[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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Summer Festival · Staff Performances (11–20)
Hanekko Dance
The Hanekko dance of the Aomori Nebuta Festival is characterized by lively shouts of “Rassera!” and energetic, bounding movements.
When staff members appear in happi coats and dance to the rhythm while ringing bells, the entire venue instantly takes on a festive atmosphere.
The hopping motions are fun to watch, and they’re sure to make seniors want to join in with clapping and cheers.
Big, bold moves spark laughter, and you’ll see people here and there trying to imitate them.
It’s an act that blends flashiness with approachability—the perfect generator of excitement.
While evoking Tohoku tradition, this energetic performance delivers the full force of summer’s spirit.
festival
Matsuri, the famous song by Saburo Kitajima, is perfect for the climax of a summer festival.
As staff members make their entrance to the powerful vocals and parade with a handmade mikoshi, the atmosphere changes in an instant.
The impressive mikoshi—hard to believe it’s handmade—pairs perfectly with the staff in happi coats, making the eyes of the seniors light up.
If you move the mikoshi and weave in some dancing to match the song’s build-up, you’ll be rewarded with clapping and smiles.
It’s a performance that resonates across generations, blending nostalgia with sheer impact.
Before anything else, from atop the road
Starting with the single shout of “Soiya!”, ‘Zenryaku, Michi no Ue yori’ captivates you from the outset.
When the staff, dressed in colorful attire, make their entrance with sharp, synchronized movements, their intensity draws your eyes in.
Their finishing poses land perfectly, and the music’s power combined with a sense of surprise spreads a pleasant tension and exhilaration throughout the venue.
Rather than aiming for laughs, their cool, compelling style even elicits astonished reactions from older audience members.
Though simple in structure, this piece showcases itself through movement and posture, leaving a lasting impression of momentum and chic flair.
Music therapy-based recreation
The “musical recreation” held as part of the summer festival adds a comforting pause amid the lively atmosphere.
From seasonal children’s songs like “Umi” and “Ware wa Umi no Ko” to familiar folk tunes such as “Tanko-bushi,” “Tokyo Ondo,” and “Donpan-bushi,” the program is filled with songs everyone has sung at least once.
Nostalgia naturally brings out voices and handclaps, creating a sense of unity throughout the venue.
It’s also a lovely moment when memories bubble up—like, “I used to sing this a lot as a child.” In addition to singing, gently moving your body or incorporating simple instruments makes it even more enjoyable.
HAND CLAP
HAND CLAP, which gained popularity after the video was released in 2017.
The Hand Clap dance, performed to the song “HAND CLAP,” is characterized by big arm and leg movements and lots of jumping.
Because this dance is very effective for burning fat, it involves large, dynamic movements.
If staff members perform a sharp, energetic routine, older adults are likely to enjoy it as well.
It’s recommended to coordinate the choreography with a few people and perform together.
A fun, lively dance like this is sure to satisfy viewers.
Also, if you adapt the choreography to be done while seated, older adults can participate too.
Give it a try!
Season of Love
Let’s perform a dance to Pinky & Killers’ song ‘Koi no Kisetsu’ at a summer or evening festival.
Just like Pinky & Killers, wear a rounded derby hat with a curled brim and dance.
Of course, singing is also a great idea.
Both the dance and the song to ‘Koi no Kisetsu’ are likely to delight older adults.
Some seniors may have fond memories associated with this song.
Listening to it might bring back memories of those days.
It’s a recreation activity that can spark conversations and make the event even more lively.
Enjoying food stalls in a yukata
Savor summer in quintessential Japanese style.
Here are ideas for enjoying festival stalls in a yukata.
When it comes to summer, cool-evening festivals and summer festivals are major events.
Why not take this opportunity to change into a yukata and enjoy the event with your whole being? Slip into a beloved yukata and you’ll naturally stand a little taller and feel refreshed—no doubt about it! Nostalgic summer memories will come flooding back, and conversations will flow.
Even if going out is difficult, festival stalls set up in your facility or garden can spark excitement and joy.
It’s sure to be a wonderful event spent in a gorgeous yukata.