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Photograph by Wade Lawrence, courtesy of New York State Historic Preservation Office

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Last updated: December 8, 2021

Original Woodstock site: a great music venue, museum and a grassy field

• Updated: Apr. 21, 2015, 7:53 p.m. |
• Published: Apr. 21, 2015, 6:53 p.m.
• David Figura | [email protected]

Woodstock has been called the event that defined an entire generation.

The Woodstock Music and Art Festival, held Aug. 15-18, 1969 in the Sullivan County town of Bethel, was planned as a three-day concert, which got extended into a fourth day.

It featured many of the hottest bands of the era and took place on the farmland of dairy farmer Max Yasgur, a mild-mannered man who became a hero figure to the counter culture, although he shared little in common with that moment.

Organizers started off selling tickets but in time the gates were stormed by attendees and it became a free event, attending by more than 500,000.  News of that spread and countless people tried to get in, but were turned away by police. At one point, the New York State Thruway was closed down .

Many think of Woodstock as event that had lots of sex, drugs and rock n' roll, skinny dipping in a nearby pond - and copious amounts of mud.  However, for many it was, and continues to be, symbolic in that so many people could get together at one event and keep peace among themselves.

Yazgur's quote to the crowd at the concert: "This is the largest group of people ever assembled in one place and I think that you people have  proven something to the world. That a half million people can get together and have three days of fun and music, and have nothing but fun and music. God bless you all."  Read more about the event's history.

WHAT TO EXPECT TODAY

Today, the concert site is an integral part of the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts , an 800-acre campus that includes the original grassy site where the concert was held, an outdoor amphitheater pavilion, a museum and a conservatory for arts and education.

The site today features an outdoor amphitheater/pavilion that can seat up 16,000. It has treated concert goers in recent years to a wide variety of musical genres and performers, ranging from the New York Philharmonic to Bob Dylan and Elton John.

In addition, the complex includes the Museum at Bethel Woods , which is housed in a LEED-certified green building, set back from the top of the Woodstock festival hillside. The museum offers a variety of programs and its main exhibit gallery, "Woodstock and The Sixties" iincludes an ever-growing collection of artifacts and reference materials and programs for children, youth and adults that make "the lessons and ideas of the Sixties relevant and accessible today." There's also the Muse Cafe, a dining facility.

Most recently, a conservatory has been added to the complex for arts and education programing.

As for much the original concert site, it's currently a fenced, grassy field.

The concert took place on a stage set up in a natural bowl on Yasgur's property at the corner of Hurd and West Shore Roads. Near the  intersection is the Woodstock monument, which features the names of all the bands that played there.  Many who visit the site have their pictures taken with it, overlooking the field.

As you face the monument and the expansive field, the location where the concert stage was situated is down the hill to your left on the same side of the road. The pond where concert-goers skinny dipped is behind you, across the road.

ADDRESS/FURTHER INFORMATION

200 Hurd Road Bethel, N.Y.

For more: Call 1-866-781-2922 or email [email protected] .

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts: See the center's schedule for upcoming concerts and events.

Museum at Bethel Woods: The museum has various hours, depending on the time of year.  It is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day and Christmas. On concert days, it closes at show time.

The Woodstock monument/the grassy field where the concert took place: The Woodstock festival site is open to the public during regular museum hours, except on most concert days, when the site is closed for safety and security reasons. The Woodstock monument (at the corner of Hurd Road and West Shore Road) is always open, weather permitting.

The Museum at Bethel Woods: General museum admission (includes main exhibit and special exhibit), Adults, $15; Seniors (65 and up), $13; youth (8-17), $11; children (3-7), $6 and children under 3, free.

Visiting the Woodstock monument/the grassy field where the concert took place: Free.

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts: During concerts, a number of lots and shuttles are put into use. Follow the signs and the parking attendants. Free

The Museum at Bethel Woods: Parking is free and is located across Hurd Road from the museum. Follow the signs to "Museum Parking. On Pavilion concert days, museum visitors will be directed to a special parking area set aside for museum guests. Follow the signs and the parking attendants.

Visiting the Woodstock monument/the grassy field where the concert took place: You can park in the museum lot or at the pull-off where the monument is located.

DOS AND DON'TS

Every year the Woodstock site is visited by tourists (the locals call them "pilgrims") from around the world. The main thing to remember is this is not 1969. Visitors are not allowed to camp there. Visitors are allowed to walk and even picnic on the grassy field where the concert took place, but open and lengthy partying is not allowed. Remember, the field is only open during museum hours.

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photo by: Woodstock Festival Historic Site

Woodstock Festival Historic Site

• Address 200 Hurd Road Bethel, New York 12754
• Hours Summer 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Fall 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Phone 866-781-2922

Visit Woodstock Festival Historic Site

The Woodstock Festival Historic site, listed on the National Register in 2017, encompasses 300 acres of rural farmland that were used for the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, "three days of peace and music." The cultural landscape is dominated by a natural bowl, once one of dairy farmer Max Yasgur’s hay fields, and the surrounding land that was home to half a million young people between August 15 and August 17 (actually extending days before and after those dates) in 1969.

The Woodstock Festival is widely recognized as one of the most significant cultural events of the 1960s and came to symbolize the optimism, activism, and alternative lifestyles of the baby-boom generation. The festival featured many of the major musical acts of the era—Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Santana, Sly & The Family Stone, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Joan Baez, and Creedence Clearwater Revival—but the festival took on universal meaning because of the response of the audience to the traffic, overcrowding, lack of food and proper sanitation, and torrential rains. Rising above the problems and without authorities to impose order, the audience members created an environment of peace, cooperation, and oneness. As farmer Max Yasgur said from the Woodstock stage, “You people have proven something to the world: that half a million young people can get together for three days of peace and music and have nothing BUT peace and music.”

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Peace & Music: Visiting the Woodstock Festival Site

In the summer of 1969, 400,000 people descended on a muddy field in the Catskills, New York. They were there to enjoy “3 days of peace and music” at Woodstock. Although some of the events of that August are blurred by the drug-fueled haze, the music endures clear as a bell, by the entire world. Take a road trip to this hallowed turf and learn a little more about the festival Aquarian Expostion, that defined a generation.

Visiting the Woodstock festival site

The 1969 Woodstock site is now called Bethel Woods Center for the Arts . The 800-acre campus incorporates the legendary field where the event was held, plus an outdoor amphitheatre, museum and conservatory. The complex is used for arts education as well as hosting visitors to the Woodstock site, now enscribed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Museum at Bethel Woods walks through the social and political context of the time leading up to Woodstock, in addition to information, exhibits and videos of the Aquarian Exposition. We were fortunate enough to be guided through the Museum by an original Woodstock attendee. Following our tour, we took a walk out onto the grassy field where it all happened. Though there was a lot more peace than music happening the summer day we attended, I would recommend the experience to any music devotee.

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is located at 200 Hurd Road, Bethel, New York, about 177km (110mi) from New York City. Depending on traffic, it should take you just over 2-hrs drive time.

Are you ready for those 5 things you didn’t know about Woodstock? Keep reading…

5 things you didn’t know about Woodstock

Here are 5 quick facts you’ll learn about Woodstock at the Museum at Bethel Woods:

1. Woodstock location, location, location

The namesake of Woodstock is the town of Woodstock, New York. The town was initially set to host the festival, but pulled their permit just months from the event, due to resident protests. The second location was Wallkill, but again residents opposed the plan. Finally, the festival found its place in Bethel, where dairy farmer Max Yasgur rented some of his land to festival organisers at the displeasure of some of his neighbours.

2. A rose by any other name

Though commonly referred to as Woodstock Festival, due to a pre-existing fête of that name, the music event was dubbed Woodstock – An Aquarian Exposition.

3. The Woodstock line up is a purple haze

Due to spontaneous changes to the line-up and its programming, the order bands played is to this day still unconfirmed and changes as new evidence comes to light. Richie Havens opened Woodstock because the scheduled band was stuck in traffic. He ran out of songs and ad-libbed “Freedom” now one of his most famous tunes.

4. Three days of peace and music

The recognisable Woodstock poster featured a catbird perched on the neck of a guitar and the tagline “Three Days of Peace and Music”. It was designed by Arnold Skolnick an artist and publisher from New York City. He was inspired to create the papercut design by a Matisse exhibit he had seen shortly before. He also drew from sketches of catbirds he had created on Shelter Island, New York. Skolnick was paid $6000 for his original design however has received less than $15 in royalties since.

5. Before text messages, there was a tree

Festival-goers pinned messages to a particular tree in order to communicate with each other, to arrange meeting spots, rides etc. That tree is still standing and is known as the Messenger Tree.

For our full road trip route including a detour to the Museum at Bethel Woods, see Your New England Summer Road Trip Itinerary.

Peace, love & inspiring travel,

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Visit the 1969 Woodstock Concert site - The Museum at Bethel Woods

• United States    
• New York (NY)    
• Catskill Region    
• Sullivan Catskills    
• Bethel    
• Bethel - Things to Do    
• The Museum at Bethel Woods

A little young to remember it all but what fun! Many past tickets, and keepsakes from the past, Not... read more

Though we've been to Bethel Woods several times , this was the first time my husband and I (yes... read more

Visit the 1969 Woodstock Concert site

Wonderful Museum to learn about the 60's and the events of that era - full of visual and audio experiences - helpful and knowledgeable guides - best to leave children under 12 at home!

Having been at the original festival in 1969, i have to say they captured allot of the way it was. Well worth visiting, just for the music if nothing else.

A couple of very close friends and I went there last summer for the wine tasting. It was a blast. Not as much fun as 1969, but what would you expect.

This museum is fabulous. You have to come check it out. It tells the whole story of the Woodstock Festival, with all the music & they have many items from the original festival. All extremely interesting things. Great events also planned, as far as special events in the museum as well.

Though we weren't there in 1969, we felt like we were. It's not only a museum about the Woodstock Festival but about that era. They also had an exhibit downstairs with items from the Grammy museum in LA. Lots of costumes, guitars, hand written lyrics. That was great also. The hippie bus in the middle is awesome. You need at least 4 hours to see everything & you don't want to miss anything. The down side & it's a HUGE one is that you aren't allowed to take any photos. They said because they don't own the rights to anything. You can take photos outside though & make sure you visit the memorial which is at the entrance before you get to the museum.

The museum is outstanding. To walk on the grounds and stand on the area where the stage was - well; you can't describe the feeling. They did an amazing job with everything.

RoadsideAmerica.com Your Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions

Attraction:

Official Woodstock Rock Festival Museum

Bethel, New York

For many years, travelers nostalgic for the three-day meeting of music and mud that was the 1969 Woodstock Festival would journey to the event site only to come face-to-face with -- a field. It wasn't until 1984 that a slab featuring the famous image of a dove perched on a guitar was added to the site , but that was it.

Today, the quintessential historic hippy dippy experience is encapsulated in a lavish and spacious exhibition space within The Museum at Bethel Woods -- which is not called The Woodstock Museum because the original organizers still own the name (And, honestly, the Festival was in Bethel, not Woodstock). The museum building, which opened in 2008, is reminiscent of an Aspen ski resort. Inside are interactive exhibits, 70 oral history videos, a giant contextual timeline, and artifacts including a full-sized psychedelic bus . A theater screens a 21-minute selection of unreleased musical outtakes from the festival. There's a gift shop where you can stick your head into the Woodstock crowd and leave with a wishful-thinking, humorous photo.

The museum stands at the top of a hill. Sloping away from it is the bucolic field that served as a natural bowl and held the Woodstock stage and much of the crowd. It remains undeveloped and is neatly manicured. After visiting the slick multimedia museum, don't forget to wander over to this modest patch of land. Try to imagine the sights, sounds, and pungent smells of the overflowing bacchanal that was Woodstock -- something that can never be imprisoned in a glass case, man.

The Museum at Bethel Woods

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The Historic 1969 Woodstock Festival Site Is Opening to Campers for the First Time — What to Know

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts will host camping experiences on concert days.

Courtesy of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

There was an undeniable serenity to the verdant hills that rolled out ahead of me, as they greeted the marshmallow-puffy white clouds in the most pungent of blue skies. Despite the calm that swept over me while I stood in the street corner in Bethel, New York, last summer, I could feel the reverberation in the ground — one that rewound back more than five decades. In fact, this was the very site where nearly 400,0000 people filled the hills for three day of peace, love, and understanding in what has become known as one of the most iconic events in pop culture history, the Woodstock festival.

Located about two and half hours northwest of New York City in upstate New York, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts — not to be confused with the town of Woodstock, which is about a 90 minute drive away — sits on the site of the 1969 festival, where young folks from all over America gathered in synchronicity during a time of a divided nation. While the music of headline names like Joan Baez, Grateful Dead, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sha Na Na, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix, drew them there, what it turned into was so much more — a cultural revolution that has yet to be repeated. 

Since 2006, the 800-acre site’s Pavilion Stage ampitheatre has continued to welcome major artists, with the upcoming 2024 summer season’s lineup including Hootie & the Blowfish, Alanis Morisette, Jason Mraz, Train, REO Speedwagon, Limp Bizkit, Hozier, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and Melissa Etheridge, among others. 

For the first time this year, concertgoers can add on a camping experience on show and festival dates, with a range of experience types, from basic to glamping. 

Those who prefer more comforts can opt for in-venue glamping, with three levels of luxury tents. With full electricity and wifi, they each have bedding and furniture, a full bathroom with shower, as well as an outdoor deck seating. Located just about a five-minute walk to both the pavilion stage and Museum at Bethel Woods, each tent also has a sprawling view of the entire campus.

Just a tier down is a basic glamping facility in a furnished bell tent with bedding and an electrical strip, and shared restrooms and shower facilities. 

For more rugged campers, the tent-only campgrounds near the amphitheater provide a simple grass site. Guests can bring their own tents, and enjoy shared access to portable toilets, hand-washing stations, and showers. Also available are RV and car camping facilities, just about a half mile down the road. The Premier RV package has a gravel pad with 50-amp electric hookup, water, and sewer pump access, while the Primitive RV package has parking on a grass site, where pump out and water delivery are available for a fee. Standard car camping sites are also offered, and all have access to nearby restrooms and showers facilities too.

“Given the unique legacy of the property, and the expansive 1,800 acres surrounding the Center’s historic footprint, we’re thrilled to be one of the first venues in the country to offer an outdoor getaway that blends our rich history and picturesque scenery with live music — further elevating the experience here,” Eric Frances, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts’ CEO, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure . “With this new offering, luxury travelers and outdoor enthusiasts alike now have an opportunity to engross themselves in both nature and music against the beautiful backdrop of the Sullivan Catskills.”

To relive the magic of Woodstock, add on a camping adventure to your Bethel Woods concert ticket by visiting BethelWoodsCenter.org . 

Related Articles

Woodstock Festival Location Becomes Official Historic Site

By Ryan Reed

The location of the 1969 Woodstock festival is now an official historic site. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that Bethel Woods Center for the Arts – a cultural nonprofit in Bethel, New York – is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, CBS News reports.

Cuomo called the festival a “pivotal moment in both New York and American history.” 

The Woodstock Music & Art Fair was described by the promoters as “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music.” It took place August 15th to 17th in 1969 at Max Yasgur’s 600-acre dairy farm. The iconic festival was famously documented in Michael Wadleigh’s 1970 documentary, Woodstock.

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The Bethel Woods Center, located roughly 90 miles north of New York City, opened in 2006, with the aim of preserving the festival’s historic location. The center’s CEO, Darlene Fedun, said the honor helps advance educational and cultural initiatives at the museum and surrounding grounds that preserve the “spirit of the Sixties.”

The landmark event drew nearly half-million attendees with its genre-blurring musical line-up, which included Santana, Joan Baez, Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, the Who, Jefferson Airplane and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Most famously, Jimi Hendrix’s set with short-lived band Gypsy Sun and Rainbows included his psychedelic  electric guitar rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

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Bethel New York: Is It Worth Visiting The Real Woodstock?

Posted on Published: October 28, 2022  - Last updated: December 18, 2023

Categories New York , North America , Travel

Bethel New York is about an hour and a half from New York City , and it’s the real location of the 1969 Woodstock Festival.

Wait what? The Woodstock festival wasn’t actually in Woodstock New York ? I hope you didn’t already book a vacation in Woodstock in hopes of seeing the historical site of the festival.

The festival was about 60 miles away from Woodstock… in Bethel.

Today, you can visit the original site of the 1969 Festival, and learn about it in the Museum at Bethel Woods.

But is there anything else in Bethel? And is the museum even worth visiting? I’ll go over what the museum is like and if Bethel is a worthwhile detour for you to make.

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

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Welcome To Bethel New York

Most people have heard of and even seen pictures of Bethel, without realizing it!

The small town of Bethel hosted one of the largest and most influential festivals of all time – Woodstock!

When I originally booked a random cabin in Bethel, I was completely unaware that it was within minutes of the original site of the festival. I was then very happy when I would actually have something to do during my weekend in Bethel.

Bethel is about an hour and a half away from New York City. I won’t lie, aside from the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts, there isn’t too much to do there . But, that being said, there’s quite a lot at the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts – including the Museum at Bethel Woods (a.k.a the Woodstock Museum Bethel NY).

The Bethel Woods Center For The Arts

The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is the MAIN attraction in Bethel. It’s home to the Museum at Bethel Woods (a.k.a the Woodstock museum Bethel NY), the historic site of Woodstock, and hosts a variety of events and festivals throughout the year!

P.S. Check here to see what’s happening when you visit.

At the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, you never really have to leave. You can spend an entire day here at the museum and exploring the grounds. They even have a café with a beautiful outdoor terrace for you to enjoy if the weather is nice.

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The Museum At Bethel Woods (A.K.A. The Woodstock Museum)

The Museum At Bethel Woods is the official Woodstock Festival Museum. This museum is all about setting the scene of the 60s and displaying everything there is to know about the festival.

P.S. If you book your tickets online you get a discount on the price.

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Visit The Historic Site Of Woodstock (& The Woodstock Monument)

You can see the historical site of the Woodstock festival from two locations. If you have tickets to the museum, you can walk out at the top of the hill.

You’ll be looking down to see where the stage would have been. It’s worth going to see if you’ve already paid for the museum, but I actually like the free view better . From the museum lookout, you’ll also get a fantastic view of Upstate New York though!

You can see the historic site and monument for free! From the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, drive (or walk down) to the base of the hill where there’s a small parking lot. This is where you’ll find the Woodstock Monument and you’ll have a better view of where the stage was. Did I mention this part is completely free !?

Bindy Bazaar Trails

At the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, you also get access to the Bindy Bazaar trails.

During the original festival, The Bindy Bazaar was a marketplace and tail system that connected two Woodstock fields. Along the trail is became a place to buy and trade handmade goods, and to escape the rain in the forest.

Today, as part of the restoration project, you can walk the same trail that was there in 1969. While you walk the trail, you can also enjoy the art exhibit Crocheted Connections.

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Festivals & Events

Even though this used to be just a farm in Upstate New York, today they actually have the infrastructure to host concerts and events.

They’ll host holiday themed markets during the day and themed family activities at night. Plus, don’t forget about the concerts they have throughout the year!

See what’s happening during your visit .

But Is The Museum At Bethel Woods Worth It?

I’ve heard of Woodstock, but I would in no way say that I’m a Woodstock fanatic. From someone who has grown up hearing about this festival, it was very interesting to delve deeper into the history and logistics. I never really understood the weight that his festival carried and why it was so famous.

That being said, the museum is definitely a bit much to handle. When you first walk in, I had sensory overload and didn’t really know where to go and what to read.

It’s a lot of colours – a lot of noises – a lot of text – and a lot of artifacts from the time. All around – it’s a lot, especially when you first walk in.

How Long Is The Museum

This all depends on you. When we asked an employee how long it is she said people typically spend about 2-2.5 hours . Google backs this up and says the same thing.

We spent under an hour .

It’s not a very big museum but there is a lot of information and a lot of things to look at and watch. We were really just interested in the festival and certain aspects of it so we kind of skimmed the beginning and the end.

In my opinion, the videos on the small screens are the most informative . You get all the information from these that you would want and you don’t have to stand for 5 minutes reading something. But that’s just me!

Advice: Avoid Popular Visiting Hours

We visited the Museum at Bethel Woods in the fall on a Saturday afternoon and I couldn’t imagine it with any more people. It’s not a large space, and they have a lot of films to watch and excerpts to read that are quite lengthy.

Both of those things mean that people don’t move very quickly! You’ll most likely be waiting behind people to be able to read or watch or see the artifact. Or you’ll opt to cut your losses and try to skip ahead.

If you are interested in visiting the museum, I would try to time it for when it’s not busy . Google will be your best friend here. They will actually tell you the least and busiest times of the day. It seems that going early in the morning might be your best bet! But you’ll have to check closer to when you’re visiting for the most accurate estimates.

Ticket Options

A general adult ticket to the Museum at Bethel Woods is $20 ( see updated prices here ). This gets you access to the permanent Woodstock Museum, the temporary exhibit, and the grounds.

If you aren’t interested in the museum, you an also opt for an augmented reality tour of the historic sites. You can also add it to your ticket price – see your options here . This is an audio-visual guide to the fields with video and audio footage from the 1969 Festival.

If you time your visit to be on the weekend, you can also add a guided Docent tour to your visit – see times here .

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What Else Can You Do In Bethel (Or Nearby!?)

I won’t lie, other than the museum, there isn’t much else to do in Bethel.

You can go to the Bethel Market Café for breakfast or lunch (or both). And head to the Catskills Distillery at night. That’s everything that’s in the town!

But, Bethel is surrounded by a few other small towns and things to do in Upstate New York that are worth exploring…

The Delaware River

Less than a 15 minute drive away from Bethel is the Delaware River. If you’re interested in water sports, you can kayak or canoe along the river, or maybe go fishing here.

But there are also a few hikes that give you incredible views! Like the Tusten Mountain Trail is a popular hike and it starts with a beautiful stone bridge. The entire hike is a bit long though, about an hour and a half to three hours.

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Visit Narrowsburg

If you’re bored of the Bethal Market Café for meals, head to Narrowsburg for lunch. It’s a small town (but still bigger than Bethel) with some local stores to shop at.

You have to eat at one of the restaurants with a view of the Delaware River once you’re here. Like The Laundrette for pizza and an unbeatable terrace to enjoy. If you’re looking for a quicker meal, or just a coffee, head to the Tusten Cup (they also make some really delicious sandwiches).

P.S. From Narrowsburg you could also cross the bridge to Pennsylvania if you wanted to cross it off your list!

So Is It Worth Visiting Bethel Woods New York?

Absolutely! I had a great time visiting Bethel New York. I wouldn’t spend a week here, but one or two days is perfect to get a taste of the area.

It’s very interesting to learn about the real location of the Woodstock Festival!

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Need A Place To Stay In Bethel New York?

There aren’t too many places to stay in Bethel itself. Like I said, it’s a very small town in Upstate New York – which is all the more reason why having the Woodstock Festival there was insane!

Anyway, let’s get back on track on where to stay in Bethel New York.

The most popular types of stays in or near Bethel are cabins (for obvious reasons – there aren’t really any large hotels here).

We stayed in a VRBO in the nearby town of Cochecton. It was beyond perfect – clean, cozy, and only a 5 minute drive to the Museum at Bethel Woods. My favourite part about staying here was the sun room for game nights, and the giant backyard for our friends dog to run around in. See the property on VRBO here .

If you’re interested in staying on the waterfront, check out the Luxe Lakefront Family Cottage on Booking.com. It has everything you need for the ultimate weekend getaway – foosball and ping pong table, lake views, and even room for 16 people to sleep! See it on Booking.com here!

For more accommodation options in New York State, click here .

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We envision a world made better through the power of music and the arts..

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, located in Bethel, NY, at the National Register Historic Site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, is committed to building upon our rich history of peace and music by providing extraordinary experiences and access to the arts. 

Located 90 miles from New York City in Bethel, NY, our 1,000-acre campus includes a Pavilion Stage amphitheater with a seating capacity of 16,000, an intimate 422-seat indoor Event Gallery, the award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods, and two studios for creative learning programs for all ages.

Our History:

The story of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts begins with Alan Gerry, a born-and-raised resident of Liberty, NY. 

• 1990s : Passionate about improving the quality of life in his beloved hometown, Gerry founded the Gerry Foundation with future plans of creating an arts center.
• 1998 : After acquiring the land where the original Woodstock Music & Art Fair took place, the Gerry foundation produced the "Day in the Garden" music festival, reawakening the potential of the long-dormant site.
• 1999 : Marked the 30th anniversary of the 1969 festival, and was celebrated with four days of music and entertainment. It was this anniversary celebration that solidified the need for a world-class entertainment and arts center.
• 2002 : The architectural firm Westlake Reed Leskosky began designing a cultural and performing arts center that would become Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
• 2006 : The New York Philharmonic performed as the $150-million, multi-venue project opened for its inaugural season. Since then, legendary performers such as Elton John, Dave Matthews Band, Sting, Pitbull, Jimmy Buffet, Van Halen, Jason Aldean, Lady Gaga, and more have taken center stage!
• 2008 : The Museum at Bethel Woods opens its doors, telling the story of the ’60s and the making of the music of the festival and its lasting legacy. 
• 2012 : Bethel Woods transformed from a project of the Gerry Foundation into a 501(c)(3) public charity, governed by an independent board of trustees with Alan Gerry serving as Chairman of the Board. The  Board of Directors  continue to serve the community and the region, expanding its reach and impact thanks to the support of staff, volunteers, and supporters.
• Today : We offer year long programming in fulfillment of  our   mission   to build upon our rich history of peace and music by providing extraordinary experiences and access to the arts.

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Interested in spreading peace and compassion for each other, our neighbors, and the global community? Make a donation and help create shared experiences at Bethel Woods.

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Back to the Garden – My Visit to Woodstock

by J. Dawg | Jun 8, 2021 | New York | 7 comments

No, I wasn’t there in 1969. I was 15 years old when it took place. Fifty two years later, I decided to visit the festival site in Bethel, NY. The field where Woodstock took place has been preserved by the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Going to the site has been on my bucket for a couple of years. It’s about 220 miles from my home. So, my son and I recently took a short RV trip to visit the 1969 Woodstock Festival Site.

Prepping for my Visit

I prepped for this trip much like I do when I visit other historic sites. I read up about the festival – the planning, the producers, the bands, the land owner. My son and I watched the Woodstock movie and listened to the music again. I watched documentaries and interviews of attendees on YouTube. When we drove the RV out of the driveway I was humming “Goin Up the Country” by Canned Heat.

The history and music of the event are well documented so for this post I want to focus my observations of the site and some new things I learned about Woodstock.

Observations

Bethel, NY is very rural and has a small (population 4,200). It’s mostly farm country. And I’m guessing it still looks much like it did in 1969.

When you enter Bethel Woods it’s like entering another world – very nice, manicured, and peaceful (feels like a resort). The festival site is huge. The field where the festival was held is about 40 acres. You can walk all around the field.

Woodstock Festival Site

There’s a public museum (The Museum at Bethel Woods) onsite. It’s about the 1960’s and the festival. There’s a fee to get in ($16 for geezers). It’s good for folks who don’t remember or know about the 1960’s or are not from the US. The staff we encountered were all very helpful and friendly. There are few memorabilia items (I only saw Richie Haven’s guitar). The museum is interesting and gets you into the mood for seeing the site.

The Museum at Bethel Woods

I made a video of my visit which you can see below.

Some New Things I Learned

As I mentioned above, I did some research about Woodstock before we left. My prior knowledge was mostly about the music and groups that performed. For this trip, I wanted to make sure I could appreciate and understand all that I would see. Here are some of the new things I learned.

• The organizers had just 3 weeks to prepare the site at Bethel. The work never got fully completed. The organizers attempted to hold the festival in Woodstock, Saugerties, and Wallkill but were turned down by each town.
• Max Yasgur leased a 37 acre field of his 600 acre dairy farm to the festival. He needed the money because of a bad hay crop that year. He also felt the festival would help close a divide that he perceived local people had with the younger generation.
• Yasgur and the town were told to expect 40,000 people per day at the festival. Everything was built around that number.
• There were many in Bethel who opposed having the festival in their town. Yasgur experienced criticism, threats, and push back from many.
• Instead of 40,000, more than 400,000 arrived for the festival. The numbers overwhelmed everything. The roads were blocked with cars. Food and water ran out the first day. Yasgur said afterwards that if he knew there would be that many people he would never have leased his land for the festival.
• It was remarkably peaceful over the course of the weekend. It’s estimated that there were only about 12 official law enforcement personnel on duty at Woodstock (there were more contract security personnel). Two people died – one from being run over by a tractor while he was sleeping and one from an apparent drug overdose. About 100 people were arrested; most for small drug possessions. There were no incidences of violence.

My New Perspective

I gained a new perspective about Woodstock during my visit. My young teenage brain had stored Woodstock as a historic music event with some legendary performances. My 67 year old brain drew a new focus on the attendees. Woodstock was a incredibly large and peaceful gathering of people at a time in history that was marred with division and unrest. In 1968, there had been several tumultuous incidents – The Vietnam War and war protests, MLK’s assassination, the Washington DC riots, RFK’s assassination, the Chicago DNC convention riots, and 1968 Olympic protests.

Woodstock could have turned into a massive riot, which the promoters feared could happen at any moment once they saw the massive crowds of people overwhelm the site. The food and water ran out on Friday, the roads were blocked, people couldn’t get to the site, the weather was unsettled, and the music was late to start because the bands couldn’t get to the site. All or just a couple of these circumstances could have caused the throng of young people to become disgruntled and riot.

But it never happened. The local residents, many of whom didn’t want the festival in their town, banded together and provided food and water. A Boy Scout troop made sandwiches. The local fire department opened hydrants and made their tanker truck available for water. The US Army provided a helicopter and pilot to fly in medical personnel, food, and supplies. The Hog Farm cooperative prepared food and delivered it to the crowd so people didn’t have to leave their spots. Bands and musicians were asked to extend their sets to keep the music going to minimize idle time for the attendees.

With a calm voice, stage announcer Chip Monck asked people to help one another and look out for each other. The Hog Farm personnel used non-intrusive tactics to guide and direct people (their “please force”). Promoter John Roberts convince the governor not to send in 10,000 National Guard troops. The promoters extended the music into Monday morning so people would not have to leave in the dark on Sunday night. It all worked. The people got along, helped each other, and enjoyed a weekend of freedom and music.

J. Dawg standing on the site of the Woodstock stage

Love and Peace was on Display

The most heartwarming story I heard was in a YouTube video by one of the police officers on duty at Woodstock. At one point during the festival, the officer was assigned to go with an ambulance to take an injured person to the hospital. They soon ran into a segment of the road that was completely blocked with abandon cars. There were 5 cars shoulder to shoulder all blocking the road with no way for the ambulance to get through. The officer checked the cars for keys but found none. He was standing in the road trying to figure out what to do, when a young man in his 20’s approached him and asked if he could offer any help. The police officer explained his dilemma. The young man quickly rounded up 20 other young men and together they proceeded to lift one of the cars and carried it into the field bordering the road. The ambulance could get now get through. By the time the officer turned around to the thank the men, they had already dispersed.

J. Dawg sitting on the field where Woodstock was held in 1969

As I sat in the middle of the huge field at Woodstock, remembering all I had read and absorbed as part of my visit, I started to see Woodstock through a different lens. I thought about people sitting peacefully, shoulder to shoulder on the field. Woodstock wasn’t a religious event but I sense that the spirit of Jesus was there. Jesus taught and preached about doing good, living in peace, and loving your neighbor. Those things were beautifully displayed and shined bright in many who were there on that August weekend in 1969.

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Tears in my eyes! well-written post J Dawg 🙂

I loved this post! Thank you for writing this story. The peaceful people made Woodstock what it was.

Where did you camp while on your Woodstock adventure?. Would you recommend ? . Thanks Dave k.

I camped at Happy Days campground about 4 miles from Bethel Woods. I was the only camper there for one night. It’s in a wooded setting. It was ok, somewhat dated. Bathrooms were clean. I’d go back if I revisited.

Amen brother!

Awesome. So simple. Peace and love your neighbor. Thank you. Really enjoyed this post.

I was 21 in 1969 and missed the party, but made a visit in 2019 to checked it off my bucket list.

Nice job on describing your visit.

About J. Dawg

Hi, I’m J. Dawg. I’m exploring North America in a small RV.   Want to see more?  Subscribe below and you’ll get an email each time I post something new.

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Inaugural woodstock poetry festival to replace popular bookstock event.

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Woodstock, Vermont, will host a new poetry festival this summer that promises to be the largest concentration of poetry reading and poetry-related events in Vermont this year.

The Woodstock Poetry Festival is taking the place of another annual gathering called Bookstock, which organizers announced would be shuttered earlier this year.

This year's poetry festival will take place from June 21-22, with all poetry readings free and open to the public.

The festival is a good fit for Vermont, as the Green Mountain State boasts more poets per capita than any other state in the country.

You can find more information about the poetry festival on the official website .