AARP Expands National Pickleball Clinic Tour to 20 Cities to Promote Active Aging and Multigenerational Play

WASHINGTON—A new AARP study about pickleball shows the sport is immensely popular among adults 50-plus and their families, with 8 in 10 (81%) respondents agreeing it is a game people of different generations can enjoy together. To promote active aging and multigenerational play, AARP is serving up a new season of its popular AARP Pickleball Clinic Tour to 20 cities across the country. The free, beginner-friendly clinics kick off August 11, 2025 in Chicago, IL and Helena, MT and run through October, with final stops in Honolulu, HI and San Juan, PR.

Each tour stop will offer an Intro to Pickleball clinic and Open Play, hosted in fun, inclusive environments by licensed instructors and designed for beginners and seasoned players alike.

More findings from the study:

• When asked what activities have gained the most popularity among people their age in the past two years, four in ten (40%) 50+ adults select pickleball.
• Among those familiar with the sport, 78% say it’s a great way to stay physically fit and 87% say it offers valuable exercise.
• 8 in 10 (81%) agree it’s a sport people of different generations can enjoy together.
• 91% of adults 50 and older have at least heard of pickleball. About one in ten (13%) have played pickleball at least once.

AARP’s clinic tour aims to close the gap between awareness and participation—bringing accessible, community-based instruction and play to help older adults stay active, socially connected, and mentally sharp.

Explore tour details at Sign Up for AARP Pickleball Clinics Nationwide and register for the Chicago clinic at Chicago Clinic Cvent Page and Helena clinic at Helena Clinic Cvent Page. Stay updated on tour announcements and highlights at AARP.org/Pickleball.

Event Details:

• Date: August 11, 2025
• Time: 5:00PM – 8:00PM CT
• Location: Kroc Center Chicago, Chicago, IL

• Registration is FREE and limited to the first 100 people who sign-up.

 

Tour Schedule:

 

City

Day

Date

Time

Venue

Chicago, IL

Monday

8/11

5 – 8pm

Kroc Center Chicago

Helena, MT

Monday

8/11

5 – 8pm

Barney Park

Sioux Falls, SD

Wednesday

8/20

5 – 8pm

Remedy Pickleball Pub

Woburn, MA

Monday

8/25

5 – 8pm

The Dink Zone

Vernon, CT

Tuesday

8/26

5 – 8pm

The Pickleball Place

Cranston, RI

Wednesday

8/27

5 – 8pm

Pickleball Citi

Overland Park, KS

Monday

9/8

5 – 8pm

Chicken N Pickle Kansas City

Lincoln, NE

Tuesday

9/9

5 – 8pm

Peterson Park

Lexington, SC

Monday

9/15

 

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About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.