The Fest for Beatles Fans (previously known as Beatlefest) is a twice-annual, three-day festival that honors the lasting legacy of
the Beatles. The festival takes place in the New York metropolitan area, ordinarily in March or April, and in Chicago, Illinois, each August. Running Friday through Sunday, the Fest features special guests, live concerts, exhibits, art contests, a Beatles marketplace, a sound-alike contest, a Battle of the Beatles Bands, and more.
The Fest for Beatles Fans began in 1974 after founder Mark Lapidos[1] ran the idea by
John Lennon during an encounter at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Lapidos asked Lennon for permission, to which Lennon replied, "I’m all for it! I’m a Beatles fan too!"[2][3]
The first Fest, titled Beatlefest '74, took place over the weekend of 14–15 September 1974 at the
Commodore Hotel in New York City.[4] Over 8,000 Beatles fans attended.[2] The event was supported by
BBC TV and
Apple Corps in London; both organisations supplied archive films and promotional clips, some of which had never been seen in the US.[4] Each Beatle donated an item to be auctioned off for charity – guitars from Lennon and
Paul McCartney, a table from
George Harrison, and autographed drumsticks from
Ringo Starr.[4] Lennon considered attending, but decided not to because he was nervous about the crowd.[5]May Pang, his girlfriend at the time, went in his place, with instructions to buy any interesting-looking memorabilia. Melody Maker journalist
Chris Charlesworth helped Pang select items.[4]Beatlefest '74 was recognized on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.[6]
Since its inception in 1974, the Fest has taken place every year in the New York Metropolitan area, except for the first two years of the
COVID-19 pandemic.[7] It has taken place in Chicago, Illinois, every year since 1977. The Fest has also taken place in Atlanta, Boston,[8] Houston, Las Vegas,[9] Los Angeles,[10] Orlando,[11] Philadelphia[12] and San Francisco.[13]
For the 60th anniversary of the Beatles landing in America at JFK airport, The Fest for Beatles Fans was held at the new TWA Hotel at JFK Airport, whose main public spaces are in the historic Eero Saarinen TWA flight Center where the Beatles landed. [14]
Among the events and activities at the Fest for Beatles Fans are nightly concerts by Beatles tribute band Liverpool, appearances and performances by various musical guests, photo exhibits, a Beatles museum and art contest, a Beatles sound-alike contest, the Battle of the Beatles Bands, panels and discussions with authors and Beatles experts, movie screenings, live auctions, puppet shows, and a Beatles marketplace. In 2014, the Fest included a bus trip to
JFK Airport to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' arrival in America.[17]
Past attendees
Since its inception in 1974, the Fest has hosted hundreds of special guests, including:
Harry Nilsson, singer-songwriter who was close with John Lennon and Ringo Starr.[37] In 1982, Nilsson released an exclusive limited-edition single called "With a Bullet" at Beatlefest to raise money for gun control.[38]
Klaus Voormann, met the Beatles in Hamburg in the early 1960s, designed the cover of
Revolver, and played bass with Lennon as part of the Plastic Ono Band[42]
Larry Kane, Philadelphia television news anchor, the only American journalist to accompany the Beatles on their 1964–1965 American tours[20][26][34][46]
Freda Kelly, secretary for the Beatles and Epstein, president of the Beatles fan club[21]
Astrid Kirchherr, met the Beatles in Hamburg in the early 1960s, took early photographs of the group, and dated former bassist
Stuart Sutcliffe[10]
^"Case 73118612 Beatlefest". Trademark Status & Document Retrieval. USPTO. Retrieved July 3, 2020.; Mark Lapidos Productions Ltd. v Apple Corps Limited:
Trademark case
"Proceedings 92026010". Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Inquiry System. USPTO.
The Fest for Beatles Fans (previously known as Beatlefest) is a twice-annual, three-day festival that honors the lasting legacy of
the Beatles. The festival takes place in the New York metropolitan area, ordinarily in March or April, and in Chicago, Illinois, each August. Running Friday through Sunday, the Fest features special guests, live concerts, exhibits, art contests, a Beatles marketplace, a sound-alike contest, a Battle of the Beatles Bands, and more.
The Fest for Beatles Fans began in 1974 after founder Mark Lapidos[1] ran the idea by
John Lennon during an encounter at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Lapidos asked Lennon for permission, to which Lennon replied, "I’m all for it! I’m a Beatles fan too!"[2][3]
The first Fest, titled Beatlefest '74, took place over the weekend of 14–15 September 1974 at the
Commodore Hotel in New York City.[4] Over 8,000 Beatles fans attended.[2] The event was supported by
BBC TV and
Apple Corps in London; both organisations supplied archive films and promotional clips, some of which had never been seen in the US.[4] Each Beatle donated an item to be auctioned off for charity – guitars from Lennon and
Paul McCartney, a table from
George Harrison, and autographed drumsticks from
Ringo Starr.[4] Lennon considered attending, but decided not to because he was nervous about the crowd.[5]May Pang, his girlfriend at the time, went in his place, with instructions to buy any interesting-looking memorabilia. Melody Maker journalist
Chris Charlesworth helped Pang select items.[4]Beatlefest '74 was recognized on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.[6]
Since its inception in 1974, the Fest has taken place every year in the New York Metropolitan area, except for the first two years of the
COVID-19 pandemic.[7] It has taken place in Chicago, Illinois, every year since 1977. The Fest has also taken place in Atlanta, Boston,[8] Houston, Las Vegas,[9] Los Angeles,[10] Orlando,[11] Philadelphia[12] and San Francisco.[13]
For the 60th anniversary of the Beatles landing in America at JFK airport, The Fest for Beatles Fans was held at the new TWA Hotel at JFK Airport, whose main public spaces are in the historic Eero Saarinen TWA flight Center where the Beatles landed. [14]
Among the events and activities at the Fest for Beatles Fans are nightly concerts by Beatles tribute band Liverpool, appearances and performances by various musical guests, photo exhibits, a Beatles museum and art contest, a Beatles sound-alike contest, the Battle of the Beatles Bands, panels and discussions with authors and Beatles experts, movie screenings, live auctions, puppet shows, and a Beatles marketplace. In 2014, the Fest included a bus trip to
JFK Airport to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' arrival in America.[17]
Past attendees
Since its inception in 1974, the Fest has hosted hundreds of special guests, including:
Harry Nilsson, singer-songwriter who was close with John Lennon and Ringo Starr.[37] In 1982, Nilsson released an exclusive limited-edition single called "With a Bullet" at Beatlefest to raise money for gun control.[38]
Klaus Voormann, met the Beatles in Hamburg in the early 1960s, designed the cover of
Revolver, and played bass with Lennon as part of the Plastic Ono Band[42]
Larry Kane, Philadelphia television news anchor, the only American journalist to accompany the Beatles on their 1964–1965 American tours[20][26][34][46]
Freda Kelly, secretary for the Beatles and Epstein, president of the Beatles fan club[21]
Astrid Kirchherr, met the Beatles in Hamburg in the early 1960s, took early photographs of the group, and dated former bassist
Stuart Sutcliffe[10]
^"Case 73118612 Beatlefest". Trademark Status & Document Retrieval. USPTO. Retrieved July 3, 2020.; Mark Lapidos Productions Ltd. v Apple Corps Limited:
Trademark case
"Proceedings 92026010". Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Inquiry System. USPTO.