Oct 6, 2015: World’s Largest Human Peace Sign Attempt

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Gotta give Yoko Ono due credit: She knew how to celebrate what would have been John Lennon‘s 75th birthday in a way he would have definitely appreciated. So his fans and admirers were invited to gather in the East Meadow of New York City’s Central Park (at 99th Street and Fifth Avenue) on October 6, 2015, to help take the Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Human Peace Sign.

The previous record was 5,814 people in 2009 at the Ithaca Festival. The goal of the 2015 was to draw 6,000 to 10,000 people to the free, all-ages and family friendly gathering that began at 10 a.m. that day. (Lennon’s actual birthday is October 9.)

A crowd estimated by Guinness at only 2000 assembled, falling far short of the record.

Watch a video of the assembled crowd hoping for the largest human peace sign

John’s fans were also able to purchase limited-edition commemorative t-shirts, and by doing helped support the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, which will was on hand for the event. It is a non-profit state-of-the-art mobile Pro Audio and HD video recording facility that provides hands-on experiences for students of all ages. An offshoot of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, the bus travels across the U.S. and Canada year-round, providing free tours and workshops at schools, retailers, festivals, on tours with headlining artists, and at major industry conferences.

There was no better place for the event than Central Park. The Lennon/Ono apartment in the Dakota at 72nd and Central Park West overlooks the park where John and Yoko would enjoy taking walks. ““New York was a very special place for John – his adopted home,” Ono says.

Imagine.

And in October 2018, the 72 St subway station near the Dakota was reopened after being refurbished

I’m thrilled that SKY has opened at 72nd St Subway just steps from my home & Strawberry Fields, which I created in memory of @johnlennon. It will bring the sky underground, so it’s always with us. I hope this will bring peace & joy to my fellow New Yorkers for many years to come. pic.twitter.com/ehCH7zmQlp

— Yoko Ono (@yokoono) October 6, 2018