Through May 26, the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, hosts “Give Peace a Chance,” an exhibition that explores John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s famous Bed-In at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. The show features a collection of rarely seen photographs and artifacts that document the couple’s peaceful protest and its cultural impact.
The exhibition coincides with Abbey Road on the River, which runs May 22–26 in downtown Louisville. Abbey Road on the River has grown into the world’s largest Beatles-inspired music festival, drawing fans from across the globe to celebrate the band’s music and legacy.
This year’s festival lineup includes headline performances by The Beach Boys, John Sebastian and Ambrosia. In addition to those marquee acts, the event showcases a wide array of tribute bands and international performers paying homage to the Beatles. Participating groups include The Traveling Beatleburys, Norway’s Norwegian Beatles, Hard Day’s Night, Germany’s The Beatles Forever Band, Canada’s All You Need is Love, Germany’s Ringo Playing the Beatles, the U.K.’s The Apple Core Beatles and The Beatribes from Osaka, Japan.
With concerts, exhibitions and fan events spread throughout downtown Louisville, the combined presence of the Muhammad Ali Center’s historical exhibit and the Abbey Road on the River festival offers attendees both a reflective look at a pivotal moment in peace activism and a lively celebration of classic rock and Beatles culture.
Whether you’re interested in the historical context of Lennon and Ono’s protest or want to experience live performances from tribute acts and classic rock icons, this overlap of exhibition and festival provides a unique cultural experience for visitors of all ages.