Questions
When and where was Woodstock held?
The festival ran August 15 to 18, 1969, on Max Yasgur’s 300 acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York.
Who organized Woodstock?
Four entrepreneurs founded it: Michael Lang, Artie Kornfeld, Joel Rosenman, and John P. Roberts, with Roberts and Rosenman financing the venture.
Why is it called Woodstock if it was held in Bethel?
Bethel is roughly 60 miles from the actual town of Woodstock, New York, but organizers associated that area with musicians like Bob Dylan and The Band who lived there, so the name stuck.
How many people actually showed up?
Organizers expected around 50,000, but between 460,000 and 500,000 people came.
How much did a ticket cost?
Advance tickets were $18 and gate admission was $24, though roughly 186,000 advance tickets sold before the festival became free because crews could not finish the fencing and ticket booths in time.
Who opened and who closed the festival?
Richie Havens opened it at 5:07 PM on Friday, and Jimi Hendrix closed it Monday morning at 8:30 AM with his psychedelic national anthem in front of about 30,000 remaining attendees.
How many acts performed?
Thirty-two acts played, including The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sly and the Family Stone, and The Band.
Is it true Creedence Clearwater Revival was cut from the movie?
Yes. Creedence was reportedly the first act signed, paid $10,000, and performed at 12:30 AM, but they were left out of the Woodstock film reportedly at frontman John Fogerty’s insistence.
Who was the master of ceremonies?
Lighting designer Chip Monck was drafted as the MC because the organizers reportedly forgot to hire one.
Which big acts turned Woodstock down?
The Beatles were recording Abbey Road and breaking up, Bob Dylan played the Isle of Wight instead, and Frank Zappa reportedly declined citing concerns about the mud.
Did anyone die at Woodstock?
Three deaths were recorded: two drug overdoses and one tractor accident involving a 17 year old. The festival was otherwise remarkably peaceful despite the crowds, mud, and strained facilities.
Did the festival make money?
It nearly bankrupted Roberts and Rosenman at first, but their ownership of the film and recording rights turned things around, helping pay off roughly $1.4 million in debt and settle dozens of lawsuits from area farmers.
Did Woodstock win any awards?
Director Michael Wadleigh’s 1970 documentary won the Academy Award for Documentary Feature, and the soundtrack album, complete with stage announcements and crowd sounds, became iconic on its own.
Is the Peanuts bird named after the festival?
Yes. Cartoonist Charles Schulz named his Peanuts character Woodstock in 1970 as a tribute to the festival.
Can you still visit the site today?
Yes. The land became part of the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts after being purchased in 1996, and the location was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in February 2017.
