WS Chronicle

By Judie Holcomb-Pack

The City of Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks Department is gearing up for the 2025 Piedmont Plus Senior Games/SilverArts and it looks like the games are going to be as exciting as ever. Anna Marino and Naila Lyles-Elcock have a great kickoff planned for Jan. 24, 10 a.m. – noon, at Hanes Hosiery Recreation Center, 501 Reynolds Blvd. This is the place to learn all about this year’s Games, what’s new and different, and to register to participate in the Senior Games or the SilverArts competitions. Anyone age 50 and above can participate. It’s a great way to test your skills and talents while also meeting new friends.

Arund 15 vendors will be stationed around the gym for guests to visit. Refreshments will be provided by Chick-fil-A and WTOB will be on site playing those classic oldies tunes that we love to sing along to. 

Here are some important updates:

*For the first time the cycling competition will be held at Charlotte Motor Speedway on April 8 and will include competitors from other Games, sure to make for an exciting event.

*The golf tournament will be a one-day tournament on May 22 at Tanglewood Park on the Championshi p course. 

*Pickleball has become increasingly popular with some tennis players moving over to pickleball, so expect a lot of competitors for this event. 

*The Performing Arts competition will be held on May 23 at the Intergenerations Center for Arts and Wellness in the Gallery Theatre. This competition includes all types of performance arts, such as singing, playing a musical instrument, choirs, bands, dancers, even stand-up. The competition is free to attend and is always a fun event.

*New this year, the SilverArts Literary awards will be given out at the Performance Arts and medalists will be invited to read from their submissions between arts. Winston-Salem Writers, long-time judges for the Literary Arts competition, has come on board as a sponsor this year. They will pay the state registration fee for the gold medal winners in the four categories, poetry, short story, essay and life experience/memoir, should the medalist choose to compete at the state level. Submissions are due by March 7 to allow time to be read, judged, and printed into an anthology.

*The SilverArts Heritage Arts will return to the downtown Public Library with an opening reception  on March 4 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Entries to the Heritage Arts competition, which includes handcrafts such as crocheting, knitting, weaving, quilting, pottery, woodworking, painting, drawing, photography, etc., will be on display on the second floor of the library during the months of March and April. 

The official Opening Ceremony will be held on Friday, April 4, 11:30 a.m., at the beautiful Salem Lake Marina.  There will be an entertaining program and lunch will be served. This is always an exciting event, culminating with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp. 

Senior Games/SilverArts truly has something to fit everyone’s interests, skills and talents, from sports competitions  to the creative arts. Come out to the kickoff and see what all the fun is about!

To learn more about the activities and opportunities for older adults sponsored by the City’s Recreation and Parks, please visit www.WePlay.wsand click on Recreation Center Programs, then the Seniors tab on the left.