Area John Lennon Society hosting concert

OLMITO — A benefit concert to celebrate life will take place at John Lennon Memorial Park this weekend.

The area John Lennon Society will be hosting the free concert.

Organizers said they expect to have a variety of bands playing music starting at 5 p.m. and into the night. They said donations are welcome.

It will be the first concert held in 18 years at the park named after the famous Beatle.

Since the 1980s, Olmito has received attention because of John Lennon Memorial Park, which is leased to the county at $1 a year by the Olmito McNamara family because Lennon “did a great deal to promote peace and world harmony.”

For many years the park held an annual celebration in conjunction with Earth Day and on Lennon’s birthday.

“We want to make a comeback,” said Lee McNamara, a John Lennon Society member. “This weekend is going to be like a big tailgate party with bands.”

McNamara said the county park was renamed after the Beatle in 1981 and the Lennon Society was later established in the Valley in 1987.

“This event is going to be like a mini Woodstock,” McNamara said. “Everyone is welcome to come enjoy the music and celebrate life.”