As if I did not overdose on The Beatles this spring (“Free Beatles Walking Tour”:https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/attraction/176361-review-free-beatles-walking-tour; “The Beatles Story”:https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/attraction/176294-review-the-beatles-story), this past weekend was “The Beatles Festival”:https://thebeatlesfestival.com/ in London, Ontario. This is an annual event and this year I decided to check it out. There were activities for all ages. Two streets in downtown were closed off to traffic and renamed Abbey Road (Clarence Street) and Penny Lane (Dundas Street). A children’s area was created at one end with Strawberry Fields created with sod on the street surrounded by face painting and crafts. Around the corner was a free stage with live entertainment at the Abbey Road Street Stage. I went early Sunday afternoon and was treated to some Beatles and non-Beatles but somewhat related tunes. The weather was lovely; those who planned to stay for the duration brought their own fold up chairs and were enjoying the sunshine as well as the music. I must say the best I heard was from the youth musicians who had competed the previous day.
There were food trucks, some British, and Beatles paraphernalia for sale. Down one street was a classic car show. My favourite was the blue MG pictured with this review.
There were also various venues participating in the festival where you could pay to hear different bands play and the ubiquitous beer garden aptly named, Octopus’s Beer Garden.
The Metropolitan United Church had Basically Basie Big Band on Saturday afternoon playing jazzed up Beatles tunes.
For the more literary, there were speakers and authors at the London Hall of Fame such as: Dr. Kenneth Womack whose books include “Long and Winding Roads: The Evolving Artistry of the Beatles” and “The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four.”
There is on street parking and numerous Impark and Municipal parking lots around the downtown core. As I went on a Sunday, I parked in the Municipal lot on Queens Street (one way travelling west) just east of Richmond Street as it is free on Sundays. Make sure you read the signs carefully as not all of them are free on Sundays.
