The Woodstock Music Festival on Aug 15 – 17, 1969 actually didn’t take place anywhere near the New York town of Woodstock, but rather in Bethel, New York. This afternoon I was driving to a conference way out in Sullivan County when I found myself, for the first time ever, driving through Bethel. This is not a place you happen upon by accident. It’s out through the woods, across cow pastures, past a number of big red barns, and through many 4-way stop signs.

There is now a Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, with a huge parking lot, lots of  buildings, a museum, all of which I ignored. I went right to the field. They left the site pretty much alone. It is well maintained and was nicely mowed. That must be a huge job.

Click to enlarge any of the photos.

There is a small parking area at the corner of the field with this sign.

Inside, there is another sign. There are also a few picnic benches. Of course, there are always a few 60-somethings walking about, remembering the day when they were here for the party. The two plaques on the top of the monument, that looks somewhat like a grave stone, list the names of all the performers or bands.

The above is a panoramic view of the site [click to enlarge]. The stage was on the bottom left, to the right of the three trees by the road. The spectators were spread on the hillside in the center. The hill is steeper than I would have thought. It must have been a gigantic slip-and-slide when it rained. At the crest of the hill on the right side is the modern events center.

Here is a closer picture of the stage area in the center of this picture.

It was nice, peaceful and quiet.