The Rochester Rec & Arena is pleased to announce 2 upcoming Mah Jongg programs at the Senior Activity Center. Mah Jongg Free Play is open to experienced players and those who have graduated from the Intro to Mah Jongg course previously held at the Rec.

Volunteer instructor Diane Garland will be leading the free play from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Thursday, March 23, and Thursday, March 30, 2023. The program is free, but registration is required.

For adults 18 and older who want to learn the basics of this 800-year-old game, the Rec offers an Intro to Mah Jongg course. The American version, which uses the current year’s play card, will be taught. The course will cover basic hands and strategies to train the brain to learn and recognize them. “For anyone curious about Mah Jongg, this game is not like the matching game you might play on your computer or tablet,” says Recreation supervisor Jeff Turgeon, “This game involves strategy and lots of thinking, but success, in the end, can be very rewarding.”

The course will run every Thursday from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, starting April 6, 2023. The program is free, but pre-registration is required. Enrollment is currently open and ends on April 12. This program is for beginners; experienced players/last session players are welcome to join, but they do not need to register.

Mah Jongg is a popular game played worldwide, including by many military personnel deployed overseas. Jeff encourages anyone interested to stop by: “If you want to make some new friends and socialize on a Thursday afternoon, come check it out!”

For more information, please contact the Rochester Rec & Arena at (603) 332-4120 or visit  Rec.RochesterNH.gov.