AARP Convention Reels in Gene Simmons, Paul Simon, Chaka Khan

Next week, AARP kicks off its 50th anniversary conference—Life @50+ National Event & Expo—at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. More than 25,000 attendees will converge on the city September 4 to 6, bringing an expected $28.5 million in spending and 8,500 hotel rooms booked. AARP is offering a trade show with some 400 exhibitors, including Home Depot, Google, Nintendo, and Microsoft, as well as a packed schedule of educational sessions and performances, featuring assorted notables and celebrities. 

Thursday kicks off with an opening show from Regis Philbin, an AARP anniversary event at the Lincoln Memorial, and a concert with Natalie Cole and Chaka Khan. Maya Angelou and Quincy Jones will be closing the conference on Saturday. Kiss singer Gene Simmons will speak in the afternoon before a Paul Simon performance at the convention center.