Here comes the fun: Beatles on the Beach 2024 festival gets back to Delray Beach with Cheap Trick, Ringo Bingo, car shows

Phillip Valys, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
·6 min read

If anyone needs proof that Beatlemania remains alive and well in South Florida, look at Delray Beach, where the citywide International Beatles on the Beach festival will come together again from Jan. 24 to 28.

The third edition of organizer Daniel Hartwell’s bash devoted to John, Paul, George and Ringo will fan out to 25 venues with art, books, drinks, nostalgia and a bill of 31 music acts toplined by rock icons Cheap Trick (“Surrender,” “I Want You to Want Me,” “Dream Police”).

Hartwell, a veteran concert booker and lifelong fan who began the tribute festival in 2019, is not shy about flaunting his Beatlemania in brash public ways. In December, Hartwell joined a procession of floats in the Delray Beach Holiday Parade with a yellow-submarine Volkswagen Beetle. And on Jan. 12 and 19, from 6 to 9 p.m., chances are strong that downtown visitors will catch him strolling Atlantic Avenue in a shiny blue Sgt. Pepper suit, adorned with gold tassels and a psychedelic hat — his way of hyping the upcoming festival.

“Everyone comes up to me and my wife and tells us their Beatles stories,” says Hartwell, who programs the festival with partner Kerri Smith. “I’ve had women come up to us and say they actually dated members of the Beatles, or say their mother brought them to see the Beatles live.”

This year, of course, marks the 60th anniversary since the four lads from Liverpool touched down in New York, meandered to Miami Beach and minted the first generation of Beatles obsessives with a stateside tour punctuated with psychedelia, pop and screaming fans. In South Beach, the Brits filmed their second appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” at the Deauville Beach Resort, and even ran into Cassius Clay, who was busy training for his upcoming match with Sonny Liston, shortly before the former changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

The Beatles performed just one Florida concert ever, in Jacksonville, on Sept. 11, 1964 — and almost canceled it when they learned the audience would be segregated. The band’s defiant stance against the backdrop of the 1964 Civil Rights Act — John Lennon reportedly said, “I’d sooner lose our appearance money” — worked, and the audience was desegregated.

The musical acts performing Beatles covers over the four-day bash is a testament to the Fab Four’s influence on bands old and new, Hartwell says. And that includes Cheap Trick.

“They’re the American Beatles,” he says. “They’ve got a full-orchestra Sgt. Pepper album out there. They love ‘Day Tripper,’ ‘We Can Work It Out.’ They’ll pop out some Beatles here, too.”

On opening day, Pineapple Grove will be transformed into “Beatleville,” with live-music stages lining the arty neighborhood. Other activities will include a bar crawl, book signings, Ringo Bingo, a Beatles Brunch, an Abbey Road car display, an art exhibit featuring works made by the Beatles themselves, and screenings of several themed movies.

The bash will officially kick off with a 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Jan. 25 party at Thrōw Social (29 SE Second Ave.), featuring “Beatle Brews,” contests and a set by KISS tribute band KISS ALIVE.

Below, find a breakdown of daily highlights for this year’s Beatles on the Beach.

Ticket to ride

Many Beatles-themed gatherings are free, save Old School Square concerts from headliner Cheap Trick on Jan. 26 (gates open 5 p.m.) and The Fab Faux on Jan. 27 (gates open at 3 p.m.). General-admission lawn tickets for those cost $39.50+ each. Each concert will feature multiple opening acts. A two-day festival pass ($65+) gets you access to both shows along with pre-parties and post-parties. Go to Ticketmaster.com.

One pair of Golden VIP passes ($228.50 each) remain, which include front-row seats and a signed bottle of Jon Bon Jovi’s Hampton Water Rosé.

Speaking of alcohol, all passes unlock free drinks for ticketholders at festival partner venues, including a “Beatle Juice” drink at Deck 84; Berry Sangria at Papa’s Tapas; a Jelly Submarine shot at Tin Roof; and a John Lemon shot at Johnnie Brown’s. There’s also a free Strawberry Fields Forever smoothie at Playa Bowls and a free 24-ounce smoothie at Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s Boynton Beach location. (Show proof of purchase at each venue.)

Magical mystery tour

Find the full schedule for musical acts at BeatlesontheBeach.com/lineup-2024. Some of our picks for noteworthy performances include:

  • Gregg Bissonette, drummer for Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band — Jan. 28 at Thrōw Social

  • KISS ALIVE, a KISS tribute band — 7 to 10 p.m. Jan. 25 at Thrōw Social

  • Melody Road, performing 1960s and ’70s greatest hits including the Beatles — 2 to 5:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at Deck 84

  • Spider Cherry, a Delray Beach rock-funk act from multi-instrumentalist Nathan Mercado — 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 24 at Tin Roof and 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Jan. 26 at Johnnie Brown’s

  • She’s Leaving Home, Finland-based Beatles tribute band — 6:45 to 8 p.m. Jan. 24 in Pineapple Grove; 7 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at Thrōw Social; 10:30 to 11 p.m. Jan. 26 at Blue Anchor; 11:35 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. and 5 to 5:45 p.m. Jan. 27 at Old School Square; and Jan. 28 at Johnnie Brown’s

Art naturally

Ringo Starr’s longtime art publisher and Delray Beach resident Neal Glaser will showcase his personal collection of works created by The Beatles during the two-day exhibit “The Art of Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Ringo Starr, John Lennon & George Harrison,” from 4 to 10 p.m. Jan. 26 and noon to 10 p.m. Jan. 27 at the amphitheater’s gate entrance.

Meanwhile, artist Trevor “Stickman” Stickel will present a new Cheap Trick-inspired, pop-realism painting to the band moments before their set begins on Jan. 26. Stickel will also display his pop-art paintings from 4 to 10 p.m. Jan. 26 and 2 to 10 p.m. Jan. 27 at Cornell Art Museum.

Across the Delray universe

The Abbey Road Car Display, a showcase of yellow Volkswagen Beetles and tricked-out hot rods gussied up in groovy Beatles colors and decals, will be parked on Northeast Second Avenue in Pineapple Grove from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 24.

Ringo Bingo, a bingo bar game that functions exactly how it sounds, is set for 1 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at Crazy Uncle Mike’s (6450 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton).

BeatleCon, a contest in which prizes will be awarded to superfans costumed as their favorite Beatle, rockstar, hippie or movie character, will take place all weekend long. Participants who post selfies (hashtag #BeatlesontheBeach) on Facebook and Instagram will be flagged down by scouts and handed prizes on the spot, Hartwell says.

Be mindful of the band’s outsized influence on yoga during Here Comes the Sun, with a free session scheduled from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Jan. 28 at Colony Hotel (525 E. Atlantic Ave.). Musician Jerry Leeman will perform Beatles tribute music.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: 2024 International Beatles on the Beach Festival

WHEN: Jan. 24-28

WHERE: 25 venues across Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton

COST: $39.50-$65; VIP options also available

INFORMATION: BeatlesontheBeach.com