Peace and love will fill the downtown core this weekend, as Beatles Fest returns for its second year.
Starting this evening, organizers are marking the 50th anniversary of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album with a long list of events that runs through to Sunday.
There will be an Abbey Road Street Stage set up on Clarence, an Octopus’s Beer Garden, “The Fab Four-um” discussion panels, a Sgt. Pepper listening lounge, about half a dozen venues hosting concerts, and family friendly activities.
“We just in the second year have really exploded,” Paul Rivard, the festival’s founder and director told AM980.
Rivard says things kick off tonight with some free musical guests, and opening ceremonies are slated for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Abbey Road Street Stage.
A big band performance takes place tomorrow at the Metropolitan United Church at 3 p.m., with $10 from every ticket for the matinee going towards Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
On Sunday, organizers are laying down 5,000 square feet of sod for people to walk on and dance on barefoot on “Penny Lane,” known throughout the rest of the year as the stretch of Dundas Street between Richmond Street and Wellington Road.
All day passes for the festival are $20, and kids under 10 years of age and under get in for free. For more information, visit the festival’s website.
The LTC also has a $5 family bus pass available for tomorrow’s events.