Nine day festival to celebrate the second half of life - The Stratford Observer

Nine day festival to celebrate the second half of life

Stratford Editorial 19th Sep, 2017 Updated: 20th Sep, 2017   0

A NINE day festival will bring the older community together to celebrate the second half of life.

The first Engage 50+  event will kick off on Saturday September 30 from 10am to 4pm at KES with an information day.

Other locations throughout Stratford will host events such as workshops and demonstrations including archery, beekeeping, a barn dance, chess, ukulele, Tai Chi and zumba.

Organised by community group Sunny Side Up, the free event is organised to coincide with International Older People’s Day on October 1 and is funded by the Big Lottery, Tescos Bags of Help and Stratford Town Trust.




Organiser and group founder Sophie Mansfield said she started the organisation to expand her own horizons. Having lived abroad for many years she settled in Stratford and decided to stay put.

Talking about the festival, she said: “The idea of gathering local charities, community groups, clubs, associations with activities under one roof came to me in a flash of inspiration and it has grown into an nine day Festival!


“We hope that people will leave Festival events with a smile on their faces having made new friends, signed up to new activities including volunteering or simply enjoyed chatting with like-minded people.

“We would love families to encourage older relations and perhaps neighbours to join us, whether they are fit and active or need a little extra help. We promise a warm welcome and the chance for late bloomers to add fun and laughter and a renewed purpose to their lives. All events will, of course, be accompanied with lashings of tea, coffee and cake!”

Visit www.engagefestival.org.uk/ for more information.

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