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Celebrate Woodstock’s Golden Anniversary at Bethel Woods

posted by Teresa Farrell at 2019-06-14 19:41:00

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It may be hard to believe, but the legendary original Woodstock festival took place 50 years ago this summer. In honor of the golden anniversary, the festival’s original home in the Catskills—now known as the iconic Bethel Woods Center for the Arts—is keeping the “spirit of the 60s” alive throughout the season with special events and performances at the Bethel Woods Season of Song & Celebration Anniversary Weekend from Friday, August 16 through Sunday, August 18, 2019.

Though other spots throughout the state are in the process figuring out their own Woodstock anniversary plans, the show will definitely go on at Bethel Woods. The venue’s pavilion performance space, which plays host to tons of concerts throughout each summer, will feature performances from legendary musical acts throughout the weekend.

Friday night kicks off the festivities with Beatle Ringo Starr’s Ringo and his All Starr Band, along with the Edgar Winter Band and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Saturday, Santana and the Doobie Brothers will take the stage, and on Sunday, the show closes with Creedence Clearwater Revival’s John Fogerty: My 50 Year Trip with special guests Tedeschi Trucks Band, Grace Potter, and more.

Go HERE for All the latest Updated Information. If you want to enter the Events areas, you need a ticket in advance, or can buy one at the ticket office at Bethel Woods. Ticket holders are permitted to bring along one clear plastic tote bag each, and will go through a metal detector to enter the concert areas.

Though the concerts are a main draw for many, there’s more to explore on site. A slate of special programs, events and exhibits is in place for the season as the center celebrates the anniversary. The Bethel Woods Museum opened in March with the exhibit “We are Golden: Reflections on the 50^th Anniversary of the Woodstock Festival and Aspirations for a Peaceful Future,” which adds to their collection of exhibits, media and memorabilia on the original Woodstock and their focus on the “key ideals of the era-- peace, respect, cooperation, creativity, engagement, and a connection to the planet we live on and all the people who inhabit it.”

Special exhibits for the anniversary explore the historic and cultural significance of the sixties, from the musicians of Woodstock to the lunar landing to the politics of the time. There are also tons of educational arts and culture programs for both kids and adults scheduled throughout the summer and into the fall, both related and unrelated to Woodstock, though they aren’t scheduled to take place during the anniversary weekend itself.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor, a seasoned expert on all things Woodstock, or even one of the original Woodstock alumni, you’re welcome to come partake in a weekend of peace, love and music during the Golden Anniversary celebrations. Just be sure you get your tickets and get ready for a great time!

PHOTO CREDITS:
Original poster photo credit David
Pavilion Aerial view photo courtesy Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Bethel Woods Museum photo credit Steve Brown
Crowd at sunset photo courtesy Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

posted at: 2019-06-14 19:41:00, last updated: 2019-08-16 11:12:41

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