Seniors will come together to celebrate at City of Canterbury Bankstown during the 2023 NSW Seniors Festival this February.

People aged 55 years and over are encouraged to take part in the events and activities, which kick off on Monday 30 January.

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour welcomed this year’s theme: “Celebrate Together”.

“When I’m out and about, seniors across our LGA are telling me much they like coming together at Council’s events and programs,” Mayor Asfour said. “We’d like them to know more about all our programs, so this year’s festival will focus on sharing some of our existing activities like crafts at the libraries, walking basketball and our Active Hearts gentle exercise classes, most of which are FREE. And, of course, we’ll be offering our ever-popular one-off Seniors Festival activities like bus trips and concerts.”

Local senior, Ms Diana Groves from Greenacre says more seniors should try out Council’s regular programs and highlights library activities as among her favourites.

“The libraries have so many superb groups,” Ms Groves said. “Book clubs and I did Happy Crafting last year – I can’t fault it.”

Happy Crafting is one of the regular programs that will offer a taster during this year’s Seniors Festival, with card making sessions at multiple libraries.

Ms Groves also likes the special events that are part of the festival. She enjoys the talks and expos and is looking forward to this year’s Wellness and Reablement Best Practice Expo on Wednesday 1 February.

“I attended last year and I’ll be at this year’s as well. It was really good for information – I took home a bag full which I carefully read and the information was superb.”

Other notable Seniors Festival events are a FREE Aqua Shuttle to Birrong Leisure and Aquatic Centre, a FREE ‘Come & Try Sports Day’ at Morris Iemma Indoor Sports Centre and the return to the libraries of FREE laughter yoga, which shook the shelves with giggles when it was featured previously at Campsie Library. You can also enjoy a three-course meal at the Community Restaurant for only $12.

Seniors Festival activities will take place across Canterbury-Bankstown’s facilities, including the Library and Knowledge Centres, Leisure and Aquatics Centres, parks, Senior Citizens Centres, Morris Iemma Indoor Sports Centre and Bryan Brown Theatre, as well as Bankstown Sports Club and Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL.

Activities include:

• CBCity’s beloved Seniors Festival Concert hosted by Bankstown Sports Club;
• Bus trips to Bundeena and the Three Sisters in Katoomba;
• Classic movie screenings;
• Walking football and basketball;
• Crafty art workshops;
• Golf Day;
• Talks, including My Aged Care, scams and from The Council on the Aging (some talks also in Mandarin);
• ‘Not Dead Yet!’ show by the Older Women’s Network;
• Local History bus tours at Lakemba and Riverwood; and
• Much more!

Tickets for the bus trips go on sale at Campsie and Bankstown Customer Service Centres from Monday 23 January, and concert tickets from 10am on Wednesday 1 February at Bankstown Sports Club.

See the full program of activities at cb.city/SeniorsFestival or pick up a booklet at the libraries or Bankstown and Campsie Customer Service Centres.