Beatles Festival In Kentucky To Include Films, Lectures

LOUISVILLE, KY (AP) — As many as 20,000 Beatles fans are expected in Louisville over the U.S. Memorial Day weekend for America's largest Beatles festival.

Abbey Road on the River has been held the past three years in Cleveland but will move to Kentucky this May 27-29.

Tourism spending from the event is expected to pump about $3 million into the local economy, said Mayor Jerry Abramson. The weekend will include a Beatles film festival, lectures on the rock group and the sale of memorabilia, including paintings by well-known artists.

Neither of the surviving Beatles – Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr – is expected to attend.

About half of the more than 40 bands expected to appear will dress like the Beatles and imitate their music, said Gary Jacob, the show's organizer. The others, he said, will do interpretations of Beatles music in styles that include classical, reggae and blues.

Jacob said it will cost about $500,000 US to stage the event. He said he patterned the event after a weeklong Beatles festival held annually for the past two decades in Liverpool, England.

For more information, visit www.abbeyroadontheriver.com or call 216-378-1980.