Visalia Senior Games Registration Off to a Fast Start

The City of Visalia Parks and Recreation Department will host the 2025 Visalia Senior Games March 27-30.

The games will include competitions in pickleball, track and field, swimming, table tennis, disc golf and archery.

The competitions are scheduled over a four-day period this year, a change from last year's games, which were held on weekends from mid-March to late May.

"This year, we've decided to bring the Senior Games back to a single weekend to create a more focused and celebratory experience," explained Macey Schonbachler, City of Visalia communications and marketing specialist. "We believe it's a great opportunity for athletes traveling from out of town to participate in multiple events without the extended schedule.

"To wrap up the weekend, we'll be hosting a barbecue and recognition dinner on Sunday, March 30th, to celebrate all of our athletes who have participated," she added.

And there are other big changes this year.

"We're thrilled to announce that, thanks to the generous sponsorship from Kaweah Health, the athlete fee for this year's Visalia Senior Games has been waived," said Schon-bachler. "We're also grateful to Visalia Unified School District for helping us secure locations for the games, as well as Vallarta Supermarket for their support.

"This assistance ensures that all participants can enjoy the games without financial barriers," she said. "If there are any other organizations or individuals interested in sup-porting this year's event or future games, we would love for them to reach out to our office."

Registration Status

Registration for pickleball and track and field is off to a fantastic start," Schonbachler said. "We were able to open registration much earlier this year, which has made a difference in helping us get the word out.

"The majority of our registered participants are from Visalia and the surrounding areas," she continued. "How-ever, we're also seeing a great turnout from local athletes and a few traveling from as far south as San Diego, and one participant from Glendale, Arizona.

"Our oldest athlete so far is 83 years old," she added. "We're excited to have a wide range of ages represented, with participants registering from 50 years old and up."

To no one's surprise, pickle-ball has the most registrants so far.

"We've seen an incredible response, with over 100 parti-cipants already registered across singles, mixed doubles, and doubles events," Schon-bachler said. "The sport has really taken off in Visalia."

To Register

Athletes ages 50 and older can sign up online at visalia.city/seniorgames or visit Anthony Community Center, 345 N. Jacob St., Visalia, during business hours.

For more registration information, call (559) 713-4365.

To Volunteer

Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to call (559) 713-4365 or email recreation@visalia.city.

Volunteers don't have to be sports fans to sign up, but the minimum age to volunteer is 16.

Volunteering for the Visalia Senior Games can fulfill school community service requirements.

To Cheer Them On

"There are plenty of ways to get involved in the Senior Games beyond competing," said Schonbachler. "One of the best ways is to come out and cheer on the athletes.

"Track and field events offer a great opportunity to support fellow competitors," she said. "There's truly no better feeling for an athlete than hearing the crowd cheer them on as they round that final corner, heading toward the finish line.

"Your encouragement makes all the difference," she added.