52nd Woodstock Reunion (August, 2021)

In 1969, a legendary music festival was held in Bethel NY. Hundreds of thousands of people came out to an event that was expected to host a few hundred people, at most. Despite the small town's inability to accomodate so many people, the event was largely peaceful. After three days of music by some of the most influential musical acts of the era, the festival came to a close as the attendees resumed their everyday lives, forever changed.

Every year, typically in the second weekend of August, Yasgur's Farm holds a smaller memorial music festival to recapture a feel of this original festival. The festivities last for several days, with several local bands performing each day.

My first time attending this event was in 2021; I took Slow Ride out Friday night and opted to spend the night at a small monument half a mile from the festival site, as my ticket wouldn't allow me entry until Saturday. The night was fairly uneventful, and the next morning I entered the festival grounds as soon as possible. After parking Slow Ride, I found public showers; in no time at all, I was ready to explore everything the festival had to offer.

While I had made arrangements to sleep in Slow Ride in the parking area, many pitched tents right in the woods, just as many had done for the original Woodstock festival 52 years prior. Much like all accounts of the original festival, everyone I met was friendly and welcoming.

I had an excellent time exploring the festival grounds and enjoying the music on Saturday, staying up late into the night enjoying the party that had formed around the main stage. Unlike my first trip in Slow Ride, my accomodations this time were comfortable and with just a couple exceptions, I slept peacefully through the night.

Sunday morning was the day most people began packing up to head home. I took this opportunity to visit the Woodstock Museum, at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. It was a great time, with fantastic documentation about the events leading up to the music festival, relics and paraphernalia from the event, and the cultural impact of the three day affair. Well worth the visit, and an excellent weekend adventure!

Until next time!

-Jason