Alameda County residents 55 and older can spend a September morning getting free health screenings, a hot lunch, and a day at the zoo all in one trip. The 23rd Annual Healthy Living Festival returns to Oakland Zoo on September 24, running from 9 AM to 2 PM, with organizers requiring advance registration because capacity is limited.
According to a post from Alameda County Health, the free event at 9777 Golf Links Road includes health and wellness resources, community exhibitor booths, live entertainment and music, senior advocacy programming, and a healthy lunch for attendees. The festival is organized by United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County and its allies, with Supervisor Nate Miley listed as the Eventbrite organizer. Drivers should note that parking costs $10 per vehicle, and vehicles without a purchased parking pass will be turned away at the gate — a parking pass is not the same as an admission ticket, so registered attendees still need to bring their confirmation.
Registration for the 23rd Annual Healthy Living Festival! Alameda County residents ages 55+ are invited to enjoy health and wellness resources, community exhibitors, live entertainment, and a healthy lunch on Sept. 24 at the Oakland Zoo.
— Alameda County Health (@Dare2BWell) August 12, 2026
Register: https://t.co/soSgzZEGou pic.twitter.com/RRt0F1y9W1
The gathering has grown considerably since it began more than two decades ago. Alameda County reports the festival drew over 3,300 registrants and participants in 2024 and is projecting more than 3,500 attendees for 2025, well above pre-pandemic averages of roughly 2,000 participants, according to Alameda County. Oakland Zoo has hosted the event for more than 13 years, offering pre-registered seniors free zoo access alongside the festival programming, the county says.
Funding and Free Health Services
The scale of the event comes with a real price tag. In July 2025, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved up to $100,000 from District 4 budget funds to cover equipment, food, transportation, and communication expenses for the festival, at the request of Supervisor Miley. That funding underwrites the on-site health services offered directly to attendees, which, per the same county documentation, include free COVID-19 vaccinations and testing, flu shots, blood pressure and health screenings, and access to nearly 100 community resource booths.
Those services are coordinated with county health agencies, the county notes, turning what might look like a simple community party into a meaningful entry point for preventive care. Festival programming also regularly features live line dancing and blues music performances geared toward Bay Area older adults, according to Local News Matters, which reports that live music has been a staple of the annual program.
Who Organizes It, and Why It Matters
The event's co-organizer, United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County, was founded in 1986 by Supervisor Miley and now represents more than 13,000 members as a grassroots advocacy nonprofit for older adults across the county, according to SFGATE. Miley has served as the organization's board president since 2010. Beyond the annual festival, the group runs year-round health initiatives across Oakland, including senior walking clubs at locations such as Arroyo Viejo Park and Bancroft Senior Homes, aimed at maintaining mobility and social connection among older residents.
The stakes behind that advocacy work are significant. According to Alameda County Area Agency on Aging reports, 62% of senior renters and 30% of senior homeowners in Alameda County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing — a pressure that makes free wellness events, nutrition support, and transit assistance more of a necessity than a nicety for many older residents. Census estimates cited by Atlas Premier put residents 65 and older at more than 12% of Oakland's population and roughly 16% of Alameda County's overall population of 1.65 million.
Getting There Without a Car
For seniors without a personal vehicle, getting to the zoo takes some planning. AC Transit Line 46L serves the zoo on weekdays, dropping riders near Mountain Boulevard and Golf Links Road roughly hourly, though passengers face a half-mile walk from that stop to the main entrance, according to information from Oakland Zoo. Direct Line 46 service to the zoo remains suspended.
Organizers have set up a network of phone lines to help attendees navigate registration and logistics. General festival information is available at 510-729-0852, exhibitor inquiries can be directed to 510-670-5967, and registration support runs through 510-670-5964. Those needing help with travel training and trip planning can call 510-729-0851; questions about large senior site transportation go to 510-272-3691; and volunteering inquiries are handled separately at 530-382-2262. Eventbrite offers refunds up to seven days before the event for those who register and later cannot attend.
