[For Seniors] Fun Activities That Liven Up Cool Evening Festivals and Summer Festivals
The big summer event, the “Cool Evening Festival.” This time, we’re introducing summer festival-style games and activities that older adults can enjoy together.
We’ve gathered classic booth games that capture the festival atmosphere, such as goldfish scooping, senbonbiki (string lottery), and target shooting.
Of course, these are all easy to run indoors at a facility.
If everyone encourages each other as they join in, it will surely become a wonderful memory.
By tailoring how each person participates, conversations will flow and the whole venue will be filled with smiles.
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- Games that liven up festivals. Ideas that children can enjoy.
- [For Seniors] Summer Haiku: Ideas to Feel the Season
- [Respect-for-the-Aged Day Celebration] Laughter All Around! Ideas for Performances and Games You Can Enjoy While Seated
Summer Festival: Staff Performances (1–10)
carry a handmade mikoshi (portable Shinto shrine)
When it comes to festivals, the lavish mikoshi are an essential element that lift everyone’s spirits, and the powerful sight of people carrying them conveys a positive energy.
This project invites you to try carrying a mikoshi yourself and to express the joy of a festival with a handmade version.
Real mikoshi are heavy and made of wood, but if you build one mainly out of paper, you can make something easy to carry.
Being able to give clear shape to your own image of a festival or a mikoshi is also a key point that highlights the fun of festivals.
If everyone carries it together in unison, it will create a sense of unity on the spot.
two-person robe (Nininbaori): a comedic act where two people share one kimono-like garment, with the rear person acting as the arms for the front person
How about trying a classic performance: the traditional two-person haori act? Two people share a large haori (coat).
The person in front shows their face and body, while the person in back hides inside the coat and only sticks their arms out through the sleeves to perform various tasks.
The audience bursts into laughter when the food doesn’t quite make it to the mouth, and doing makeup this way also gets everyone excited.
Japanese taiko drumming
How about livening up the summer evening festival with a taiko drum performance? Taiko is perfect for festivals.
If you invite professional taiko players, it will surely get everyone excited! Even if they aren’t professionals, you could invite a neighborhood taiko group or a kids’ taiko team.
The loud sound might startle some people, but it will definitely create a festive mood.
Everyone will probably start clapping along, and their bodies will start moving on their own.
Matsuken Samba
Released in 2004, “Matsuken Samba” is apparently still popular today.
The Matsuken Samba collaboration café held in Shibuya, Tokyo drew huge crowds—the numbered tickets sold out, and the items on sale became a hot topic.
I imagine many people, including seniors who might feel energized by it, are fans of “Matsuken Samba.” Ken Matsudaira singing and dancing in dazzling costumes leaves a strong impression, doesn’t it? If you showcase the song and dance of “Matsuken Samba” at a summer or cooling-off festival, it’s sure to get the crowd going.
And of course, I recommend that the staff performing also wear flashy costumes.
Summer Festival · Staff Performances (11–20)
a bright red sun
When the Showa-era kayōkyoku classic Red Sun starts playing, all eyes in the audience turn to the stage.
As soon as the staff appear in sunglasses and red outfits, the atmosphere instantly brightens.
Add a touch of playfulness to the choreography and it’s sure to spark laughter.
For many older attendees, it’s a nostalgic tune—some even hum along, saying they used to hear it often.
Even without flashy production, this song has the power to liven up the crowd with just singing and movement.
It works beautifully whether performed gently and lyrically or lively and comical, making it a versatile highlight that adds color to any summer festival.
skit
When it comes to activities that immediately capture the attention of seniors at the start of a facility event, short skits are a top choice.
Because they can be performed in a brief amount of time, they’re perfect for short entertainment slots.
It’s also recommended to stage seasonally themed stories—such as those for Tanabata—to match the time of year the facility is hosting the event.
Preparing familiar costumes, like traditional Japanese attire, can help seniors feel connected, and trying a more authentic skit is a great idea.
Another option is to present an original play set in the senior facility itself.
Give a heartwarming performance that helps bring staff and residents closer together.
UFO
@hinata.yokozuka Pink Lady#UFO#Dance#Pink Lady DanceI like Pink Lady.CaregiverNurse#Caregiver'sDailyLifeCertified Care Worker#Nursing homeTranslation#Hinata YokotsukaFee-based nursing homeentertainmentWorkStaff Talent ShowI want to bring smiles.Year-end partyFun timesongIdolOld-time idols
♪ Original Song – Care Facility ♡ Hinata Yokotsuka – Care Facility ♡ Hinata Yokotsuka
Pink Lady was a duo that sparked an explosive boom in the late 1970s, and even people who didn’t live through that era probably know many of their songs.
How about performing a dance to one of their signature tracks, “UFO”? Both the song and the choreography are comical, so simply dancing it earnestly will create a fun atmosphere.
If there are people who know the song or the moves, having them join in with just the hand motions can get everyone involved and make the space even more enjoyable—highly recommended.