Active Aging Presented by Public Health Seattle-King County
Crisp air and a kaleidoscope of fall colors provide a sensational backdrop for seniors 55+ exploring cultural events and activities. From attending local festivals and theaters to visiting museums, galleries, and more, there are many ways to experience the arts.
Arts and culture can broaden one’s understanding of the human experience, conjure up a multitude of emotions, and enrich one’s life.
If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some ways to enjoy local arts, history, and culture in the autumn season and beyond.
Visit a Registered Historical Landmark or Local Historical Site
If you live in a big city like San Franciso, you likely have a historical landmark nearby, like the Golden Gate Bridge or the Statue of Liberty in New York. Many landmarks are hundreds of years old, and some represent modern marvels. They are all worth a visit.
Small towns also have interesting historical sites to explore. For example, you can visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library and ride on an operational steam locomotive in Abilene, Kansas. Do a Google search for “historic sites near me” to get a list of places to see that are close to your community.
Attend a Fall Festival
Attend a fall festival in your area if you want to sip a pumpkin latte, enter a pumpkin-launching contest, go on a hayride, or browse and buy local artisans’ creations. Food festivals and concerts often provide samplings of culturally diverse food and music.
Your city or township office or local Chamber of Commerce should have a schedule of local festivals. You can also search online for upcoming events or scan your local paper for announcements.
Join a Book Club or Go to Library Events
Books offer a thought-provoking, engaging, and entertaining exploration of history and culture throughout time. Stories are set worldwide, and you can travel to all sorts of real and imaginary places in your mind from the comfort of your favorite reading nook.
A fun way to make or maintain social connections and stimulate your mind is to join a book club and discuss monthly reading selections with a group of friends, family members, and other literary lovers.
Local libraries also host events like storytelling sessions, magic shows, author book signings, book discussions, and fall-themed literary events.
Visit an Art Gallery or Museum
Art galleries are wonderful showcases for creative expression, including paintings, photographs, sculptures, and textile exhibits. Viewing various pieces allows you to look into the artist’s mind and, in many cases, gain a fresh perspective on the world.
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., is one of the most well-known galleries, but there are scores of other art galleries in big and small towns across the country. The Art in America Guide provides an extensive list of them online.
Museums preserve history with collections of artifacts, including paintings, sculptures, documents, and objects of historical, artistic, and cultural significance. Local communities can host an array of museums, including railroad, maritime, archaeology, military and war, and science. Travel and Leisure ranks 27 of the Best Museums in the U.S. to explore.
Join (or Watch) a Community Theater Event
Joining a community theater group is a fabulous way to really immerse yourself in the arts by participating in a play or musical. You might join a set-building crew, make costumes, run the lights, or even act in the show.
If you want to avoid being directly involved, watching a local production is entertaining and enables you to support local arts projects and artists.
Take an Art or Music Class
There’s no better way to experience the arts than by creating it yourself. You can take a sketching, painting, or sculpting class, learn to play a musical instrument, or join a community choir. You can also meet people who share your interests in classes like these.
Community centers, local colleges and universities, churches, and nonprofit organizations are some of the places that offer enrichment learning classes to people of all ages.
Volunteer or Host a Workshop
If you’re a cultural expert or artist, you volunteer at a local arts center or host a workshop to share your knowledge and skills with others. Ideas include hosting an after-school painting workshop or acting class for area youth. Or teach your peers knitting, fiction writing, or cooking at a community center. Do you have the perfect pumpkin pie recipe? Teach others how to make it.
Enjoy Digital Arts and Culture Experiences
If you have a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, you can enjoy many virtual arts and culture experiences online. For example, you can take self-guided tours of museums and cultural sites worldwide, like The Met Fifth Avenue or the Royal Scottish Academy via the Bloomberg Connects website or app. You can even explore the world-renowned Louvre in France via the Musée du Louvre.
Exploring local arts, culture, and historical landmarks in your community will enhance and enrich your life and help you enjoy the autumn season to the fullest.
Active Aging is presented by Public Health- Seattle & King County. Public Health- Seattle & King County recognizes the important and untold stories of innovation, service, and sacrifice by the Black community and supports efforts to improve equity and achieve social justice. We want everyone to get health insurance and access health care. Visit www.kingcounty.gov/health for health insurance, flu and COVID-19 testing locations.
