The summer provides a great time to get out, spend time with family and make memories. Just because you are a senior there is no reason you have to stop making new ones.
In the age of the internet and social media it can be hard to filter through all the events and programs out there. From concerts, to farmer’s markets and fitness programs how do you choose what fits your lifestyle? There are plenty of events for those who wish to walk around, work up a sweat or for those who prefer an air conditioned room to keep cool. Philadelphia provides many venues for indoor and outdoor activities and most are family friendly, so you can bring guests.
If you are looking for music or concert events, Philly has it covered. From the Electric Factory, to the Walnut Street Theater and Summer Concert Series, you can find a variety of genres and all types of musicians performing.
Interested in the performing arts? Check out Walnut Street Theater’s performance of Saturday Night Fever The Musical. Walnut Street Theatre’s Playbill reads “The year is 1979 and in Brooklyn, New York, Tony Manero, a young man with a dead-end job and an extraordinary ability to dance, has only one ambition in life – to become the disco king…” The show runs until July 16th at Walnut Street Theatre, ticket prices are between $20 to $95.
Check out the rest of Walnut Street Theater’s offerings for the season.
Are you a fan of live music?
Stop by the 40th Street Music series for a taste of local musicians and some locally made goods. The 40th Street Music Series is a free event that takes place the 3rd Saturday of every month. The event kicked off in May and runs until September 16th.
It features highly talented artists with international acclaim. According to University City District, “The Summer Series has grown into one of the most popular outdoor summer events in University City.”
Vendors are sprinkled throughout the event space selling food and locally made products. Be sure to bring a blanket and some chairs since those are not provided. Past acts have included the Millennial Territory Orchestra, Man Man, and the Sun Ra Arkestra. On July 22nd expect the West Philadelphia Orchestra and Dan Blacksberg’s Hot Klezmers. “Activities, free giveaways, and performances begin at 6 pm,” listed by University City District.
The Outdoors
If you are trying to stay active outdoors you don’t have to travel far. The Wissahickon Gorge, a part of the Fairmount Park system, is a great place for hiking, mountain or trail biking, horseback riding and fishing.
“There are 57 miles of trails in this lush, 1,800-acre gorge, crossing forest and meadow before plunging down to the sun-dappled waters of the Wissahickon Creek,” according to Visit Philly. The gorge is home to many animals and is popular amongst the Audubon Society Bird Watchers.
“The Wissahickon, blessed with a fairly stable resident population of owls, chickadees and titmice; five species of woodpecker; nuthatches; blue jays; Carolina wrens; mourning doves; goldfinches and cardinals, was recently named an ‘Important Birding Area’ by the National Audubon Society,” from visit philly’s website. The Wissahickon can bring a welcome respite from the hustle of the city. Check out Friends of the Wissahickon for more information.
If you’re looking for programmed events with your peers there are plenty of senior centers in Philadelphia. They offer a variety of activities, events, classes, work-out programs and trips. Center in the Park, at Vernon Park in Germantown, “Offers an extensive life-long learning curriculum, a vibrant arts and humanities program, a rewarding intergenerational program and a wide array of trip opportunities,” according to their website.
Lynne Fields Harris, executive director of Center in the Park, said “Our participants like to travel in the summer – a very popular trip is to a Crab Fest in Baltimore MD.” Seniors get round trip transportation with all you can eat shellfish, open bar and plenty of sightseeing.
Senior centers can be a great way to find new passions and get reinvolved in your community.
Having fun in the summer often means spending more time in the sun, so taking care of your skin is crucial. Meteorologists are projecting severe summer heat waves for most of America.
Keeping yourself protected from harsh UV rays in the summer is critical, especially for the actively aging. Sun damage to your skin accumulates over the years, the more we expose ourselves the higher the risk of skin disease.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, “Suffering just five sunburns over your lifetime more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma, and each successive tan or sunburn raises the risks further.”
Once we get older T cells don’t bind with skin as easily. T cells are the cells that send signals to our immune system and help fight infections. So be sure to use the proper protections when out and about to keep your skin healthy. Remember sunscreen, consider a wide brimmed hat and bring along your UV-filtering sunglasses while enjoying yourself outdoors.
The summer is meant for making memories, so get up, get out and most importantly have fun.