Fremont Street is turning back the clock to the hippie days for a three-month celebration called the Summer of  ’69: Vegas or Bust.

The celebration includes a number of free performances by bands like the Guess Who and Blood, Sweat and Tears, who kicked off the celebration Memorial Day weekend. Upcoming shows include Rare Earth and Bill Haley’s Comets June 6, Big Brother and the Holding Company on July 3, Jefferson Starship on July 18 (sorry, but no Grace Slick) and Canned Heat on September 5 to wind down the summer.

There is also a custom-created Viva Vision show called “Songs of Life.” The show was created by artist John Van Hamersveld, who designed the cover for the Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour, the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street and the movie Endless Summer.

Van Hamersveld also applied a custom paint job to some hippie busses that will be around the Fremont Street Area, and he will open Hippie Nation Gallery and Records, where he will sell posters, digital prints, silk screens and albums.

“I’ve custom-created four symbols that represent summer of ’69: a flower, symbolizing growth; a peace sign, instilling safety within; a heart representing love; and a globe for balance,” Van Hamersveld said. “I feel these emblems truly symbolize the great year of 1969 and bring a fresh, modern approach to these events.”

By Casino Connection Staff