ClarkLindsey Expands Celebrate Aging Into a Year‑Round Community Initiative
- ClarkLindsey
- Apr 1, 2019
- 2 min read
For six years, ClarkLindsey has hosted Celebrate Aging Week each September, offering free activities that highlight wellness, learning, and connection for adults 55 and better. The program has grown so much that one week can no longer contain it. Beginning this year, Celebrate Aging will shift to a year‑round series of events, starting with the ClarkLindsey Carnival on April 6.
What Happened
ClarkLindsey leaders Sara Hawkins and Jacob Johnston announced that Celebrate Aging—originally a single‑week initiative—will now take place throughout the year. The shift reflects increasing community interest and the success of past events, which have consistently drawn strong participation and support from local partners.
The first quarterly event of the year will be the ClarkLindsey Carnival, held indoors on April 6 from 1–3 p.m. The carnival will feature live music, refreshments, games, crafts, miniature horses, caricature artists, an egg hunt, technology assistance, and free blood pressure checks. Thanks to sponsorship from organizations including Health Alliance Medicare, OSF HealthCare, the Urbana Park District, and Age‑Friendly Champaign‑Urbana, the event remains free and open to all.
Celebrate Aging began in 2014 as a way to promote active lifestyles and highlight the many dimensions of well‑being—spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social. ClarkLindsey continues to emphasize that aging is shaped far more by daily habits than by genetics, and that people of all ages can continue to learn, grow, and thrive.
Why This Matters
Expanding Celebrate Aging into a year‑round program reinforces the idea that well‑being is not seasonal. Regular opportunities for movement, creativity, social connection, and health education can make a meaningful difference in how people experience aging.
By offering free, accessible events, ClarkLindsey and its partners help reduce barriers to participation and encourage community members to explore new interests. These gatherings also strengthen local networks, bringing together people of different ages and backgrounds in shared spaces.
Key Details at a Glance
Program: Celebrate Aging, now offered quarterly
Host: ClarkLindsey
First 2024 event: ClarkLindsey Carnival
Date & Time: Saturday, April 6, 1–3 p.m.
Location: ClarkLindsey, Urbana
Activities: Music, refreshments, games, crafts, miniature horses, tech help, health checks, and more
Cost: Free, supported by community sponsors
Broader Context
Communities nationwide are exploring new ways to support healthy aging, recognizing that social engagement and lifelong learning play a major role in overall well‑being. ClarkLindsey’s expanded Celebrate Aging initiative aligns with this movement by offering consistent, meaningful opportunities for people to stay active and connected.
As Champaign County continues to grow and diversify, programs like this help foster a culture that values curiosity, independence, and community involvement at every age.
Source Attribution: This post is based on publicly reported information originally covered by WCIA.
