Live It Up At The Full Of Life Festival 24 – 29 September

The Manchester 2007 Full of Life Festival, the biggest festival in Britain of its kind specifically for older people, will kick off at the City of Manchester stadium on Monday 24th September 1-4pm.

The flagship event will include entertainment, refreshments, information, crafts, cultural and physical activities.

The week's highlights continue with The Feeling Good Theatre Company presentation of 'Market Forces' at Wythenshawe Forum on Wednesday, 26th September, a tongue-in-cheek look at the way in which our shopping habits have changed over the past 50 years. On Friday 28th September 'A Question of Age' at Urbis will provide a lively question and answer forum with a distinguished panel of national experts from Help the Aged, Better Government for Older People, Beth Johnson Foundation and Manchester City Council.

Over 40 local events funded by Manchester City Council will offer entertainment and exhibitions, culture and complementary treatments, food-tasting and fancy dress, music and dance. A special programme of cultural events offers the opportunity to learn about percussion from the Halle, a contemporary visual arts workshop run by professional animators and a guided tour of Manchester Art Gallery.

Councillor Val Stevens, deputy leader of Manchester City Council said: "We have a very exciting week ahead with a wide variety of events taking place all across the city. Building on the success of last year we have expanded the programme to include workshops on healthy ageing and ageing and ethnicity, and a focus on cultural events for older people. Our commitment to the older residents of Manchester means that we want this year's festival to be even bigger and more successful than previous years."

Media contacts:

Juliet Appleby or Dave Toomer, tel: 0161 234 3237

For more information on the Festival please contact Paul McGarry on 0161 234 3503