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For the past 20 years, the Beacon Newspapers has attracted thousands of people each year to its 50+Expos in Montgomery County and Northern Virginia, featuring speakers, exhibits, entertainment and more.

For the same number of years, the Howard County Office on Aging & Independence has produced its own 50+Expo for its residents, and Baltimore County has similarly done so for more than 30 years.

This year, for the first time, all three area Expos will join forces to present a unique Virtual 50+Expo experience offering many times the content of past years’ programs, to be promoted throughout the mid-Atlantic area.

Guests to the event’s custom-designed website will obtain immediate, free access to dozens of classes, speakers and entertainers chosen especially for them.

The event’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Ken Dychtwald, a nationally-renowned gerontologist and the author of 17 books on aging. Dychtwald will discuss his most recent book, What Retirees Want, followed by a question-and-answer session with Beacon publisher Stuart Rosenthal.

In addition, the online expo will include more than 20 demonstrations or classes on tai chi, yoga, Zumba, cooking, meditation and more. Expert speakers will address health and wellness, legal matters and estate planning, money and investments, retirement housing options and more.

Entertainment will range from stand-up comedy and Broadway show tunes, to dance lessons, classical music and jazz piano.

The Virtual 50+Expo will also include more than 100 informative exhibitors, including government agencies, nonprofits and area businesses offering products and services to older adults and their families.

To enable area residents to enjoy this wealth of material, the Beacon 50+Virtual Expo will remain free and accessible 24/7 for three months — from noon on Sunday, November 1, 2020 through Sunday, January 31, 2021.

And to reward repeat visitors, there will be new door prize drawings every week.

Corporate sponsors include Gold Sponsor Maplewood Park Place, an award-winning retirement community in Bethesda, Silver Sponsors AARP, Holy Cross Health, Adventist HealthCare Adventist Medical Group, CIGNA and Pepco and many bronze sponsors.

To register to receive updates and reminders, visit bit.ly/beacon50expo. Look for more details on the event’s home page here, and visit the Expo website at www.beacon50expo.com starting Nov. 1.

Businesses and organizations interested in exhibiting or sponsoring may call Alan at (443) 285-9336.