Martha Stewart to appear at SD Boomer-Con

With AARP having 37 million members, it’s no surprise that its expos are mega-events: big crowds in big ballrooms listening to big speeches.

But when AARP brings its Ideas@50+ National Event & Expo to San Diego in September, it will inaugurate a revamped format, scaling down the attendee experience to a more intimate level.

Something that’s not changing? A big-name lineup of speakers, which includes lifestyle mogul Martha Stewart, Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington and doctors Travis Stork, Jennifer Ashton and Ian Smith from TV’s “The Doctors.”

The three-day event, Sept. 4-6, is expected to draw 12,000 baby boomers and retirees to the San Diego Convention Center for keynote sessions and smaller salon-style discussions on the topics of health and wellness, money and work, travel and lifestyle, and technology and innovation.

Program sessions will have 750 seats and salon sessions will be limited to 100 seats, said Jason Weinstein, AARP National Events Director.

“Ideas@50+ is a new opportunity for our members, their family and friends to engage on the relevant ideas and issues that matter to them,” Weinstein said. “The content-driven salons will allow attendees the chance to get up-close-and-personal with the biggest tastemakers and influencers today.”

Sept. 4 kicks off with a Community Day of Service, where AARP members will fan out to volunteer at organizations all over San Diego, a regular feature of the group’s gatherings in other cities.

Evening entertainment includes an American Idol-style competition, hosted by Idol mentor Randy Jackson, and performances by John Mellencamp, Los Lobos and Mavis Staples.

Registration for the event is already open; admission is $25 for AARP members, $35 for nonmembers, all inclusive. For the complete schedule and to register online, go to aarp.org/events; by phone call (800) 650-6839.