York Older People’s Assembly and Age UK York
present the 20th annual 50+ festival
supported by the Lottery Community Fund
and sponsored by SPARK, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Harrowells
20 September – 1 October 2025
Offering over 100 diverse events organised by local enthusiastic individuals and groups.
With a successful 20 year track record the 50+ Festival is now firmly on the York calendar for citizens and visitors to enjoy.
The 50+ Festival is a grass-roots affair put on by people who want to share what they have to offer with the community.
What is a taster session today may well become a regular weekly hobby as people discover new interests and ways of keeping healthy in body and mind.
Browse through the opportunities below and, if you think something is missing, why not organise an event next year?
Celebrating 20 years of the York 50+ Festival ~ a conversation with founder Sue Lister
Watch Sue Lister, founder of the YOPA 50+ Festival in 2005, talk about what inspires her about living in York and why she set the festival up.
Find out more about AWOC York https://www.awocyork.org.uk/
YORK 50+ FESTIVAL SPONSORS
BUSINESS PARTICIPATION
Better, Bronte House, CYC Age Friendly York, CYC Health Trainers, CYC Live Well York, Explore, Medequip, NYFRS, Nimbuscare, OCAY, Rotary York Ainsty, Samaritans, Specsavers, The Hearing Place, YorEnergy, York Talking News, York u3a, YSJ Active Together
Print copies of the brochure can be found at Age UK York shops, Visit York, West Offices, SPARK, Explore libraries, community centres, and many other outlets across the city.
The programme can also be downloaded Here.
ADVICE & INFORMATION
Board Games and Advice Drop-in for visually impaired adults – Wilberforce Trust, The Grove
Combined Slipper Social and Information Fair – New Earswick Folk Hall,
Deaf and hard of hearing advice drop in – Wilberforce Trust, The Grove
Digital Inclusion Support Session – West Bank Park
Discover the power of volunteering, Age UK – City of York Council’s West Offices,
Discover York with Ease – Motobility, Coppergate Car Park
Fire safety in the home – York Explore
Glasses Repairs and MOT, Styling Advice and Dry Eye Advice – Front Street, Acomb
Medequip Independent Living Drop In Session – St Sampsons Centre, Church St.
Older Citizens Advocacy York (OCAY) Open Day – Priory Street Centre
Safer driving drop-in – St Sampsons Centre, Church St.
Sighted Guiding Taster for Friends and Family of people living with sight loss & Lip reading taster session – MySight York, Walmgate
Talk to a trusted solicitor about making your Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney – Clifford Street & online
York Open Eco Homes – various locations
York u3a Open Day – Priory Street Centre
SPORT & ACTIVE LEISURE
Aqua aerobics – Yearsley Swimming Pool
Better Club Games 2025 – York Leisure Centre
Blood Pressure Checks – Burnholme & Energise Sports Centre
Chair Based Exercise Class – Burnholme Sports Centre
Croquet Taster Session – Scarcroft
Gentle Circuits Class – Energise Sports Centre
Gym sessions – Burnholme, Energise & York Leisure Centre
Indoor Bowls Taster Session – New Earswick
Introduction to Racketball – York Squash Club, Clifton
Line Dance – Acomb
Leisure Centre Facility Tours – Burnholme Sports Centre, Energise,
Yearsley Swimming Pool & York Leisure Centre
Move It or Lose It exercise classes – Acomb
Over 55’s Ballet Class – Railway Institute Sports Centre, Queen Street
Pure stretch and relaxation – Lidgett Grove, Acomb
Senior Club 60+ Session – Burnholme, Energise & York Leisure Centre
Silver Swans Ballet Classes – Haxby
Strictly fun dancing – Acomb
Swimming – Energise, Yearsley Swimming Pool & York Leisure Centre
Table tennis.- Dunnington
Walking Football – Burnholme & Huntington School
Walking rugby – LNER Community Stadium
Walking Touch Rugby – York Sports Club, Clifton Park
TALKS
‘BUTTERFLY ACROSS THE BATTLEFIELD – Blossom Street
Clutter to Calm – St Edward the Confessor Church, Tadcaster Road
History of Joseph Rowntree Theatre – Explore Library, York
Meet the Curator: Visions, Voices, Vocations – York Minster
Six Myths about Language Learning – King’s Manor
Walker’s Iron Foundry – Tang Hall
The Varvill family: 19th century entrepreneurs – Clements Hall, Nunthorpe Road
“ York in close up “ & “ York Minster in close up – the exterior “ talks – SPARK, Piccadilly
WALKS
Intergenerational Planet Southbank Foraging Walk – Rowntree Park
Uncover York’s Hidden Histories – High Petergate
“ York in close up “ walk – Bootham Bar
York Walking Festival 2025 – Various
WORKSHOPS
Introduction to whittling – Homestead Park
‘The Inner Work of Age’ – Quaker Meeting House, Friargate
Maintaining good physical and cognitive fitness at 50+ – Quaker Meeting House, Friargate
On an Autumn Morning: Seasonal collage for a positive future – Online
Restore and Reset for your mind and body – The Bonding Warehouse, Terry Avenue
Repair Café – Groves & Acomb
Sewn With Love – Holgate
Symmetry & Serenity: Finding Joy Through Origami – Goodramgate
What IS conscious ageing at 50, 60+ and Beyond ? – Online
Contact us
Call us on 07850 111299
Email us yorkfiftyplus@gmail.com
YOPA website
Age UK York website
Resources
PR 1 – launch of 50+ festival
PR 2 – Calling sponsors
PR 3 – Excitement builds and plans come together for York’s only festival dedicated to the over 50s!
PR 4 – York 50+ Festival fever just days away
Leaves Colour:
Leaves Template A3:
Leaves Colour:
York Older People’s Assembly, St Sampson’s Centre, Church Street, YORK YO1 8BE
Tel: 07965 246193
We aim to:
- Represent the views of older people in York to decision makers locally and nationally
- Inform older people about services that are available
- Identify where needs are not being met
- Work with the local authority and others to make York an age-friendly city
SOCIALS
’I want to speak please’ quilted banner – St Sampson’s Centre
50+ LGBT Coffee Social – SPARK, Piccadilly
A Brew with Bronte – Middlethorpe Hall
Cake and Connection – Rawcliffe Manor
CARE Film: screening and discussion – York St John University, Lord Mayor’s Walk
Crafts for a Cause – St Chad’s Church Hall
Dosti ( Friendship ) Picnic – Museum Gardens
Fish and Chip Friday – University of York St John, Haxby Roady
FnT Club Afternoon – Lendal
FnT Club Night – The Bay Horse, Blossom Street
MEMORABLE MOMENTS – SPARK, Piccadilly
Deal or No Deal & Games Afternoon – St Sampson’s Centre
Red Tower Open Days – Bar Walls, Foss Islands Road
Sporting Memories – Huntington & Wigginton
Stories in Glass: open day at St Denys Church – Walmgate