If you thought festivals were just for teenagers, you can think again.

Aiming to raise the profile of older people in the community, preparations are in full swing for the launch of Merton's twelfth Celebrating Age Festival.

From ballroom dancing to bingo and IT sessions, the 20-day festival offers residents over the age of 50 an exciting range of opportunities to learn something different and make new friends.

Highlights include an afternoon tea and dance at the Positive Network Centre in Mitcham on Monday, September 8 and a cream tea and museum tour with Wimbledon Lawn Tennis on Saturday, September 20.

Co-ordinated by Age UK Merton and funded by Merton Council, many of the events are free.

Festival organiser Sarah Foss said: "It's a range of organisations getting involved in the festival so whether you are 49 or 102 there's something you're going to find interesting.

"There's such a wide and vast range of communities coming together to make it as good as possible."

To view the full range of events, visit http://www.ageuk.org.uk/merton/news--campaigns/celebrating-age-festival-2014.

Celebrating Age Festival; Monday, September 8 to Sunday, September 28; to book tickets, call 020 3328 0329 between 9.30am and 1pm Monday to Friday.