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[For care facilities] Liven up your summer festival! A roundup of performances by staff
At summer festivals held at senior care facilities, many residents look forward to the performances put on by staff.
Lively, summery acts are a perfect fit for the occasion.
In this article, we’ll introduce staff performance ideas that are sure to get everyone excited.
On the day of the festival, let go of any shyness and have as much fun as you can.
When staff spend the time smiling, those smiles are sure to spread to the residents as well.
Plan a joyful summer festival with must-have attractions like dance, taiko drumming, fireworks displays, and handmade portable shrines (mikoshi)!
[For Care Facilities] Liven Up Your Summer Festival! A Roundup of Staff Performances (1–10)
Bon Odori (Bon dance)NEW!
Bon Odori is an essential part of summer festivals! The time when everyone forms a circle and dances to Bon Odori songs fosters a sense of unity and offers a great chance to move your body while having fun.
Older adults may have danced in their youth, so they might remember the steps the moment they hear a famous tune.
It’s a music recreation activity that can be thoroughly enjoyed indoors, so be sure to plan one in the summer and get everyone excited.
To avoid tripping and falling, make sure to wear comfortable, easy-to-move-in clothing.
Treasure Hunt GameNEW!
https://www.tiktok.com/@fanfuture88/video/7518924482619133191It’s a game where you put your hand into a cardboard box and search for treasures relying only on your sense of touch.
The box is filled with things like crumpled paper, so enjoy the sensation of pushing them aside as you go.
What kind of treasures you put inside is also a key point—mixing items of various sizes can help heighten focus in the fingertips.
If you choose treasures that participants will be happy to find, they’ll feel a real sense of joy when they discover them, and the game is sure to be a hit.
Cup PinballNEW!
Enjoy the simple fun of just dropping a ball! Introducing Cup Pinball.
You can make it yourself using cardboard, paper cups, pool noodles, a basket, and a ball! First, cut the cardboard into a large rectangle and make holes slightly smaller than the rims of the paper cups.
Insert paper cups into some of the holes, and attach pool noodles along the long edges of the cardboard base.
Next, prop the base at an angle using a table or chairs, and place a basket where the ball will drop—then you’re done! Adjust the difficulty by changing the number of holes.
Handmade Senbonbiki (lottery string pull game)NEW!
When it comes to festivals, senbon-biki (the thousand-string pull) is a must! You pull one string and get the prize it’s connected to—it’s exciting and fun wondering which one you’ll win.
I’m sure it will bring back childlike joy for older adults as well.
Senbon-biki sets can be rented or purchased online, making them easy to include in events.
If you want to keep costs down, a handmade version is also recommended! You just punch holes in a cardboard box and thread strings through, so it’s easy to make, and the strength should be fine for one-time use.
Wani Wani PanicNEW!
https://www.tiktok.com/@mitinoko/video/7123177286345526530Let’s use cardboard and milk cartons to make and play a DIY version of the popular game Whac-A-Croc.
Use cardboard for the main body and decorate milk cartons to create the crocodiles.
Attach something like a plastic wrap core to each crocodile so you can hold it and move the crocodile in and out.
Participants will use a toy squeaky hammer to hit the crocodiles as they pop out.
You can compete by counting how many you hit, or forget about winning and losing and just enjoy it as a way to relieve stress.
Matsuken Samba
Dressed in dazzling costumes and dancing energetically to an upbeat rhythm, the staff really catch the eye.
We’d like to introduce a dance idea set to “Matsuken Samba,” a perfect, festive centerpiece for a summer festival.
Not only are the crisp hand movements and steps impressive, but the occasional comedic expressions and gestures instantly liven up the atmosphere and bring out smiles.
Older adults join in with clapping and cheers, too.
Even without flashy effects or lighting, the power of the music and the energy of the dance brighten the entire venue.
It’s a popular performance that adds color to summer festivals and creates a lively, fun, and spirited mood.
Japanese taiko drum
If you want to liven up a summer festival, a “wadaiko” (Japanese drum) performance is highly recommended! The powerful sound of the drums fills the venue with excitement and spreads smiles to everyone watching.
One of the charms is that you can enjoy Bon Odori along with the drum rhythms, and even those who aren’t confident about dancing will find their bodies moving naturally when they hear the familiar beat.
Drumming together, dancing together, and getting excited together will become the best memory of the summer festival.
Give this idea a try to create a lively, energetic summer moment!