goodbye Picture Company.
The region’s seniors are being encouraged to “live life in colour” during the NSW Seniors Festival.
The festival, which runs from Monday 2 to Sunday 15 March, celebrates the role and contributions of older adults to communities.
This year’s theme, Live life in colour, invites seniors to embrace creativity, connection and an active lifestyle celebrating the journey and the adventures still to come.
Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama all have activities planned – here are some of them.
Wollongong
There’s a diverse range of activities, events and workshops across Wollongong, including bush dancing, discovering forgotten local heroes of the Illawarra, Bridgerton-inspired workshops and high teas, singalongs and free trishaw rides along the beach.
Tickets have already sold out to the popular Lord Mayor’s Afternoon Tea Dance but there are still plenty of other free or cheap events on offer.
Two days of quilt and craft displays, demonstrations and retail therapy for craft enthusiasts will be held at Keiraview Uniting Church on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 March. Attendees can buy tickets in a quilt raffle, with proceeds supporting Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre Older Women’s Peer Support Circle.
Shellharbour
Shellharbour kicks off the festival week with an open day on Tuesday 3 March at Shellharbour Civic Centre.
During the fortnight there’ll also be free family history help at Shellharbour City Library, a behind the scenes tour of Shellharbour Airport, a chance to try stand up paddle boarding, pickleball and boxing, bushcare, craft activities and a walking tour of Shell Cove Marina.
Kiama
In Kiama seniors and their friends are invited to a free sausage sizzle and live music in Hindmarsh Park on Friday 6 March at 10 am.
There’s also sketching, painting and mixed media workshops, a range of free classes for seniors at Kiama Leisure Centre and free yoga in the park classes.
For seniors who are happy to travel further afield, the popular Premier’s Gala Concerts will be held at the TikTok Entertainment Centre, Darling Harbour on 11 and 12 March, with two shows daily.
Performers will include internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Dami Im, vocalist Nathan Foley, beloved entertainer and actor Jay Laga’aia and Tarryn Stokes, winner of The Voice Australia.
Tickets from Ticketek.
The NSW Seniors Festival Expo will be held at Sydney’s International Convention Centre on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 March.
At this free event, seniors will be able to engage with businesses, community groups, the NSW and Federal governments and associations to get help to remain active in the community and access information services that promote healthy ageing.
Click here for more details on the Premier’s Gala Concerts or the expo.
