Beatlemania Comes To Oak Lawn Library For Beatles Week

OAK LAWN, IL — In honor of the 60th anniversary of Ringo Starr joining the Beatles, and Paul McCartney’s 80th birthday this past weekend, the Oak Lawn Public Library will host a week-long tribute to the Fab 4 from June 23 through July 1. If you were a crazed teen in the 1960s screaming your head off at Comiskey Park, a little person who has yet to discover the Beatles, or somewhere in between, you don’t want to miss Beatles Week at the library.

4EVER4: 60 Years of the Beatles is a 10-tower photo exhibit illustrating the Beatles’ storied musical career from 1962 to 1970. The exhibit features nearly 100 photographs of John, Paul, George and Ringo and their antics in concert and offstage. After viewing the exhibit, patrons can enter giveaways to win one of five premium Beatles prizes. 4EVER4 is funded and sponsored by Republic Bank of Chicago.

In addition to the photo exhibit, the library has a whole week of Beatles experts, trivia, a free movie screening and a concert by the world’s greatest Beatles tribute band ever – American English – planned.

60 Years of The Beatles, 7 p.m. Thursday, June 23: Join the library for opening night of 4EVER4, and a lecture and discussion with John F. Lyons, Ph.D. Lyons, author of “Joy and Fear: The Beatles, Chicago and the 1960s.” Lyons examines the impact of the Beatles on the Chicago metropolitan area. This multimedia presentation will reveal the unique connection between the Fab 4 and the Windy City. Tea and crumpets will be served.

Meet the Beatles, 11 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday, June 25: Meet in the lower level of the library 11-11:45 a.m. in the lower-level meeting rooms for an entertaining multimedia history of one of the world’s most beloved bands. Kids will be introduced to the band while past generations reminisce about the songs they grew up with.

American English, 2 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 25: Live at the OLPL, celebrate World Beatles Day with tribute band American English. Food trucks will be available as we sing along with two sets of the greatest hits that defined a generation. The concert will take place in the Cook Avenue parking lot behind the library, rain or shine. Limited seating will be available on a first come, first serve basis, but people are permitted to bring their own chairs or stand during the performance. This concert is funded and sponsored by the Oak Lawn Community Library Foundation.

Cook Avenue and Dumke Drive will be closed to all traffic starting Friday evening in preparation for the event. Alternate parking will be available in the Oak Lawn village hall lot on Raymond Avenue.

Beatles Movie Night “Yesterday” (2019), 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 28: Meet in the lower-level meeting rooms for a free screening of the movie “Yesterday” (2019). The film follows a struggling musician as he realizes he’s the only person on earth who can remember the Beatles after waking up in an alternate reality where they never existed. The film is rated PG-13 and runs for 116 minutes.

Beatles Trivia Night, 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 29: Do you know your facts about John, Paul, Ringo and George? Put your Beatles knowledge to the test and win prizes at the library’s Beatles Trivia Night.

Visit Oak Lawn Public Library Beatles Week for more information or call 708-422-4990. The library is located at 9427 S. Raymond Ave. (Raymond Avenue and 95th Street), Oak Lawn.