Festival of Senior Arts coming to Lakewood The Strand Theater, 400 Clifton Avenue, Lakewood, will host the second annual Festival of Senior Arts from June 24-26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The festival is a fine arts and entertainment extravaganza highlighting the spirit, talent and vitality of senior artists from the central New Jersey region. The event is sponsored by Harrogate, a not-for-profit lifecare community in Ocean County that is designed for adults 62 years of age and older. Daily activities at the Festival of Senior Arts include a visual arts exhibition by the winners of the 32nd annual Senior Citizens Artist Exhibition. The exhibition will be held in the theater's gallery and is presented in collaboration with the Ocean County Office of Senior Services and the Senior Art Advisory Committee of the Ocean County College Academy of Lifelong Learning. Main stage activities begin daily at 9:30 a.m. and include special exercise demonstrations in tai chi and yoga presented by instructors from Ocean Medical Center and Georgian Court University's Center for Holistic Health Studies. The main event of the festival takes place between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily and features a variety-style show revue with performances in vocal, dance, musical instrument, comedy, drama, poetry, storytelling and more. To date more than 75 seniors between the ages of 60 and 93 have registered to perform. Every day the festival will feature an extended noontime performance by noted performing artist groups such as the award-winning Oceannaires Barbershop Chorus, scheduled to perform on the first day of the festival, June 24. The Big Band sounds of the Sentimental Journey Orchestra will be featured on June 25 and on June 26 there will be a special health and wellness presentation discussing the positive power of humor and aging. The lecture will be presented by Rosemarie Poverman, a licensed clinical social worker who prefers the title clinical "edutainer" and is known for her light-hearted, high-energy presentations. There will also be a pre-noon singa long every day led by entertainer Joe Di Pietro, a senior vocal artist from the area best known for his Sinatra style sounds. Members of the Strand Theater Ensemble, under the direction of Jan Topoleski, artistic director, are scheduled to perform throughout the festival highlighting vignettes and songs from upcoming shows including "Seussical," "Mame" and "Annie." On June 25 at 2 p.m., the newly crowned Mrs. Senior New Jersey 2008 will make her debut appearance at the festival, followed by a performance in her "special" talent. She will be followed by former Mrs. Senior New Jersey winners who will sing and dance.