Taking place this year on Sunday 5 October, Age UK's Silver Sunday is an annual day of activities and events celebrating the contributions older people make to society.
There’s no shortage of activities to choose from: last year’s Silver Sunday saw around 50,000 participants attend more than 1,300 exciting events across the UK, from afternoon tea parties to week-long festivals.
So, ahead of Silver Sunday 2025, we’ve highlighted 5 of the top reasons why people of all ages should come together to celebrate older people this October.
1. A chance to dance
Regular physical activity is good for us at any age and can be the secret to staying fit and strong in later life. That’s why many Silver Sunday events give participants the opportunity to get active.
Last year, English National Ballet hosted free dance workshops in honour of Silver Sunday, while Age UK Sutton held their own disco, complete with silver-themed outfits and song requests. “We had a blast!” said one attendee. “Age is only a number – everyone was having a ball.”
Meanwhile, leisure provider Everyone Active offered 400 free Silver Sunday fitness sessions across their 230 centres nationwide. Activities included swimming, badminton, table tennis and pilates, and their week-long campaign saw around 4,500 older people attend the sessions.
2. Enjoy the arts
Silver Sunday events can also be a wonderful way to engage with a range of high-profile organisations. In 2024, The King’s Gallery offered free entry to their Royal Portraits exhibition, and Westminster Abbey hosted a ‘See and Scribble’ event, with a free tour and poetry workshop.
But there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy arts and culture on a local level, too. Last year, Age UK Lancashire held three tea parties with live classical music performances, while Age UK Islington and Age UK Richmond engaged with local company Connaught Opera to bring arias to their events’ attendees.
For some guests, the events proved particularly meaningful. “One lady who cares for her husband with dementia and has her own health issues asked a friend to take them [to the concert],” a participant at Age UK Islington told us. “She said they had a wonderful afternoon. It felt like a taste of her old life, when they could attend shows in the city.”
3. Make new friends
Nearly a million older people in the UK often feel lonely, so having the means to socialise and find connection in later life is vital.
Large-scale Silver Sunday events give participants the chance to do just that. To mark their 10th Silver Sunday last year, Age UK Barrow & District welcomed 250 guests for food, music and activities, while for the second year running, Age UK Barnet hosted a jam-packed day for more than 700 attendees.
For one guest, meeting new people and learning new things made the Age UK Barnet event a “perfect day”.
“Events like our Silver Sunday bring people together, foster connections, and create a sense of belonging,” said Helen Newman, CEO of Age UK Barnet. “We’re truly grateful for the positive feedback we’ve received – it shows just how meaningful these moments are for everyone involved.”
Smaller gatherings can be just as impactful. Age UK Buckinghamshire held their first ever Silver Sunday event last year, where guests were invited for an afternoon of tea, cake and socialising. “It was heartwarming,” said aa member of staff. “We loved seeing so many members of the community come together to celebrate, and we can’t wait to do it again next year!”
4. Change the way you age
Local Age UK partners can offer plenty of information and guidance on how to overcome some of the most common challenges of later life, and Silver Sunday events often feature opportunities to learn more.
At Age UK North Tyneside last year, a ‘50+ and Thriving’ event combined a morning of activities with outreach about the services and support the charity offers. Age UK Bexley, meanwhile, held an Ageing Well event, where guests were able to try their new MOT fitness service and find out more information about ageing better.
5. Opportunities for community
Silver Sunday is a chance to engage with every part of your local community. Several local authorities embraced Silver Sunday last year, including Westminster Council, who promoted more than 70 local events across the community. “Silver Sunday was lots of fun,” said Councillor Robert Rigby, Lord Mayor of Westminster 2024. “It’s so important to bring generations together, tackle isolation and have fun while trying some new activities.”
The ability to bring generations together was evident in many other Silver Sunday events, too. The residents of Rivermere Home in Kent were visited by children from a local primary school for an afternoon of singing and conversation. Runwood Homes opened their doors too, holding 60 events across their range of care homes, including a disco, bingo and a movie afternoon.
“It’s been such a pleasure,” a staff member at Runwood Homes told us. “Both the staff and residents in our homes had a wonderful time connecting with the community and hosting events. This cause is incredibly important to us as a group, and we are so proud to be part of it.”
We are so grateful for all the Silver Sunday event organisers and volunteers who find ways to bring people together to celebrate our older population. Can you host a social activity in your local coffee shop, place of worship, or community hall? Do you already run regular activities, and could offer a free taster session in October? Can you celebrate Silver Sunday by sending a card or visiting an elderly neighbour?
Silver Sunday info pack
Join us and hundreds of organisations and be part of Age UK’s national day of celebration of older people this October.
