Woodstock Festival facts for kids
The Woodstock Music and Art Festival was a huge rock music festival held on a dairy farm in Bethel, New York. It took place from August 15 to 18, 1969. Many people believe it was the most famous rock concert and festival ever. It became a symbol of the "hippie era" and the counterculture of the 1960s.
Many famous musicians played during the rainy weekend. A 1970 movie called Woodstock captured the event. The song "Woodstock" by Joni Mitchell also became a big hit for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The original Woodstock festival of 1969 is still remembered as a legendary event.
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Why Was It Called Woodstock?
The festival was named "Woodstock" because the group that helped pay for it was called "Woodstock Ventures." The organizers first planned to hold the festival in other towns. But they faced problems getting permission.
A farmer named Max Yasgur heard about their troubles. He offered his large dairy farm in Bethel, New York, as the new location. He was paid for the use of his land for the three days.
A Massive Gathering
The organizers expected about 150,000 people to attend. However, more than three times that number showed up! Most people did not pay to get in, which meant the festival lost money.
The roads leading to the concert were completely jammed with traffic. Many fans had to leave their cars far away. They walked for miles to reach the festival area. The weekend was very rainy and crowded. People shared food and drinks with each other. Even some local residents helped by giving blankets and food to concert-goers.
After two days of rain, the ground became very muddy. There wasn't much water for washing, and not enough toilets. Many small tents brought by fans turned into muddy piles. Even with these challenges, the crowd remained friendly and kind. A strong feeling of friendship spread among the half-million people there.
Famous Performances
Some of the biggest music stars at Woodstock included The Who and Jimi Hendrix. The Who played their set very late, around 4:00 in the morning. A memorable moment was when lead singer Roger Daltrey began to sing "See Me, Feel Me" just as the sun rose.
During The Who's performance, a political activist named Abbie Hoffman jumped on stage. He tried to share political messages. But the band's leader, Pete Townshend, quickly moved him off the stage with his guitar. This made the audience cheer. At the end of their show, Townshend smashed his guitar and threw it into the crowd. This helped make The Who even more famous.
Jimi Hendrix also gave a powerful performance. He played a new version of "The Star Spangled Banner". This song caused some discussion. The Vietnam War was happening at the time. The sounds Hendrix made with his guitar seemed to reflect the sounds of war. Both The Who and Hendrix later felt their performances weren't their best. But fans still remember them as some of the greatest moments in rock history.
The People Behind Woodstock
Woodstock was organized by Michael Lang, Artie Kornfeld, John Roberts, and Joel Rosenman. John Roberts was the main person who provided the money. His friend Joel Rosenman was a graduate of Yale Law School and an amateur guitarist.
Their friends included Artie Kornfeld, who worked at Capitol Records, and Michael Lang. Lang was a free-spirited person who had owned a shop. He hoped to build a studio in the Woodstock area. He wanted it to serve singers like Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin, who lived nearby. When Lang and Kornfeld shared their idea, Rosenman thought of a big rock concert with many musicians. They chose the slogan "Three Days of Peace and Music." They hired an artist named Arnold Skolnick to design the famous poster with the bird.
Woodstock's Legacy Today
In 1997, the original concert site and the land around it were bought by Alan Gerry. This area has now become the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. It opened on July 1, 2006, with a performance by the New York Philharmonic. On August 13, 2006, Crosby Stills Nash & Young played at the new Center. This was exactly 37 years after their first performance at Woodstock. They amazed 16,000 fans.
Images for kids
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Max Yasgur's dairy farm in 1968
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Joe Cocker performs in front of huge lighting- and soundtowers
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Magazine advertisement promoting the Woodstock Music & Art Fair's "Aquarian Exposition," to be held in Wallkill, NY.
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Peace and Music Woodstock monument with plaques by sculptor Wayne C. Saward and erected in 1984 on the festival site. (Note that John Sebastian's surname is misspelled as "Sabastian" and Bert Sommer's name is missing)
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Max Yasgur's farm in 1999
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Opening ceremony at Woodstock. Swami Satchidananda giving the opening speech
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A rainy day (August 15, 1969)
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Joe Cocker and the Grease Band performing at Woodstock
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Photo taken near Woodstock on August 18, 1969
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Richie Havens performing at Woodstock
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Tents and cars of spectators at Woodstock
See also
In Spanish: Festival de Woodstock para niños
