Downtown Walnut Ridge will come alive on Saturday, Sept. 19, with the return of the annual Beatles at the Ridge music festival, offering free entertainment for attendees of all ages.

The festival regularly draws thousands of visitors and will include live performances, an array of vendors, food, a car show, children's activities, and much more. According to event organizers, 110 vendors have secured spots for this year, including 18 food vendors.

“This year’s Beatles at the Ridge is going to be packed with music and a lot of fun activities,” Peyton Tillman, chair of the festival committee, said. “All of our vendor spaces are sold out, so there’s going to be a lot to see, and the music will be outstanding, as always.”

The Liverpool Legends, a Branson-based Beatles tribute band, will headline the event with a performance on the Cavenaugh Chevrolet Rock n’ Roll Highway Stage at 7 p.m. Additional acts will entertain throughout the day.

Scheduled highlights include a martial arts demonstration by ATF Martial Arts at noon, followed by a 1:30 p.m. performance by the Williams Singers, a traveling choir from Williams Baptist University that performs gospel, pop, and spiritual music. At 3 p.m., Arkansas native Marybeth Byrd, a Top 8 finalist on NBC’s *The Voice* and Top 10 finalist on ABC’s *American Idol*, will share her blend of country, gospel, and pop music. Memphis Jones of BB King’s Blues Club on Beale Street will return with his All Memphis Music Review at 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, the KASU Roots Stage in Beatles Park will also feature performances starting at 2 p.m., with acts such as the Jazz Buskers, Silver Wings, Delta Legends, and the Spencer Brothers.

The Abbey Road Car Show, another core feature of the festival, will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. near Regions Bank on NW 3rd and West Walnut Streets. Participants can line up at Walnut Ridge City Hall beginning at 9 a.m., with an entry fee of $20. The show will offer an expanded range of awards, including people’s choice categories.

For younger attendees, a children’s area will provide face painting, bounce houses, and a magic show presented by the Morley Family.

“Our entire community comes together for Beatles at the Ridge, and we take pride in presenting one of the premier festivals in the state of Arkansas,” said Terrence Ward, executive director of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. “It is an amazing opportunity every year to welcome so many visitors, and it’s a welcome boost to our local economy, as well.”

The festival will open at 10 a.m. and conclude with the Liverpool Legends' evening performance. The event encompasses several downtown city blocks on the north side of Main Street. For more details, visit beatlesattheridge.com.