Edutainment is the art of combining education and entertainment.

Those of us on the other side of 50 can learn how to navigate new possibilities and the complexities of getting older while having some fun at the same time.

Oh, yes, one more thing—it’s all happening Thurs. through Sat., Sept. 22 to 24 in Los Angeles.

AARP will host Life@50+, a three-day event at the L.A. Convention Center designed to educate and entertain thousands of older adults from around the country.

The event is a hodge-podge of programs. You can begin your day with morning fitness sessions with Martina Navratilova or Richard Simmons.

In case you were wondering, Simmons says he’s “still sweatin’ after all these years.”

Take in “Movies for Grownups” such as “The King’s Speech” and “50/50” or attend the Sept. 23 premiere of “The Way” starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez.

Enjoy feature sessions with celebrities such as Carol Burnett with Tim Conway, Tim Gunn of “Project Runway,” Leeza Gibbons,

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Spike Lee, B.D. Wong of “Law and Order” and Gary Knell with Grover of “Sesame Street” fame.

AARP lifestyle sessions offer presentations on a host of topics, including online travel; the aging brain; sex, love and intimacy; and grannies on safari.

AARP’s university sessions will include programs and advice on addressing the challenges and opportunities of aging. Some of the programs are “Lose Weight: Have Fun with Friends Going from Fat to Fit,” “E-reading for Dummies,” “Great Gadgets: Cutting-Edge Tech for Living Life,” “Get Your MFA: Master of Frugal Arts” and “Marketing Yourself: The Essentials of What’s Next for You.”

The exhibit hall will feature more than 400 companies offering resources, information and giveaways.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings will showcase group events and entertainment.

The Wednesday night kickoff is the Great American Meet and Greet, a huge block party offering a chance to mix and mingle while celebrating the food and wine of California, all on the back lot of a movie studio.

Thursday night Lionel Richie, Patti Austin and Ramsay Lewis will perform in concert at the Nokia Theatre.

And Friday there’s the opportunity to enjoy sweet treats at the World’s Largest Ice Cream Social, with classic cars, live music and dancing at L.A. Live.

Pricing is a la carte. Tickets for the main event (celebrity speakers and educational sessions) are $25 for AARP members and $35 for nonmembers. The nonmember’s fee includes a one-year AARP membership. Tickets to the evening events are an additional charge.

To register go to www.aarp.org/laevent or call (800) 830-6153.

This national event is in our own backyard, but if driving into L.A. is not your thing, AARP members can enjoy the celebrity speakers, informative sessions and exhibits from the comfort of their own computer. For access, go to www.aarp.org/event.

AARP’s Life@50+ sounds like edutainment at its best.

More ...