Sisters Amanda Ruffner and Caroline Lacusky came in from out of town for the 10th-annual BeatleFest Friday, looking forward to listening to all of the live music and the different groups in attendance.

When Ruffner got married, she recessed down the aisle to The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun,” and Lacusky’s favorite song is “Eleanor Rigby.”

“We’re absolutely Beatles fans,” Lacusky said. “They have such great music.”

The festival attracted crowds with free live music from 20 musicians and bands throughout businesses in downtown Kent, celebrating tunes from The Beatles.

“Beatles music is timeless,” said Bob Burford, a spokesperson for the Crooked River Fine Arts Council.

The Beatles were a British rock/pop band formed in Liverpool in 1960 consisting of four members, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr and the group is widely regarded as an iconic and influential band, according to Brit Music Tours.

With 34.5 million monthly listeners, The Beatles’ music is beloved by many at the festival.

The Crooked River Fine Arts Council, a non-profit organization, organized the event in February as February has numerous significant anniversaries in The Beatles band history, according to Burford.

From duos to soloists to bands, music lovers from all over came to downtown Kent to enjoy performances by Abbey Road, Ella Choi, Revolution Pie, Mike Binder & Priscilla, Get Back and more, keeping the love of music and The Beatles band alive.

‘Mississippi Wheelhouse,’ one of the bands who played at the festival Friday night, play a wide variety of music, everything from Buck Owens to the Foo Fighters, according to their band members.

“We’re lifelong fans of The Beatles; I was seven years old when The Beatles came to America,” said a Mississippi Wheelhouse band member.

Lauren Bischof is a beat reporter. Contact her at [email protected].

Dom O’Brien is a TV2 Reporter. Contact him at [email protected].