The camaraderie and challenge of Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and SilverArts are back! The weeks-long festival celebrates the transformative ability of sports and the arts to foster friendship and wellness for participants ages 50-100+. There is a $10 fee to participate and online registration opens February 8 at ncseniorgames.org.
“Living healthy, active, and creative lives while aging strengthens individuals and the Asheville community as a whole,” according to Colt Miller, Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) Athletic Coordinator and local Senior Games contact. “While many local participants advance to state and national competitions, the main focus isn’t winning, but showcasing the incredible talent found among active adults right here at home. We want to promote health and well-being while inspiring people in the prime of life to keep thriving.”
Try Something New
It’s never too late to get active or creative! Many Senior Games and SilverArts participants try a sport for the first time in their 50s, 60s, 70s, or beyond – and it changes their lives forever.
Senior Games Clinics take place at West Asheville Park each Tuesday through March 18 from 10am-12pm. Learn the fundamentals of a new sport or refine techniques in a cherished pastime with free weekly clinics that offer a diverse range of activities to explore and enjoy.
To search APR’s ongoing programs and activities for older adults, check out the current program guide.
Sports and Arts
Sports include bocce, bowling, golf, mini golf, track and field, cycling, swimming, 5K and 10K races, billiards, badminton, cornhole, horseshoes, pickleball, basketball shooting, shuffleboard, and tennis. Age categories start at 50 and increase at five year intervals.
SilverArts categories are classified as Heritage (quilting, woodwork, crochet, basket weaving, jewelry, needlework, tole/decorative painting, weaving, knitting, pottery, stained glass, woodcarving, woodworking, and woodturning), Visual (acrylics, drawing, mixed media, oil, pastels, film photography, digital photography, sculpture, and watercolor), Performing (comedy/drama, dance, vocal, instrumental, and line dance), Literary (poetry, short story, essay, and life experiences), and Cheerleading. Art pieces will be displayed at Pack Memorial Library.
Schedule at a Glance
All events welcome spectators. Interested community members can print a schedule or pick one up at any APR community center. APR hosts Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and SilverArts with Black Mountain Parks & Recreation, Buncombe County Parks & Recreation, and Henderson County Parks & Recreation.
- February 8-March 31: Register
- April 5: Opening Ceremonies at Murphy-Oakley Community Center (pickleball and tennis courts)
- April 5: Pickleball at Murphy-Oakley Community Center
- April 8: Badminton at Tempie Avery Montford Community Center
- April 9: Singles Tennis at Aston Park Tennis Center
- April 9-10: Billiards at Harvest House Community Center
- April 11: Doubles Tennis at Aston Park Tennis Center
- April 11: SilverArts Performances at Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center
- April 15: Table Tennis at Tempie Avery Montford Community Center
- April 16: Basketball Shooting Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center
- April 22: Bowling at Sky Lanes
- April 23: Mini Golf at Lakeview Putt and Play
- April 25: SiverArts Gallery Opening Reception at Pack Memorial Library (works showcased through April 29)
- April 26: Track and Field at T.C. Roberson High School
- April 30: Bocce at Tempie Avery Montford Community Center
- April 30: Horseshoes at Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center
- May 1: Golf at Springdale Golf Course (with Haywood County Senior Games)
- May 3: Swimming at YMCA of WNC
- May 5: 5K and 10K Races at Oklawaha Greenway (with Four Seasons Senior Games)
- May 6: Cornhole at Stephens-Lee Community Center
- May 9: Shuffleboard at Harvest House Community Center
- May 9: Cycling in Brevard
- May 17: Closing Ceremonies
For questions or more information, please contact Colt Miller at (828) 707-2376 or cmiller@ashevillenc.gov.
Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games is one of 53 local games officially-sanctioned by North Carolina Senior Games, the largest senior Olympic program in the nation. The schedule includes competitions and demonstrations to exercise the mind and body in April and May at locations throughout Buncombe County.