There’s no limit to what seniors can accomplish.
That’s one of the messages older adults will hear at the Seniors Festival 2017, which is taking place on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Century House.
“The theme this year is Set No Limits, which is a cool theme for us older people,” said Lois Brassart, a member of the city’s seniors advisory committee and chair of the seniors festival committee. “There are many older people doing remarkable things.”
The annual festival is a celebration of National Seniors Day.
“It’s going to be fun,” Brassart said. “Come out and find out all about setting no limits. That’s what the whole day is going to be about. We are asking the exhibitors to do something fun at their tables, so it’s not going to be like a boring trade show. Everything has been geared toward entertaining the people who come. There is going to be a lunch too – a special Seniors Day lunch.”
Red Robinson, who recently retired after 64 years in radio, will be the day’s keynote speaker. He’ll share a few highlights from his new biography, Red Robinson: The Last DJ.
Colin Milner, CEO of the International Council on Active Aging, will bring a message about living bold, not old. Crooner Darcy Murdoch (a.k.a. Bobby Bacchus) will entertain with songs by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin and Nat King Cole.
“(Murdoch) was the recipient of a double lung transplant,” Brassart said. “Part of when he’s singing, he talks about how you can do anything – you can get a double lung transplant, you can change your life and be on stage and be Bobby Bacchus. There are no limits to what you can do.”
About 40 exhibitors from New Westminster will present information that can either assist or be of interest to seniors.
“A new thing this year is the trinket market, which is older adults 55-plus selling art and handicrafts for $25 or under. That’s new,” Brassart said. “Every year we try and do something new.”
The event is presented by the City of New Westminster and planned by volunteers on the seniors advisory committee. Century House is at 620 Eighth St.
