New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

The Fest for Beatles Fans to Celebrate 50th Anniversary in 2024

originally published: 12/24/2023

(QUEENS, NY) -- For 50 years, The Fest For Beatles Fans has been the ultimate annual celebration of those four lads from Liverpool. The 2024 Fest will be a celebration unlike any other as it celebrates both the 50th Anniversary of The Fest and the 60th Anniversary of The Beatles landing at JFK Airport in 1964 when they kicked off a cultural revolution that still reverberates today. To mark this special occasion, The Fest will take place February 9-11, 2024 at the TWA Hotel at JFK to put Beatles fans right at the location of their historic U.S. arrival.

Founded in 1974, The Fest is still the largest and longest running celebration of The Beatles anywhere in the world. The three-day event is packed with Beatles-related special guests, meet & greets, live music, a giant Beatles Marketplace, a Beatles Museum, an auction of rare items, an art gallery, numerous activities and the famous impromptu “fan jam” in the hotel lobby all weekend.

A highlight of The Fest is the array of Beatles-related special guests who have appeared to meet fans, perform, and tell their stories of connection to the Fab Four. The 50th anniversary will feature a plethora of significant guests. A stellar lineup of legendary musicians, led by a rare Fest appearance from Micky Dolenz (The Monkees), will include Laurence Juber (Wings guitarist), Billy J. Kramer (Liverpool legend), Gregg Bissonette (Ringo Starr Band), Steve Holley (Wings drummer), Mark Rivera (Ringo Starr Band, Billy Joel). Additional guests include Chris O’Dell (Apple Records), Jenny Boyd (sister of Pattie Boyd, George Harrison’s sister-in-law), Gary Evans (son of beloved Beatles’ roadie Mal Evans), Freda Kelly (original Beatles Fan Club president), Tony Bramwell (worked for Brian Epstein’s NEMS and Apple) and Angie & Ruth McCartney (Paul’s stepmother and stepsister). More special guests to be announced. Q104.3’s Ken Dashow returns as Master of Ceremonies, with SiriusXM The Beatles Channel’s Tom Frangione assists.

Live music is a big part of each year’s event and every year, The Fest stages feature performances by incredible musical acts. In addition to the special musical guests, who will be playing throughout the weekend, other incredible performers at this special anniversary version of The Fest include Liverpool, The Weeklings, Black Ties, Blac Rabbit, Cellophane Flowers, Jeff Slate’s Weekend Wilburys and many more!

This fully immersive event features everything a Beatles fan could want.  Dress up for the sixties/lookalike contest. Bring your original Beatles Art to enter in the Art Contest. Participate in a Battle of the Bands and Soundalike Contest. Make a karaoke music video! Bring instruments of any kind to join in the lobby jams. Bring bathing suits for the indoor pool. Be a contestant in the Trivia and Name That Tune game shows. Bring USBs if you are a DJ with a Beatles remix repertoire. Bring your B(eatles)-game all weekend and be ready for surprises. The activities are endless. There is no better place for the band’s fans to enjoy and celebrate the group’s unyielding popularity.




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



With estimated sales of more than one billion physical and digital units sold worldwide, and a record 27 number-one U.S. Chart hits, The Beatles are the best-selling band of all time.  They are also the most influential and groundbreaking musical artists ever and the revolution they began all those years ago still captures our imagination and has inspired generations of fans. 

TWA Hotel at JFK is located at John F. Kennedy International Airport, One, JFK Access Road, Idlewild Dr, Queens, NY. The festival takes place Friday, February 9 from 5:00pm to midnight; Saturday, February 10 from 10:30am to midnight; and Sunday, February 11 from 11:30am to 11:00pm.

For tickets, full details and guest bios, go to www.thefest.com OR call 1-866-THE-FEST. 

The Fest For Beatles Fans is the world’s longest-running Beatles fan celebration. Now in its 50th year, The Fest was launched in New York City in 1974 when founder Mark Lapidos thought of the idea for a 10th Anniversary Celebration of The Beatles’ arrival in America. He went to John Lennon and received his blessing who told him, “I’m all for it, I’m a Beatles fan too!” Ever since that first Beatlefest (as it was called then), Mark will be telling the full story Friday night of meeting John that most memorable day, April 28, 1974. The Fest has become an integral part of the Beatles fan experience in America, with celebrations in multiple cities and regions throughout the year. The Fest has featured appearances by a huge range of fellow musicians, artists, family members, friends, and associates from the Beatles world. It also carries the world’s largest selection of licensed Beatles merchandise and publishes the only Beatles mail order catalogue in circulation. 




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here


FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


The

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers

Friday, March 14, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: music


 

Ji

Ji In Yang, Violinist

Friday, March 14, 2025 @ 2:00pm
Ocean County College, Gateway Lecture Hall (Building 101)
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: music


 

Moondance

Moondance - Van Morrison Tribute

Friday, March 14, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Mandy

Mandy Patinkin: Being Alive with Adam Ben-David on Piano

Friday, March 14, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Janis

Janis Joplin Experience starring Lisa Polizzi (MATINEE SHOW)

Saturday, March 15, 2025 @ 3:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 



Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info




EVENT PREVIEWS

Jersey

Jersey Arts Podcast: Jonatha Brooke and Joyous Grief

Jonatha Brooke has a voice to soothe your soul, and the lyrics to nurture it. First introduced to audiences as a part of the duo, "The Story," Brooke eventually turned to an illustrious solo career and has been gifting us with her own unique storytelling ever since.



The

The Newton Theatre presents Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel

(NEWTON, NJ) -- Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel will perform at The Newton Theatre on Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 8:00pm. Duane Betts ignites and brings an evolution to the Southern rock tradition.



Gateway

Gateway Playhouse Jazzes Things Up with South Jersey Jazz Society and "Some Enchanted Evening"

(SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- Gateway Playhouse in Somers Point is launching a new partnership with the South Jersey Jazz Society (SJJS). The exciting collaboration will kick off Saturday, April 19, 2025 when Emmy®-nominated trumpeter Benny Benack III and Broadway's Khailah Johnson blend Jazz's biggest hits with Broadway’s hottest tunes in "Some Enchanted Evening.



The

The Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra to Feature Select Students in Campus Performance on March 25th

(WAYNE, NJ) -- The Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra (RSO), ensemble-in-residence at William Paterson University in Wayne, will shine the spotlight on talented William Paterson music students during its spring concert on campus on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 in the Shea Center for the Performing Arts. The concert begins at 7:30pm.



West

West Windsor Arts presents Visions Vol.1 by Sofijazz

(PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ) -- West Windsor Arts presents Visions Vol.1 by Sofijazz on featuring Sofija Knezevic on Sunday, March 16, 2025 from 7:30pm to 9:00pm. The show is perfect for lovers of jazz and vocal music.