Hundreds of people of all ages came to enjoy the music of the '60s on June 30 in Simms Millennium Park.
When the Sutcliffes took over the stage, the crowd cheered and a great many surrounded the stage and started dancing.
The Sutcliffes, who got the inspiration for their name from original Beatles' bassist Stu Sutcliffe, bill themselves as the West Coast Homage to the Beatles.
They were here to celebrate the 50th year since the Fab Four took the world by storm. Shaun Wilson, Chuck Simms, Terry Marshall and Damian Graham took Courtenay by storm — the crowd of young and old loved them!
Many people said it was the best concert they had ever gone to. People stayed to the very end and that was not until the Sutcliffes had played encores.
Shaun said the crowd was fantastic and they enjoyed playing here. They've gone home to Victoria, but they said they want to come back.
Before the music, a Beatlemania costume contest was a very fun event. A group of four Moptop lookalikes — Jake Dimery, Andrew Munroe, Daniel de Lune and Caleb Burd — were excited to win a special Comox Harbour cruise.
Other great prizes that were given out to Beatlemania’s enthusiastic entrants included rounds of golf from Sunnydale, and refreshments from the Whistle Stop Pub. Donations from Tria Culinary Studio, VI Fitness and Fitness Excellence were great prizes, too. Dan Vie was delighted with a nights stay at Royston Bed and Breakfast.
Nadia from Lots of Laughs had a long lineup of children who all were given a balloon creation. Besides the contest winners, 97.3 The Eagle gave out many T-shirts, and flags and pins were free for all.
The concert by the Sutcliffes was the main event that the July 1st Committee sponsored to begin Canada Day Events. The Grande Parade and all the events in Courtenay, ending with the Celebrate Concert at the Sid Williams Theatre, ensured the Valley celebrated Canada’s 145th birthday in grand style!
— July 1st Committee