AMESBURY — Laughter and lively conversation filled the city’s senior center Thursday as over a dozen seniors used every color in the rainbow and other to create tie-dye shirts to be worn at the upcoming Live Well Festival.
“I love the tie-dye class. It’s fun, it’s art therapy, it’s colorful. It reminds me of the 60s, and I’m glad that it’s still popular and all of us enjoy it, and the young people enjoy it, too,” senior Donna Comeau said, as she was binding her shirt.
Beginning at 1:30 p.m., seniors began preparing white T-shirts to eventually be turned into outfits exploding with color. The first step began by binding the tees into patterns of their choice using rubber bands.
Behavioral Health Outreach for Aging Populations Program Manager Courtney Huchinson, who offered plenty of support, said she always found tie-dying meditative.
“I do the mental health work here, and it can be very heavy and tough. So every year I block off time to do it because I enjoy it and I get to see them enjoy it. It’s nice to see everybody laugh and smile and joke,” Hutchinson said.
While folks bound their shirts with rubber bands, COA Program Manager Andrew Suggs prepared various colored dye bottles for them to use to add their personal touch to their creations.
“We have 32 colors,” Suggs said.
The group was having so much fun that COA Director Doreen Arnfield felt compelled to join in.
“I had no plans on doing this. I was just having my lunch and I listened to Andrew giving instructions and then Courtney comes out and is guiding everybody, and I decided want to try it, too. I just want to be like a kid and just do something stress-free and creative,” Arnfield said.
The tie-dye shirts will be on proud display in a week at the two-day Live Well Festival. The signature two-day event put on by the COA and the Friends consists of a health fair on Sept. 6 and the Feel Good Festival on Sept. 7.
The health fair, hosted by the COA, takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first day at the Costello Transportation Center.
Health and wellness providers will share information and resources of interest to all ages. Many activities and giveaways are planned, including individual or family photos, flu shots and vision screening. There’s also a chance to join in on some line dancing.
The Feel Good Festival on Sept. 7, put on the Friends, is geared toward all ages as it looks to encourage seniors to socialize with the rest of the community. The event will be held at the Al Capp Amphitheater in the Upper Millyard, kicking off at 8 a.m. with a hike led by the Lake Gardner Association and activities lasting until 2 p.m.
Starting at 9 a.m., there will be live music, beginning with Kevin Wall performing Morning Melodies and switching to a children’s concert by Phillip Alexander and the Wild Things at 10:30 a.m. The JumpStreet Band will be the final band to take the stage, beginning at noon.
Hutchinson said she will be joined by a special guest during the festival.
“Emery will be making a special appearance and wearing her own tie dye to match everybody else’s,” Hutchinson said referring to the COA’s official therapy dog, 1-year-old Great Dane Emery.
Comeau shared that she only discovered the COA by attending the Live Well Festival three years ago.
“It’s tucked in from the street, and I was always out of town when I worked. Then I saw the Live Well Festival, and that’s how it introduced me to this wonderful center,” Comeau said.
Asked what makes the event important to attend, she said it is very educational and social.
“You can get so much information in one place about health, and it’s a community event so you meet all kinds of friends, and if you have any problems in the future you have resources that you know about ahead of time that you can save. It’s very helpful,” Comeau said.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.