200+ seniors enjoy Elderfest event

When asked how many Elderfest events she has attended in Bedford County through the years, 86-year-old Gail St. Clair says it’s hard to keep track.

“A lot! Ten, 15, or even 20 I have been to. [Elderfest] honors the ‘mature people’,” she laughed, adding that she always enjoys the entertainment, food, and wide variety of senior-focused vendors.

Elderfest is a longtime tradition in Bedford County. The first event was held in 1980 as a small gathering with a few vendors. Now, the activities span two days.

This year’s festivities were held Thursday, May 2, from 6 to 8 p.m., and Friday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Bedford Moose Lodge.

“Elderfest provides an opportunity for senior citizens to come together, socialize and learn from different community vendors about different resources that are available in Bedford County to our senior citizen population,” said Stuart Saunders, recreation manager for Bedford County Parks & Recreation.

The event is held in May in conjunction with Older Americans Month, an initiative by the Administration for Community Living. This year’s Older Americans Month theme was “Powered by Connection,” a focus on the mental, physical, and emotional health benefits of social connection.

“Often times our senior population can become isolated, and these events offer the social interaction that most seniors in the community crave,” said Saunders.

St. Clair agrees that the social connection at Elderfest—and other Parks & Recreation activities for seniors such as weekly bingo—is what improves her overall wellbeing.

“You laugh, and laughter is the best medicine,” said St. Clair. “We get together and we talk and we tell silly stories and laugh at one another. It makes you feel so much better.”

Saunders added: “These events have opened my eyes, particularly after the pandemic, to how important these events are to engage with our seniors and find out what resources or programs they would like to see. I enjoy seeing the smiles on their faces as they see old friends or meet new ones through Parks & Recreation programs.”

Learn more about senior programs at parks.bedfordcountyva.gov.