WoodStock 1969

Many people tend to think that the Woodstock music festival took place in a small town, named Woodstock.

However, it actually took place in Bethel, which is another small town close by.

The organizers were looking for the place that would be willing to host the event.

Eventually with only a few weeks left, when the organizers are desperately in need of a venue a place was found. About an hour and a half southwest of Woodstock is the town of Bethel. This is the town where the festival eventually took place, all thanks to a dairy farmer named Max Yasgur, who rented his 600-acre field out to Woodstock ventures for the amount of   $50,000.

Even though the top rock stars of the period chose not to participate (e.g. the Beatles, bob Dylan and Rolling Stones) and this was not the first music festival – it became to be one of the most famous of them all, and symbol of that time, and the flower kids culture.

The reasons for it are-

1) the huge crowd attending that festival was the biggest ever than any prior music festival!!

2) despite the rough physical conditions on site – everyone remained civil and respectful to others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gox1oC1KBAI

3) the media coverage was enormous. Documentaries followed along the years, bringing the Woodstock message to the entire world.

4) Joni Mitchell’s song “Woodstock” which was inspired by the festival , became a big hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRjQCvfcXn0

In conclusion, even though I am very young and did not have the opportunity to participate in the original Woodstock festival, my parents made sure I experience some of the magic. attending music concerts in Bethel woods, such as Salina Gomez and Big Time Rush, as a kid, on the same ground as the famous festival – left an impact. we also made sure to visit the museum and absorb the beautiful history of the place and the vibe of the period.

https://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/museum

in the picture my twin sister and I in Bethel before the Salina Gomez concert in 2009