San Anselmo’s “Beatles In The Park,” a beloved annual celebration of the Fab Four’s music, is making a grand return on Saturday, July 27.
The fact that the event’s 20th anniversary aligns with the opening line of The Beatles’ iconic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album isn’t lost on the event’s producer, the San Anselmo Arts Commission, which has summoned the talents of The Liddypudlians, the tribute act that performed at the city’s first iteration of “Beatles In The Park” in 2004.
Known by the sobriquet, “The Liddies,” the band will be augmented by a mini-orchestra of strings, brass and woodwinds, as well as a chorus, to better showcase the sonic tapestry for which The Beatles songbook is known.
Why The Beatles? Simple: People love, love, love The Beatles—and nostalgia can be healthy in proper doses.
“Beatles In The Park has always been a personal favorite of mine,” remarked Mayor Eileen Burke. “It attracts fans of all ages from all over the Bay Area and brings the town and community together. As the song goes, it’s ‘guaranteed to raise a smile.’”
Moreover, the reasons to host the one-night-only concert are as numerous as The Beatles’ hits. Proceeds from the concert support the commission’s annual youth artist scholarships, benefiting high school students in theater, dance, music and visual arts. The annual event is the commission’s sole fundraiser, with 100% of the proceeds going towards new public art projects, art advocacy and youth scholarship programs.
“We have been fortunate to sell out Creek Park each year,” noted arts commissioner Elizabeth Grasso. “Given the anniversary and amazing history, we’re expecting this to be our biggest year yet. Make sure you get your ticket to ride!”
Beatle-y puns aside, whether one is four or 64—or even 104—there is no denying that people love singing and dancing to The Beatles. To wit, the all-volunteer arts commission is understandably excited to “get back” to it and again deliver the joy of Beatles music to the community. Also, we have it on good authority that the initials from “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” aren’t a veiled reference to “Liddies Sing Downtown.” Just sayin’.
The 20th annual ‘Beatles In The Park’ concert takes place from 6 to 9pm, on Saturday, July 27 at Creek Park, 249 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo. Tickets are $35 for adults, $12 for children aged 3 to 12 and free for children two and under. For more information, visit sananselmoarts.org/beatles-in-the-park-2024.
