EATON — Preble County Council on Aging has been hosting the Senior Dance at the Fair the past three years. While they hold the ever popular Senior Dance every Thursday night at The Grange, for fair week they hold the dance on Senior Day (when Senior Citizens get into the fair for free), which fell on Wednesday, Aug. 2.
According to Preble County Council on Aging Marketing Manager Holly Steele, the normal Thursday night dance is the biggest activity that happens for seniors on a weekly basis in Preble County. On average, approximately 90-100 participants attend every week. Sometimes there’s an attendance of more than 120.
The ages of people who attend, on average, are 23-103 and even older.
The weekly dance has been happening for the past four years. It’s inexpensive to attend, with an admission fee of $3 and every menu item only $1.
There is live music every week by the Silvertones.
The Fair Dance simply brought the normal dance to Rotary Junction.
Judy Smith is the President of the Participants Council and has been involved with the Thursday night dance for years. “This dance was started by the Participants Council, which is a group of the senior citizens,” Smith said. “We meet once a month and we started it for activities for the seniors – something they could enjoy and relax. We also have homemade food, $1 a portion, at The Grange every Thursday.”
“We started out for the benefit — the exercise — of the seniors. What we didn’t realize is how much a success it would be,” she added. “It’s 100 percent of the money that goes back to the Senior Center to go for Meals on Wheels and transportation. Last year we were able to donate over $15,000 from this dance. So, while we started it for recreation and socialization of the seniors, we had no clue at that point we would also we benefiting the Center at the same time. It’s a two-fold for us, we love it.”
“We are normally on Thursday night, but since it’s Senior Day at the Fair, we get in for free and tonight it’s a free dance and free transportation,” Smith said. “We believed we had a good thing going, as a lot of people do. We wanted to involve a lot more people.
“We love this, we enjoy it. Come out to see us at The Grange — and the Senior Center is the greatest place, you need to come see us!”
