WS Chronicle

By Judie Holcomb-Pack

N.C. Senior Games began in 1983 with a goal to create a year-round health promotion and education program for North Carolinians 50 years of age and better and to provide a holistic approach to body, mind and spirit, staying fit while enjoying the company of other seniors. Today, there are over 60,000 participants in 53 local games that serve all 100 counties across the state. 

Our local Piedmont Plus Senior Games/Silver Arts offers numerous athletic and skill events, including traditional track and field events, team sports such as basketball and softball, recreational sports such as golf and bowling, and tests of skill such as football throwing and spin casting. 

However, the “SilverArts” part of Senior Games doesn’t garner as much attention, even though it is growing as more people age 50 and above find out about what all it offers our creative seniors.  Todd Collins, Senior Games coordinator, has just finished his first year with Recreation and Parks. He said, “I have been impressed with the variety of talent we have in our community.” Collins continued, “I have also noticed the new friendships that have developed through participation in Senior Games and especially among the SilverArts participants, who have the opportunity to showcase their talent among their peers and family.”

Unlike the sporting events, where participants compete in age groups, SilverArts’ participants compete individually in a large range of categories. Seniors can submit one entry per subcategory.

In the Heritage Arts category, subcategories are: basket weaving, china painting, crocheting, jewelry, knitting, needlework, pottery, quilting, rugs, stained glass, tatting and needlepoint, tole/decorative painting, wall hangings, weaving, woodcarving, woodworking and woodturning.

In the Visual Arts category, subcategories are: acrylics, drawing, mixed media, oil, pastels, photography, sculpture, watercolor, and adult coloring.

In the Literary Acts category, subcategories are: essay, poem, life experience/memoir, and short story.

In the Performance category, entries range from individual to group performances, such as singing, playing a musical instrument, dancing (including line dancing, interpretive dance, and couples), tai chi routines, cheerleading, and stand-up comedy.

Entry fee for Senior Games is $12 and there is no additional fee to enter SilverArts. The official age for participation is 50, so you need to be age 50 by December 31, 2020, to participate in this year’s games. Many older adults don’t start until their late 50s or wait until they are retired before “taking the leap” into Senior Games competition. But the earlier you start, the more fun you’ll have!

Without a doubt, today’s seniors are more active than ever. When it comes to participating in Senior Games, one comment often heard is, “If I had known how much fun it was, I would have started earlier!”

For more information contact:

Piedmont Plus Senior Games, 2301 N. Patterson Ave., Brown-Phillips-Smith Building, Winston-Salem 27105. Contact Chuck Vestal at 336-727-2325 or Todd Collins at 336-727-2978. Entry forms are available at all local recreation centers.