Fifth Third Bank Abbey Road on the River Will Return to Louisville
Memorial Day Weekend Festival Largest in North America

Beatle fans from all over the world will have the opportunity to celebrate the largest Beatles tribute festival in America when it returns to Louisville, Ky., May 26 – 28, 2006. Fifth Third Bank Abbey Road on the River was held for the first time in Louisville in 2005, and because of its overwhelming success, event coordinators have signed for another year in Louisville, with possible plans to make the city its permanent home for the annual event.

The three-day event will be held Memorial Day weekend, bringing together over 50 bands, from 12 countries, and up to 20,000 attendees. The weekend will include a Beatles film festival, lectures on the rock group and sale of memorabilia. All events will take place at Louisville’s Belvedere, the Kentucky Center and the Galt House Hotel & Suites. Abbey Road on the River is expected to generate an estimated economic impact of over $3 million for the local community.

Starting in 2002, the event began in Cleveland but moved to Louisville in 2005. Gary Jacob, who began the popular event said, “Abbey Road on the River was great in Cleveland, but Louisville really knows how to throw a party – it was much better here.”
David Dean, partner of Abbey Road on the River, LLC, mirrored Jacob’s comments and said, “I had a hunch that if we could move this event to Louisville the locals would embrace the festival. We knew once the regular attendees from across the country saw what Louisville had to offer, they would fall love with the city, and they did.”

Corporate sponsorship was an integral part of guaranteeing a successful inaugural event in Louisville. Fifth Third Bank was the primary sponsor of 2005’s festival, and will once again sponsor the festival in 2006. “Fifth Third is excited to bring back Abbey Road on the River to the Louisville community,” said Phil McHugh, president & CEO of Fifth Third Bank. “Last year was a great success and our hope is that 2006 is even bigger.”

The Greater Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau was also a sponsor of the event and will play a large role in promoting next year’s festival through advertising and marketing, along with selling hotel and ticket packages for the weekend at www.gotolouisville.com. Bureau President & CEO Jim Wood said, “We are thrilled at the success of the first Abbey Road on the River in Louisville, and expect it to become the premier festival in Louisville’s Memorial Day Weekend.”

Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson commented on the importance of the festival to the city, and pledged the city’s support to guarantee the continued success of it. He said, “The community of Louisville is greatly enhanced by this festival, not only by the tourism dollars it brings, but by the national attention it brings to the city.”

Tickets for the Abbey River Road on the River 2006 will go on sale Oct. 09, 2005. For more information, visit www.abbeyroadontheriver.com.

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