How the 2026 Creative Aging Festival Inspired Our Fall Creative Aging Program

The Creative Aging Festival at the Rotary Centre for the Arts proved one thing: creativity has no age limit. From inspiring workshops and live performances to meaningful cultural experiences and lifelong learning, the festival brought together more than 500 participants and sparked the exciting development of our 2026 Fall Creative Aging Program. 

Every Morning Began with Movement, Connection, and Community  

Each morning, the Rotary Centre for the Arts (RCA) came alive with warmth and anticipation. UBC Okanagan Education student volunteers welcomed participants with friendly smiles, helping everyone begin the day with a gentle Relax and Restorative Movement session. Before the studios filled with artists and presenters there was time to stretch, breathe, and simply be present together. 

The calm start to each day set the tone for what the Creative Aging Festival was all about, wellness and belonging. Friends reunited, new friendships formed, and excitement grew for the workshops and performances ahead. By the time the first sessions began, the RCA was buzzing with laughter, creativity, and community. 

For one week during June 13–19, 2026, the RCA became much more than an arts centre, it became a place where people discovered new passions, celebrated lifelong creativity, and found meaningful connections. 

A Festival to Remember 

Over the course of 7 days, more than 500 participants attended over 30 workshops, performances, educational seminars, wellness activities, and cultural experiences, demonstrating the growing desire for programming that celebrates healthy aging through creativity. Every hallway, studio, gallery, and outdoor space held a different story.

Some participants picked up a paintbrush for the first time in decades. Others learned new woodworking skills, discovered book arts, attended financial wellness seminars, or explored technology designed to support independent living. Every experience reinforced one simple idea: 

Learning never stops. Creativity never retires. 

A festival favourite was Music on the Patio, with Friday’s grand finale bringing everyone together in the courtyard. Festival participants opened the event by sharing original songs created through the Stories to Song program, followed by an inspiring 11-piece band made up entirely of retired music teachers. 

Neighbours danced. Friends sang along. Conversations that began with music continued long after the performances ended. 

Three Generations, One Special Week 

One of the most meaningful parts of the festival was seeing creativity bring generations together. One family arrived with three generations, a great-grandmother, grandmother and daughter, but they weren’t alone. Throughout the week, families shared workshops, music and experiences together, creating connections that became a defining part of the festival. 

High Tea was a perfect example, bringing participants together over beautiful china, fresh flowers, homemade treats and live piano music for an afternoon of conversation and celebration. 

One participant shared: 

"Such a fun event. Really enjoyed learning more history about high tea socials through the inclusive quiz and discussion. The MC was very warm and welcoming. All the volunteers were enthusiastic and very attentive with the tea service. The table settings were delightful and the food was excellent. Very impressed with the food service. The live piano music was such a special touch. Would love to come again next year." 

One of the festival's most meaningful experiences was the First Nation Drum Making Workshop. 

Participants learned about the cultural significance of traditional drum making while creating their own drums under the guidance of Indigenous facilitators. The experience also included teachings about spirituality, ceremony, and the importance of preparing the drum through a smudging ceremony. 

The festival also celebrated the unveiling of the Youth Mural Project, creating a lasting legacy of reconciliation, creativity and collaboration. Guided by Lead Artist Gail Hodgson and Facilitator Rain Doody, the unveiling included a heartfelt Syilx/Okanagan welcome from Elders Pamela Barnes and Wilfred (Grouse) Barnes, along with the installation of a bilingual plaque incorporating the Okanagan language. 

Creativity Takes Many Forms

Throughout the week, participants explored dozens of creative experiences. Floral design workshops inspired beautiful arrangements while encouraging participants to discover new artistic skills. 

As one participant shared: 

"What a wonderful event. I learned so much, the instructor was excellent and I came away with a beautiful arrangement. I would definitely recommend having this again next year." 

Hands-on workshops continued to delight participants across every medium. 

Another attendee simply summed up their experience by saying: 

"It was a fun day plus rewarding to take home a finished product!" 

In the woodworking studio, participants created handcrafted birdhouses under the guidance of an experienced instructor whose thoughtful preparation made the project accessible for everyone. 

One participant wrote: 

"Our instructor spent a lot of time preparing the handouts, cutting the wood to make assembly a breeze. It was a fun class and our birdhouses are beautiful. Hope he offers another class next year. Cheers." 

Learning Beyond the Studio 

While creativity remained at the heart of the festival, learning extended well beyond the arts. Participants attended practical seminars focused on healthy, confident, and independent aging. Sessions included RCMP Fraud Prevention, retirement planning with Investors for Retirement, and UBC Okanagan's Technology for Seniors workshop, giving participants practical knowledge they could immediately use in everyday life. 

Seniors Inspiring Seniors 

One of the festival's greatest strengths was that it was truly led by older adults. 

More than 95% of the presenters, instructors, artists, musicians, and workshop leaders were aged 55 and older. Retired teachers returned to stage. Professional artists inspired first-time creators. Musicians filled the courtyard with music. Storytellers, woodworkers, wellness instructors, and cultural ambassadors generously shared decades of knowledge and lived experience. 

Their leadership demonstrated that older adults remain some of our community's greatest teachers. 

The Creative Aging Festival is Supported by the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program.

The Festival Inspired Our Fall Programs and Workshops

As the week came to a close, we kept hearing the same question: “When can we do this again?” 

The answer is this fall. 

Inspired by the festival’s success, our RCA Fall Programs and Workshops bring back many of the most requested workshops, along with new opportunities to explore visual arts, music, wellness, cultural learning, woodworking, writing, dance and more. 

The festival may have lasted one remarkable week, but its spirit continues, creating more opportunities to learn, create, connect and belong. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back this fall.