There are people who are convinced that they belong to a different era. For example, some love the ‘60s so much they are convinced that they should have been alive during that time. They are in love with the incredible fashion sense and amazing music from that period. Scoring a Woodstock ticket back in 1969 would have been incredible. It has been more than 50 years since the Woodstock era ended, but its legacy lives on. The festival was a cultural landmark which truly captured the sense of freedom and free-spirited nature that the youth embodied at the time. On August 15, 1969, nearly 400,000 people got together and celebrated love, freedom, peace, music, and community for three days. Here are some incredible images from Woodstock.
You’ll Wish It Was 1969 After Seeing These Woodstock Photos
Chilling Out
People who attended the festival probably saw other attendees resting in odd positions and places. Since Woodstock was an outdoor festival, attendees had to camp out for its duration. This guy looks like he found the perfect spot for taking a nap – between these two cars. It does not look like it is the safest place to doze off, but the cowboy does not seem to mind! Maybe he thought that the cars were not going anywhere, so there was nothing else to do but take it easy and relax.
Chilling Out
The Challenge Of Getting There
Of course, attendees had to get to the event. Since tens of thousands decided to join the festival and flocked to the town of Bethel in New York, the roads seemed like parking lots! Many people decided to just go on foot and the roads were eventually closed down. Some people could not even reach the road that led to the festival. “The New York State Thruway is closed, man,” Arlo Guthrie announced on stage. Actually, it was open the whole time, but the state police shut the Newburgh and Harriman exits to prevent more people from getting to the Woodstock Festival.
The Challenge Of Getting There
The Legendary Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix only came on stage on the third day. Festivalgoers were treated to his legendary rendition of Star Spangled Banner, which many associate with the festival. He performed with a temporary crew at Woodstock because the usual band had broken up before the festival. He had to find people, so Hendrix ended up playing with the band Gypsy Suns and Rainbows. It is truly unbelievable that it was the first time they had played together, and it was for such a huge crowd!
The Legendary Jimi Hendrix
Janis Joplin Stayed
Another legend who was at Woodstock was Janis Joplin. She got $7,500 for her set! Her performance of her hit song “Piece of My Heart” is what most people remember. Aside from this, she belted out other songs on the second day. The entire band had been flown in via helicopter. According to the other members, she told them to perform just like it was a regular gig. After the show ended, she stayed to enjoy the festival just like the other festivalgoers!
Janis Joplin Stayed
A Surprise John Sebastian Set
The Lovin’ Spoonful was a four-member rock band that was popular in the ‘60s and now a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. The founder of the band, John Sebastian was not actually scheduled to perform at Woodstock. He went there to be a spectator. However, when the organizers of the festival asked him to perform, he agreed. He performed as an acoustic guitar player and played three unreleased songs as well as two others.
A Surprise John Sebastian Set
Bigger Than They Thought
Coming up with a venue fitting for the festival and could fit all the expected attendees was not easy. The initial plan was to have it in Woodstock, the summer arts colony that was a favorite among many musicians, but the festival’s first location was Wallkill, New York. After finding out how big the event was going to be, the locals expressed objections to it. Organizers moved the festival to a farmland in Bethel. In spite of the planning, they were totally not ready for the 400,000 concertgoers who came. The organizers only expected 50,000 people! Governor Rockefeller actually considered sending the National Guard to help with crowd control. Sullivan County ended up declaring a state of emergency!
Bigger Than They Thought
No Place For Discrimination
There was no place for discrimination at Woodstock. Anyone could attend regardless of their race, age, and gender. Some parents even brought their children with them. Just look at this little one. She looks excited to be there! That is simply adorable. Aside from children, there were also babies that attended the festival…well, technically it was their mothers who came to the event. Sadly, there were women who suffered miscarriages at Woodstock.
No Place For Discrimination
Sri Swami Satchidananda’s Speech
The renowned spiritual master Sri Swami Satchidananda gave an impressive speech to kickstart the festival. Around 400,000 people were there to listen to him discuss energy and the power of sound. He said that these things govern the universe and were stronger than everything else in the world. At the music festival, Satchidananda sat on a bedspread and was surrounded by microphones. An image of the spiritual master talking in front of the crowd has endured throughout the years.
Sri Swami Satchidananda’s Speech
The Place To Be
Tie-dye clothes, daisies, and hippiedom are a few things representative of Woodstock, which is considered by many as a major cultural event of the 1960s. It was the place to be. The teenagers who went there wanted to be free, spend time with their lovers and friends, and enjoy amazing music. With what is happening in the world now, the prospect probably sounds appealing to a lot of people as well.
The Place To Be
Buses And Caravans Aplenty
Across the festival grounds were many caravans and abandoned buses. They served as an escape from reality. For some people, they provided the opportunity to have a little privacy! There are many photos taken at Woodstock that show people casually lounging inside and on top of cars. Some also went on the roofs of buses. It seemed like every spot was precious, and people did not mind hanging out on top of vehicles.
Buses And Caravans Aplenty
Shopping Galore
There were plenty of makeshift shops as well. They sold clothes, crafts, and even drug paraphernalia. This only boosted the visual and aural fest that Woodstock had to offer. Of course, these are still common at music festivals and concerts now. People who did not have a change of clothes had nothing to worry about. During the festival itself, many people wore tie-dye shirts and most of them probably took those shirts home.
Shopping Galore
Odd Sleeping Arrangements
There were a lot of things going on at Woodstock aside from the music. There were so many people and even psychedelic drugs. It is only natural that the attendees got tired. The car hoods were all taken, o where is the next best place to take a nap? This guy thinks on top of a motorcycle is a great spot. Another iconic experience at Woodstock would be the strange sleeping spots!
Odd Sleeping Arrangements
Choose Your Own Adventure
For us, both “Groovy Way” and “Gentle Path High Way” sound appealing. The former brings images of afros and bell bottom jeans to mind, while the latter makes us think of the green countryside. We think it is amazing that attendees could explore the “Groovy Way”, but we know there are people who would prefer exploring “Gentle Path High Way”. At Woodstock, people could do both. They did not have to stay on one path only.
Choose Your Own Adventure
The Birth Of Jam Sessions
The festival is considered to be the birthplace of the American drum circle, which means a group of individuals come together and play music together. You might know this as a “jam session”, where the music that is played influences everyone to make their own music using whatever they had as instruments. Attendees jammed with both friends and strangers. It was easy to make great music together and be part of the fun!
The Birth Of Jam Sessions
Setting Up The Sound System
The sound engineer at Woodstock was Bill Hanley. He said that the event was really successful. He made custom speaker columns and also placed arrays on high towers. It was arranged that way to entertain 150,000 people. As we know, the crowd was much bigger than everyone originally anticipated. All the same, the sound system was still perfect.
Setting Up The Sound System
A Truly Unique Experience
Many people feel a tinge of envy when they hear what the experience at Woodstock was like. A lot of the attendees probably consider it one the special moments in their lives. It is not often you get to see several thousands of the people donning bead necklaces, sporting colorful clothing, and celebrating love! Aside from that, attendees were treated to performances by music legends. That alone is reason enough to feel envy.
A Truly Unique Experience
Fun In The Sun
As mentioned before, many parents brought their kids along. In addition to the music, they enjoyed spending some time under the sun and feeling the warmth on their skin! The event was fully outdoor, so getting some sun was pretty much a given. They even got some rain. We wonder how the little ones felt when they felt the raindrops on their skin. Many people have enjoyed getting wet in their rain when they were kids.
Fun In The Sun
Families Celebrating Peace, Love, Music
What a cool dad! Your father probably never brought you to a music festivals or allow you to get on psychedelic school buses. This family decided to have a break from all the activities and have a picnic. Look at them taking a rest on the sleeping bags, enjoying some snacks, and having some 7up on the grassy field. The children are even sporting some tie-dye tops. They probably made some new friends at the event.
Families Celebrating Peace, Love, Music
Latin Rock At Woodstock
Together with his band, Carlos Santana brought Latin Rock to Woodstock. The crowd adored them. “So I said, ‘Hey, I think I’ll take some psychedelics, and by the time I’m coming down, it’ll be time to go onstage and I’ll feel fine.’ But when I was peaking around two o’clock, somebody said, ‘If you don’t go right now, you’re not gonna go on,’” he said in an interview with Rolling Stone. Some of the most memorable moments of the festival were courtesy of Carlos Santana. Everyone really enjoyed listening to the music legend playing the guitar and David Brown playing the bass.
Latin Rock At Woodstock
Love Makes The World Go ‘Round
Another big thing at the festival was sharing, which made sense if you think about the values Woodstock upheld. People shared their food since there was not enough for everyone. There were too many people, and this led to food shortage. Fortunately, people were celebrating love! A lot of people volunteered to feed the attendees on the festival grounds. Gender, race, and age did not matter as people had to be fed.
Love Makes The World Go ‘Round
More Amazing Performances
The festival for three days, and there were plenty of musical acts. The Who and Creedence Clearwater Revival were among the performers! The latter was actually the first big name act that the organizers go to sign on. This gave the festival credibility it needed to get other well-known to sign on as well. Do you think other festivals will match the legacy that Woodstock created? Only time will tell.
More Amazing Performances
Lending A Hand To Those In Need
It has already been mention that love was being celebrated during the three-day festival. People did not think twice when it came to helping each other out if necessary. In addition to the music, this sense of community is what separates Woodstock from other music festivals which came before and after it. Here you can see a bunch of guys having a laugh over something. Though we do not know what it was they were talking about, we can see they were having fun.
Lending A Hand To Those In Need
Atop The Roof Of The Vans
Psychedelic vans were not only a stylish mode of transportation, they were also perfect for an event like Woodstock. Aside from being comfortable, they also offered an incredible way to watch the performances on stage. People could also sleep inside the van as they waited for upcoming performances. This definitely sounds more appealing than sleeping on a motorcycle or snoozing on the hood of a car! This arrangement seems very hippie as well.
Atop The Roof Of The Vans
Anything Goes
Generally, people can wear whatever they want at music festivals. Many people at Woodstock chose to sport for tie-dye shirts, but some took the chance to stand out and perhaps send a message. What do you think was running through this guy’s mind when he chose this ensemble? Maybe he wants to say something through his clothes, but the message some got lost. We give him props, though, for his creativity and dedication.
Anything Goes
Hugs For All
Another morning breaks out on the grounds and a photographer snaps this photo of a couple in an embrace sharing a single blanket. These were definitely not the only ones who were huddling for warmth at Woodstock! As you can see here, the sleeping arrangements at the event were something else. Aside from that, there was sporadic rain. Even though the event was in summer, one has to consider the rain at night.
Hugs For All
One For The History Books
August 15, 1969 has gone down in history as the day over 400,000 people came together to celebrate music, peace, and love. The festival became a major cultural event, and this was amplified by news coverage. There was even a popular documentary film about it. Today, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts stands at the site of the festival in New York. It is a museum that celebrates Woodstock and the ‘60s.
One For The History Books
Unforgettable Music
Truly an unforgettable event, Woodstock featured performances of various talented musicians, including Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, The Who, Santana, Joan Baez, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Grateful Dead, Sly and the Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane, Crosby, The Band, Stills, and Nash & Young. A total of 32 acts performed onstage over the course of three days. There was some serious amount of talent that went onstage at Woodstock and the music there somehow represents the era.
Unforgettable Music
Intimate Hideaways
Clearly, it is not just the music that festivalgoers shared at Woodstock. They had intimate moments as well. We wonder if this couple knew someone was taking their photo and if they minded that someone snapped an intimate moment between them. We are pretty sure, though, that they are not the only ones at the festival who shared moments of intimacy. You might remember the couple cuddling while sharing a blanket.
Intimate Hideaways
Time For Chow
Most people look at Woodstock and realize that they need to step their fashion game. However, the biggest takeaway that we got was the concert’s inclusivity and communality. The 400,000 festivalgoers had to eat, so they did (with plenty of help)! Just look at these ladies who were busy doing their thing. We bet the attendees were glad that these women were there to help make sure that they get fed.
Time For Chow
Come Rain or Shine
Woodstock was happening no matter the weather. If it rained, then it rained! The festival was rain or shine. People partied even when rain poured from the heavens and the storm came! That was some serious partying there. Look at these people’s smiling faces. They do not seem to be affected by all the rain that had poured on them. And it seemed like it poured…
Come Rain Or Shine
Dreamer
Waiting in line is often boring and can get tiring. Why not catch a few winks on your pal’s car while you wait? For people that did not come with tents, sleeping on the hood of a car was the next best thing. We have to admit that it might not have been very comfortable, but maybe it was better than sleeping on the ground. At least, you would only get wet with rain water and not get dirty with muddy water.
Dreamer
Stay Flexible!
During the 1960s, yoga was big! It was especially popular among Woodstock attendees. People who knew some poses actually held makeshift yoga seminars at the event. You can see here that people tried to do the poses even if some of them might be newbies. If you thought that Woodstock was all about music, clearly it was not. Even yoga had a place in it. There was truly a lot going on at Woodstock.
Stay Flexible
Welcome To The Club
The festival is known for the friendliness of the festivalgoers and the peaceful atmosphere. The people came together and were united at an important time in the history of the United States of America. Can you believe that there was no fighting over the course of the festival? Amazing! We have heard of the crowd getting rowdy at music festivals. However, even if almost half a million people went to Woodstock, there were no fights that took place.
Welcome To The Club
Janis Joplin Of Course
A legend who needs no introduction, Janis Joplin sure was talented. She was among the headliners for Woodstock! She started playing at 2AM on Saturday, but she had the people’s hearts and souls in her hand the whole time. Since she went solo, Woodstock was her biggest show. In case you did not know, she was once part of the psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company and their album Cheap Thrills is included in the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” according to Rolling Stone.
Janis Joplin Of Course
I’m in the Band
Initially, festivalgoers had to pay an admission fee, but the organizers soon decided not to collect payment when the masses kept coming. Happy people flooded the festival grounds, and the organizers realized that limiting the number of attendees was impossible. They expected 50,000 people to come but in the end almost half a million came to Woodstock. There were even reports that more people wanted to join but could not get to the venue.
I’m In The Band
Writing the Next Big Hit
Day 3 at Woodstock was just as incredible as the previous days. One of the performers on that day was Tim Hardin, though his performance is not often talked about. Hardin is a folk artist who had one big hit titled, “If I Were a Carpenter”. Fans loved it when he performed his song onstage. They loved it as much as they did when they heard it on the radio!
Writing The Next Big Hit
My Bubbles
The land that the festival happened on belonged to a farmer named Max Yasgur. Woodstock actually moved him to tears. He was famously quoted to have said, “If we join them, we can turn those adversities that are the problems of America today into a hope for a brighter and more peaceful future.” Woodstock almost did not happen because the organizers did not have a venue but this guy saved the festival by letting it happen!
My Bubbles
Helping One Another
When the festival happened, the Vietnam War was ongoing. The ‘flower child’ movement started to oppose the war. Many people joined Woodstock to show peacefulness and solidarity. They were opposing the awful events which were happening. The people in this photo are doing henna tattoos, which was a popular body art at Woodstock. Flower child was originally synonymous with hippie. “Flower children” wore and gave flowers or floral-themed items. According to them, these objects symbolize peace, love, and universal belonging.
Helping One Another
Extra Extra Read All About It
The Internet did not exist then, so people got their news from newspapers and magazines. Even while they were at the festival, people still wanted to know what was happening with the rest of the world, and this was the way they did it! As you can see, a lot of paper was used. Actually, cleanup after the event was a major task and the help of bulldozers were needed for the job.
Extra Extra Read All About It
Fashionista
We all know that styles always come back. If you did not know that this photo was taken in the 60’s, you would think it was taken around now. This couple’s outfits and hairstyles are something you could definitely see on the streets today. If you want to dress like people in the ‘60s, you can take inspiration from this pair’s ensemble. Just by looking at this, colorful outfits are a thing during that time.
Fashionista
Goth before Goth
It is not easy to find a person dressed in all black at Woodstock, so this picture is definitely remarkable. This woman did something that few others did…she wore all black! However, the festival was all about inclusivity, so she probably did not get any weird looks from other festivalgoers. We have to admit that we love the confidence that this lady is showing. It is not easy to pull off an all-black ensemble but she did it quite well!
Goth before Goth
Melanie Sings ‘Candles in the Rain’
In case you did not know, this is Melanie Schekeryk. She is performing the song “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”. It was a hit! It may be hard to believe but she is still performing to this day. She started performing in 1967. A quick Google search of her name would give you dates of events where she is set to appear in. This American singer-songwriter is truly unstoppable!
Melanie Sings Candles In The Rain
Fortune Teller
Apparently, fortune tellers were a big deal at Woodstock. We are not sure what advice this lady is getting from this hippie fortune teller, but what we do know is that she looks amused. Perhaps she heard what she wanted to hear. It is also possible that she heard something so ludicrous it made her smile. Whatever it was, we hope she got her money’s worth, or if she did not have to pay anything, we hope she did feel like this was a waste of time.
Fortune Teller
Fresh From the Farm
We have no idea who brought the cow or where it came from. We also do not know why they are milking it. What we do know, however, is that everything goes at Woodstock. This picture should not come too much as a surprise! Hopefully, no animals were harmed in this activity or at the festival. Since Woodstock is all about peace, we would like to think this was the case.
Fresh From The Farm
Fuller House
It is not easy to picture 400,000 people (the total number of Woodstock attendees), so we will help you out. Some math genius figured out that lining up blue jeans equal to the total number of people who went to Woodstock would mean 10 million yards of cloth! If imagining this in your head does not make you think the number of attendees is impressive, we do not know what will.
Fuller House
Jimi Hendrix Sings
There were over 30 artists who performed at Woodstock, and the legendary Jimi Hendrix was one of them. He fully embraced the fact that he was able to please the crowd, that the moment was powerful, and of course, that it was the ‘60s. Only around 25,000 people were left when he performed, but we bet that the rest of the attendees who had gone home before his performance regretted doing so.
Jimi Hendrix Sings
2017 or 1969?
This couple is too cool! It is not hard to imagine them attending a festival like Coachella in 2019. This guy’s cut off jean shorts and this lady’s Bohemian style dress will probably be always in style. Also, his fabulous afro and her bleached beach waves seem to be trendy in any era. We wish we could be as cool as them. It is not easy to look effortlessly cool.
2017 Or 1969?
Rain Dance Man
When it started pouring, the crowd came together and did a rain dance in an attempt to stop the rain. They were clearly not successful since it kept on coming. Nevertheless, it is the thought that counts! Anyway, it seems like the rain did not dampen the mood of the concertgoers. There was still a lot of excitement in the air and it seemed like they still had the time of their lives.
Rain Dance Man
Twist and Shout
The rain dance may not have worked, but helping a pal dry his clothes always does! The only way to get stuff nice and dry was this old trick…the twist and shout. No, we do not mean the coveted dance move. We are talking about the traditional method of wringing a piece of clothing to get rid of excess water. They seem to be having fun doing this, so perhaps they do not mind doing it.
Twist And Shout
Raindrops On My Head
It seemed the rain became normal for the crowd. They had gotten used to it and they even enjoyed the cool drops. This woman looks like she did not notice the weather anymore. However, the rain did affect some of the performances. It initially prevented Jimi Hendrix from taking the stage. He was only able to perform on Monday morning and by that time, the crowd had already thinned to roughly 25,000 people.
Raindrops On My Head
No Fences
Originally, the organizers only expected 50,000 people to join the event. However, two days before Woodstock, that number were already on location and more than 100,000 tickets were pre-sold. Soon, resources became scarce. The ticket booths, fencing and gates still were not ready. Since the organizers did not have an efficient way to charge attendees, they decided to make the event free and cut the fences that surrounded the event, resulting in the number of concertgoers skyrocketing.
No Fences
Mister Garcia
Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and founding member the amazing Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia posed for a photo just before the band took the stage. His long hair, beard and glasses just scream Woodstock. In case you did not know, the Grateful Dead was a band formed in 1965 that went on to become a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band is 57th on Rolling Stones’ list of the Greatest Artists of All Time.
Mister Garcia
Just Dance
Everywhere you looked, you could see people at Woodstock smiling, dancing and singing. With the music rushing through everyone’s bodies and souls, people could not help but be happy. Max Yasgur, the farmer that lent his land for the event, told the audience on day three, “You’ve proven something to the world…the important thing that you’ve proven to the world is that a half a million kids, and I call you kids because I have children who are older than you are, a half a million young people can get together and have three days of fun and music and have nothing but fun and music and God bless you for it!”
Just Dance