Woodstock is that point in time that marked the peak of the peace & love culture that was so prominent in the US during the 1960s. Nowadays, people are still recalling the iconic Summer of '69, and we're collectively waiting for a celebration as iconic as Woodstock to ever happen again.

Maybe the best things in history will never be repeated and, therefore, must be remembered.

Tracy Shaw

Tracy Shaw is a British actress and singer who rose to fame in the mid-'90s. She became a household name in the UK after appearing in the popular TV series "Coronation Street" as Maxine Peacock. In 1998, she launched a short-lived pop career, releasing two singles on the Love This Records label: "Ridin' High" and a cover of "Happenin' All Over Again."

Shaw filed for divorce in 2004, and she decided to move in with Ashley Poundall, a childhood friend and Cisco Sales Manager, who was also the son of her mother Anne's boyfriend of eight years. They live in Caversham Heights, Berkshire, with two sons, Louis and Luca.

Tina O'Brien

Tina O'Brien is a British actress best known for her role as Sarah Platt in the long-running soap opera, "Coronation Street." She quickly became a fan favorite and remained on the series for seven years. After leaving the show in 2007, O'Brien took a break from acting to focus on her personal life, which included her daughter's birth in 2008.

In addition to her work, O'Brien has also appeared in other TV shows, including "Strictly Come Dancing" and "Waterloo Road." O'Brien has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her career, including Best Actress at the National Television Awards and Best Dramatic Performance at the British Soap Awards.

 

Helen Flanagan

Helen Flanagan is an English actress and model best known for her roles in "Coronation Street" and "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here." In 2012, she won Best Dramatic Performance at the British Soap Awards. In 2016, she stepped away from Coronation Street and returned in 2019. She has since become a famous Instagram influencer, with over one million followers.

Flanagan is an international fashion model and has been on the cover of several magazines, including "FHM," "Loaded," and "NUTS." She was also featured in the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. On May 31, 2018, she became engaged to Scott Sinclair, a winger for Preston North End.

Letticia Dean

Letitia Dean is famous for her role as Sharon Watts in the long-running BBC soap opera "EastEnders." She first appeared in the show in 1985 and quickly became a fan favorite. She left the show in 1995 but returned in 2001 and has been a regular cast member ever since.

Dean's other acting credits include "Grange Hill," "The Hello Girls," and "Strictly Come Dancing." 1997, Dean and Susan Tully were involved with the Third World charity Plan International and sent to a remote village in Senegal to help highlight one of the organization's aid projects designed to bring running water to drought-hit areas.

Maisie Smith

Maisie Smith is an English actress and singer known for her roles in "Strictly Come Dancing," which she joined in 2020. At the age of eight, she made her debut in "EastEnders," playing the role of Tiffany Butcher and quickly becoming a fan favorite.

Her time on the show saw her reach the semi-finals and become the youngest-ever contestant to reach this stage. Her popularity has grown in recent years, and her career has thrived. She had been in a relationship with singer Max George since September 2022. In October 2016, Smith released her debut single, "Good Thing," and its accompanying music video to rave reviews.

Barbara Knox

Barbara Knox is a British actress best known for playing 'Rita Sullivan' in the long-running soap opera "Coronation Street." She joined the show in 1964 and has remained in the role for over fifty years. Her acting skills have earned her several awards, including a British Soap Award for Best Actress.

She is also the longest-serving female cast member in the show's history. Her commitment to performance and her talent have made her a beloved and iconic figure in television. Knox has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Denis Mullaney in 1956 in Oldham, Lancashire. They have three children together: Maxine, John, and Amanda.

Gillian Taylforth

Gillian Taylforth is an English actress best known for her roles in "EastEnders," "The Bill," and "Footballers' Wives."

Taylforth wrote an autobiography in 1995 titled "Kathy and Me," in which she recounted her childhood, teenage years, early acting experiences, and lifestyle. In 2006, she delivered a critically acclaimed performance in the comedy-drama ''Jane Hall.'' She also had a recurring role on ITV's topical chat show "Loose Women" between 2000 and 2008. Additionally, Taylforth became a fan-favorite series regular on ITV's police drama "The Bill" after making her first screen appearance on November 8, 2006, as the unforgettable Sergeant Nikki Wright.

Jessie Wallace

Born in London, Jessie Wallace is an English actress best known for her role as Kat Slater in the BBC soap opera "EastEnders." She won the British Soap Award for Best Actress. Wallace made her debut in the soap in the '00s and has been a recurring character ever since.

She has appeared in a variety of roles and appeared in the series "Wild At Heart" and "A Class Apart." In 2011, her performance as Pat Phoenix in the BBC Four television film "The Road to Coronation Street" earned her a nomination for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Stephanie Davis

Stephanie Davis is an actress, singer, and model from England. She became famous after appearing as Sinead O'Connor in the British opera "Hollyoaks." She has since starred in various television shows, films, and theater productions. She is widely known for her role as Esther Bloom in the BBC drama series "Doctors."

Davis also competed as a contestant on the 17th series of ''Celebrity Big Brother'', winning second place in 2016. Her major career highlights include winning Best Actress in 2019 and appearing in "Over The Rainbow." On February 21, 2020, Davis released the single "Lights Out," an upbeat pop anthem.

Gemma Merna

Gemma Merna is a British actress best known for her role as Carmel Valentine in the popular soap opera "Hollyoaks." She made her television debut in 2005 and quickly gained recognition for her performances. Since then, she has been nominated for several awards, including a National Television Award.

She got married to her long-term boyfriend, Ian Minton, in 2012. Merna appeared on an episode of "Doctors" in 2017 and teamed up with former TV mum Nicole Barber-Lane on the October 28, 2017, episode of "Pointless Celebrities." In January 2022, she revealed on Instagram that she was resuming filming for an undisclosed project.

Kate McGregor

McGregor is an English actress who gained fame for her role as Emily Kirk in the British soap opera "Emmerdale." Her portrayal of Emily has earned numerous accolades and awards, including the National Television Award as Most Popular Newcomer.

McGregor is an intensely private individual, rarely making public appearances. She and her male partner, a teacher, have multiple children together. From 1996 to 1998, McGregor was married to Edward. She has a great love for Ireland, often speaking fondly of the coasts of Connemara and taking her family to the Lakelands of Fermanagh for holidays. Additionally, McGregor is a massive Joni Mitchell fan.

Julie Goodyear

Julie Goodyear is an English television personality and actress best known for her long-running role as Bet Lynch on the soap opera "Coronation Street." She first began appearing on the show in 1966 and remained a significant cast member until 1995.

Goodyear also regularly appeared on the British series, "Loose Women." She became a household name in the UK and is widely recognized for her signature bouffant hair and heavy eye makeup. She was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to television drama. With an equally exciting love life, Goodyear has been married four times.

Kate Bush

Kate Bush saw a resurgence of popularity in 2022, with her 1985 hit "Running Up That Hill" going viral on the internet. The song, featured in Season 4 of the hit show "Stranger Things," rose to become her second UK No. 1 and first Billboard Hot 100 Top 10. Bush's signature look is one of effortless style.

Her shaggy mane with fringe, and her iconic smoked-out eyes and berry lip, have remained unchanged over the years. Rachel Gibson once said that it was Bush's "intentionally styled" but "utterly effortless" image that made her so wonderful. Even today, her dreamy aura remains intact.

Carol Vorderman

Carol Vorderman has achieved a lot in her illustrious career. From co-hosting the game show "Countdown" for 26 years to becoming a newspaper columnist, and even pursuing a degree in engineering, she has certainly made her mark. But it's not just her professional achievements that have left us in awe.

At a time, she showcased the results of an 18-day juice detox that she underwent in Portugal. The age-defying television star looked absolutely stunning in the pictures posted on her Instagram, having dropped a size. It's no surprise that the images left us speechless, and we can all agree that the results speak for themselves.

Carol Kirkwood

Carol Kirkwood has been a weather presenter on BBC Breakfast since 2003 and is highly praised; having won the TRIC award for best weather presenter five times! Her talents don't stop there; in 2015, she competed on BBC One's popular show "Strictly Come Dancing," where she finished in an impressive 10th place.

When Kirkwood posted a photo of her wearing a gorgeous springtime dress on her Instagram, her followers, and friends showered her with compliments. To add to her impressive repertoire of achievements, in July 2022 she also released her second book, "The Hotel on the Riviera." We can't wait to see what's next for this talented star!

Kirsty Young

After a few years of absence, Kirsty Young made her grand return to the UK television scene. Fans joyfully welcomed the much-loved Scottish television and radio presenter with open arms. To commemorate her comeback, she decided to visit the celebrity hairstyling salon of Taylor Ferguson in Glasgow in 2019.

When she arrived, she looked glamorous and fresh-faced. Young is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable presenters in the UK. From 2006 to 2018, she was the main presenter of BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs," and before that she hosted "Crimewatch" on BBC One from 2008 to 2015.

A Generation Of Artists

In this article, you'll have the opportunity to take a look at some of the rare pictures taken from the festival that highlights the meaning of what was it like to be there amidst one of the most important cultural celebrations of all time.

A Peace & Love Party Is Still A Party

Advertised as a weekend in the countryside, the Woodstock festival was not just all about celebrating an inspired generation of American young people with more than 30 musicians in the line-up; it was also about partying!

When you gather almost half a million people in one venue and put in rock & roll music and a large number of illicit drugs into the mix, there's a good chance some of them are going to have a lot of fun. The picture above captures that aspect of the festival and Woodstock's party-hard nature led some people to state that the festival was over-romanticized by the generations that followed.

"Sold-Out" Was More Of A Figure Of Speech...

Saying that Woodstock was sold out is probably not the most accurate representation of what happened. Over 400K people gathered on a 600-acre farm in what proved to be an unexpected level of attendance. The logistical issues were huge, and this resulted in an unprecedented line of car traffic.

The 3.9K locals were certainly baffled as their small town was "invaded" by thousands of cars that formed a traffic jam on the highway 17B, which measured more than 20 miles! Luckily, this is Woodstock we're talking about. And while peace and love is something we normally don't associate with traffic jams, things went quite smoothly despite the onslaught of attendees.

Headlining The World's Greatest Music Festival

Woodstock was only possible thanks to the amazing music acts in the line-up that included notable musicians like Santana, Joan Baez, Ravi Shankar, and, of course, Jimi Hendrix. Jimi, who was accompanied by his band Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, delivered one of the most iconic performances in rock & roll history.

Chosen to close the festival, the Purple Haze musician played for about 2 hours. His stage charm and unique quality as a guitar player matched perfectly with the Summer of '69 vibes. He was also the highest-paid musician in Woodstock's line-up, walking away with an $18K paycheck.

Why Only One-Third of The Audience Witnessed Hendrix's Iconic Performance

When legendary performer Jimi Hendrix sang The Star-Spangled Banner at the biggest mud party ever, the whole crowd stood still and hummed along in harmony. But we feel pity for those who could not see this magic live for two uninterrupted hours! It was probably Jimi's career's longest performance ever!

Jimi had to close the event on its last night, but sudden rainfall messed everything up! When given a choice, the singer preferred a morning slot on Monday, but by then, the huge crowd had dwindled to 180,000 people out of half a million present just a night ago! So Sad!

Love Lasts Forever

This is one of the most famous pictures of the festival: a loving young couple trying to fight the cold with a blanket. These once young teenagers are Bobbi Kelly and Nick Ercoline, and their love story will forever be remembered as the perfect symbol of what Woodstock was all about.

The then-young couple was clearly enjoying Jefferson Airplane's set, but their shared story is proof that Woodstock was more than just a music festival—Bobbi and Nick stayed together until today! Fifty years later, they're a happily married couple who are parents to two children. True love does last forever!

All Roads Lead To Love

Is there a more elucidative picture of Woodstock than this photograph depicting these three hippie-made signs? You'll find nothing but love and pleasant surprises either way, and we can only imagine just how fun it must've been to roam around the festival's site.

Woodstock was a clear symbol of an optimistic generation, a counterculture movement that was marked by the reminiscent memory of two World Wars and that aimed for a better future. And while that better future was unfortunately never realized, that generation's beautiful message will continue to resonate forever in our collective minds and hearts.

It's Better If You Sit With The Crowd

Woodstock's atmosphere was so amazing that even the festival's stars decided to join the crowd and sit on the grass for a good taste of peace and love. In the picture above, Jefferson Airplane's lead singer, Grace Slick, is joined by Sally Mann, who was married to the band's drummer, Spencer Dryden, at that time.

Grace later confessed to the Rolling Stone magazine that arriving at Woodstock was nearly impossible for her and the band since all roads were closed because of a massive traffic jam. Luckily, the festival's organizers were able to find a helicopter to fly in Jefferson Airplane.

Tim Hardin Was There

Despite being overshadowed by Woodstock's other stars, singer-songwriter Tim Hardin had a chance to play in the festival and pulled off one of the music festival's most memorable moments. He sang his top 40 hit song If I Were a Carpenter, accompanied by nothing but his guitar.

Right before stepping on stage, Tim Hardin was photographed in a moment of deep focus. What was he writing? We're guessing that was probably his show's set-list (that's something musicians commonly do before entering stage), but it could've been anything⁠—even the lyrics to one of his songs.

Setting New Music Festival Standards

Have you ever wondered why people who have never attended a music festival before suddenly know all about how they're supposed to dress and act? Woodstock is probably to blame since the event kind of founded every music festival standard practice.

Looking at the picture above, we get a clear sensation of déjà vu⁠—so this is why so many young girls decide to cover their faces in sprinkles and shiny stickers every time they go to a music festival! Woodstock was the festival of festivals, so it was naturally responsible for spreading many of the common practices we now associate with major music events.

Wet Floors & Warm Hearts

Woodstock was already a logistical nightmare, so you can only imagine how chaotic it must've been as soon as the rain started falling from the sky. The music lovers certainly got wet in their muddy tents, but that was not enough to ruin the festival's good spirit.

Despite the adverse weather conditions, Woodstock attendees were keen on having fun. And getting your feet all dirty with mud is not as bad as you think when you're having the time of your life in the Summer of '69! These two certainly looked like they're enjoying themselves as they tried to save some of their belongings from the mud.

A Stylish Youth

Woodstock was an amazing and inspiring event, with a cultural significance that's earned it a place in the history books. But it was also... extremely cool. The hippie generation is often caricatured as a naive, unconsequential, and irresponsible one. But if there's one thing they knew how to do, that's how to look stylish!

This girl is showcasing the look of the season with her black tank top, leather armband, cowboy belt, and artisanal necklaces. These old pictures of Woodstock are still inspiring the style of young men and women today, as well as professional fashion designers and clothing brands.

As Light As Bubbles

When you consider that almost half a million people visited Woodstock back in that sweet Summer of '69, you'll start to have a grasp of just how culturally significant the event was. About 450K hippies and teenagers from all over America gathered around the rural area of Bethel, New York.

Sitting alone in the grass, the young Jackie Barg is enjoying her place in history by peacefully blowing a couple of bubbles in the air. Luckily, a photographer was there to capture the moment; allowing us to take a glimpse at the festival's atmosphere 50 years later.

Food For The Spirit

Hippie-haters normally accuse hippies of being shallow and hypocritical, but they're one of the most spiritual sub-cultures and counter-culture movements in recent history. Woodstock wasn't a religious festival, but it featured the presence of the Indian religious master and spiritual guru Satchidananda Saraswati.

In a day and age when Indian religious culture was bigger than ever in the US, the late spiritual leader delivered a beautiful speech to the crowd in which he focused on the role of music as a connecting element in the universe. Beautiful words that worked as the perfect kickoff to the festival.

Max Yasgur, A Name To Remember

A relatively unknown fact about Woodstock is that it didn't take place in a town called Woodstock. "Woodstock" happened to be the name of the company that financed the festival: Woodstock Ventures, an enterprise that's still running today and that, according to Reuters, is continuing to make tons of money.

But Woodstock Ventures' efforts wouldn't be possible without the collaboration of Max Yasgur, a Bethel farmer who allowed the festival to take place on his dairy farm. Sadly, the audacious small-town man was criticized by the locals to the point of being sued! He died only 4 years after the festival, in 1973.

Fresh Milk For The Hungry Youth

Max Yasgur's farm was a dairy farm, so there were a lot of cows found in the place. One of these cows was lucky enough to make it into history, after being photographed by one of the many Woodstock documenters. This lovely picture shows a small crowd of curious festival attendees carefully watching while young men are milking the cow.

Since Woodstock was a muddy festival overcrowded with thousands of hungry⁠—and unprepared⁠—teenagers, the possibility of having a fresh glass of milk in the morning was certainly not to be snubbed.

Too Many Cars In The Driveway

The historical Woodstock traffic jam was responsible for keeping some people away from the festival, but many simply decided to ditch their cars and walk to the concert's site. Walking for over 10 miles doesn't seem like such a good idea. But when you're about to enter the world's greatest music festival, it doesn't matter!

Sitting on top of the trunk of a car, this young couple kills some time with the company of an acoustic guitar. And while the boy seems to be deeply involved in his playing, the girl has a facial expression that proves that 1969 kids⁠—like all kids⁠—were sometimes impatient.

Peace & Love Is The Only Ticket You Need

Less than 100K tickets were sold by Woodstock Ventures, the festival organizers. So, how come almost half a million people attended the event? Well, those were different times. Back in 1969, the youngsters didn't care if they had a ticket or not⁠—they simply showed up!

Having a big farm with small fences as a venue, Woodstock was filled with freeloaders two days before it even started. Without the means to control the 300K unexpected visitors, Woodstock Ventures decided to make the festival free for everyone; a decision that was influenced by the consideration that the festival was more about peace and love than actual money.

The Morning After

If you ever hosted a party, you know all about the feeling of being left with a lot of cleaning up to do in the following morning. Woodstock was just like that, with the extent of being a huge party of 500K people!

Poor Max Yasgur found his Bethel dairy farm in a terrible state after the festival's end. The piles of trash left behind by the supposedly nature-loving hippies did not make for a beautiful sight, and the locals were shocked to see their hometown in such a state. That's why Yasgur refused to host a second edition of the festival in 1970.

Conditions Were Dreadful

Even in the poorest of conditions, Woodstock attendees like the ones shown in the picture above were happy to be celebrating peace and love. But the festival was not ready to receive a crowd of nearly half a million, and the already scarce sanitary resources were made worse by the almost-incessant rain.

Woodstock stories mention Lisa Law, a woman who reportedly stayed up all night making sandwiches to feed the hungry⁠—and normally very high⁠—festival-goers. The festival staff also installed four containers with nearly 10K gallons of drinking water to avoid dehydration and improve the dreadful conditions.

Parental Control

With mud entering everyone's tents, few available bathrooms, and no place to get clean food and water, the Woodstock hippies ended up being "saved" by their antagonists: the United States army. The government was responsible for flying in boxes of food and medical aid to the festival's site, helping to ensure that health issues were avoided.

Volunteer doctors and physicians also decided to join the festival. They weren't paid or contacted by Woodstock Ventures, but they visited on their own accord. Thanks to them, there are no mentions of serious diseases or injuries being contracted during the festival.

Two Sides To Every Story

While officials everywhere in the US were shocked by Woodstock's conditions⁠—with Bethel provisionally becoming the third-largest city in the state of New York, the festival-goers were all about having fun, listening to good rock & roll music, and sharing some of that peace and love.

But outside the festival's site, people were worried about what could happen, and New York State's Governor at that time, Nelson Rockefeller, went as far as declaring Bethel a disaster area. This truly shows there are always two sides to every story, and we can only imagine how worried some of these kids' parents must've been.

Half A Million People... And Not Even One Chair!

If you have ever been to a major music festival or any big-scale public event, you're probably aware of how hard it is to find a good place to sit. Woodstock was no exception, and the lucky few ones who found a spot on this tractor were certainly enjoying a comfy afternoon.

The festival's site was so crowded that finding a place to sit other than the muddy ground became an utterly difficult challenge. Luckily, Woodstock hippies were just happy to be there and the general tiredness proved insufficient to keep them from having a good time.

Capitalism? No, Thank You!

Naturally, some of the Woodstock attendees decided to take on the opportunity to make some money by selling goods like food and clothing. Even full-fledged hippies can't deny a chance of making a very nice profit. But what happened when merchants took things too far?

A food stand decided to raise the price of its burgers from $0.25 to $1, and the anti-capitalist festival-goers went crazy! The situation escalated into a riot-like scenario, with the food stand being burned by the anti-market, free-love-loving hippies. They believed that such a commercial tactic was against the festival's general spirit. But isn't burning food stands also against the morals of peace and love?

The Rescue Team

The organizing authorities of the Woodstock event expected approximately 200,000 people, and they made arrangements accordingly. To their surprise, half a million showed up, which only meant one thing - a shortage of food and water. Luckily, the ground was extensive enough to encapsulate everyone; otherwise, it could have been a tragic festival instead of a happy one!

Help arrived as army officers hovered over the field in their helicopters, dropping the essentials for attendees. Here's a picture of military men ticking their checklist at the end of the distribution, and a family and their pet dog enjoying milk and bread!

Janis Joplin at Woodstock

Among many A-list celebs, the late singer and songwriter Janis Joplin also graced the Woodstock festival with her presence. She might appear calm in this picture, but as soon as she touched the event ground, Janis instantly felt giddy and nervous upon seeing the crowd. Perhaps that is why she was enjoying a beverage to calm her mind.

Probably this icy-cold drink was also the reason why her voice sounded hoarse when she started singing on the stage. Despite the delay in her performance and the little mishap with her throat, the attendees shouted for an encore.

 

Monkey Business

No, this is not an LSD-induced hallucinogenic vision. This young girl was the proud owner of a pet monkey, and this cute little creature was enjoying rock & roll music amidst the crowd like a chimp...we mean champ. This girl's name and history are still unknown, but this fish-eye photography will live forever.

The Internet went crazy as soon as the picture appeared online, it even made it to the popular meme website 9Gag. In response to the picture, one Reddit user even wanted to become a pet monkey. Well, we guess this monkey is kind of luckier than we are. After all, he was at Woodstock in 1969!

Fear Of Missing Out

Bethel was the place to be during that weekend in 1969. The best musicians in the US were there, and peace and love could be found in every tent and in the smiles of every attending teenager. However, some of the major counter-culture stars at that time were unable to make it to Woodstock.

John Lennon was denied a visa and got stuck in neighboring Canada. Bob Dylan was taking care of his sick son, and The Jeff Beck Group, a band that was part of the line-up, never visited the site. They split the night before the festival, and we can only guess how bad they must feel about it now.

Restless Happiness

Long before electronic music introduced the 72-hour non-stop rave parties, Woodstock was setting a high standard; especially considering that it was 1969. In 48 hours, the music only stopped during a short range of time that lasted for two hours.

But even when the rock & roll stopped, the party continued; with the festival-goers taking a chance to play their instruments and make some noise with improvised psychedelic jams. At that time, this man walks peacefully with his small child around a group of restless youngsters trying to get some sleep on the cold wet grass.

Bethel, A Monument To The 1960s Counter-Culture Movement

We have mentioned before that Woodstock was not, contrary to the popular opinion, held in a town called Woodstock. The festival took place in Bethel, a small village located in a rural area of New York that will forever be marked by this unique event.

In 1998, American billionaire Alan Gerry acquired Woodstock's site to build the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, a cultural institution located right where Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana delivered their iconic performances. Bethel is now like a place of pilgrimage for all the men and women who are interested in the 1960s counter-culture movement.

Puppets, Toddlers, And Newborn Babies

Woodstock was all about rock & roll music, and you just couldn't ignore some of the big names in the festival's line-up. But there was so much more going on! Bethel was flooded by artists, outsiders, performers, and all kinds of people coming from all kinds of places.

Take this puppet show, for instance. This was an improvised alternative to the main stage that made the delight of the many small children at the festival's site. Amidst all the Woodstock chaos, there were hundreds of toddlers with their parents, and the history books even mention that two babies were born during the festival!

Killing The Munchies

While the United States is not particularly known for its social security policies, the young Woodstock attendees had access to all kinds of essential goods for free. Medical supplies, water, and food were distributed among the festival-goers to prevent a health disaster.

You know how teenagers are, right? When they're at a party, they can often forget that their bodies need things like water and food from time to time. This was especially important in a drug-filled environment like Woodstock, where it's estimated that about 90% of the visitors happened to be cannabis consumers.

The Woodstock Heroes

When you have nearly half a million teenagers cramped in the same area together, nurses are definitely in need! With that in mind, about 45 doctors and volunteers provided free medical assistance to the many youngsters startled by dehydration, fatigue, and drug abuse.

While the military help was at first seen as detrimental⁠—the Vietnam War was happening at that time⁠—it soon became clear to everybody that, in this case, the government's support was vital. These men and women were responsible for keeping all the peace and loving under control and helped prevent any potential disasters.

Media Frenzy

The Woodstock festival unsurprisingly caused a media frenzy, and even the busy party-goers took some time to read the news about the historical event. However, at that time, reports of the festival were normally negative; focusing more on the mud, drugs, and traffic jams than on the culturally significant aspects of Woodstock.

A New York Times journalist later admitted that he was pressured by his editors to write negative reviews of the festival, which was seen by the responsible adults at that time as a dangerous initiative. Luckily, history has proved these men wrong since Woodstock is normally remembered as a mostly positive mark in history.

A Weekend That Would Last Forever

Like many things in life, Woodstock is a matter of perspective. To some, it is the symbol of a lost generation that was more focused on partying than on contributing to society. To others, it is the ultimate statement of the 1960s counter-culture movement, a perfect monument to the values of peace and love that characterized the "flower power" mindset.

In the end, the Woodstock festival was one of the most significant cultural events of the 20th century, and it's likely that it will remain as the ultimate symbol of freedom and communal love.

Gate-Pass

The young lady in the frame is all dolled up in her hippie dress for the event, but it seems like she forgot to buy the tickets to the Woodstock festival. As a quick fix for this mishap, she decided to sell that bunch of flowers in her hands. What an idea!

She probably bought these ferns and florals for her favorite musician, but what good would they be if she doesn't have her entry pass, right? We only hope that the lady would have managed to earn the $18 for the three-day celebration back then. It doesn't sound like a lot now, but in the '60s, it was!

The Most Beautiful Crown

At such grand events, people tend to dress up in their best outfits and wear their most fashionable accessories. So has the lady in the picture, who has adorned a beautiful flower headband. With her edgy sense of style, dreadlocks, and gorgeous dark eyes, the young woman looks a bit of a wild soul!

Perhaps that is why the banjo player's (in the background) gaze is fixed on her! These events also happen to be a great place to build connections, make new friends, or even find the love of your life. It's possible that this was also the start of a similar story for these two!

Dance Like None Is Watching!

Musical events let you forget all your problems and worries! Such festivities are once in a lifetime opportunities, and its only fair to let go of all our inhibitions and seize the day!

This lady in the picture did just that and had the best time of her life! We don't know if she had some training in dance, but by the looks of it, she appears to be a professional! With her eyes closed and tresses flowing freely with the wind, she's the least bothered about anything else and is simply enjoying the moment!

What Activist Abbie Hoffman Did at Woodstock

Though he was a writer and activist, Abbot Howard Hoffman or famously known as Abbie Hoffman, had a reputation for inciting riots at public gatherings. Something similar happened at the Woodstock concert when Hoffman obstructed The Who's performance as he wanted to spread awareness about the jailing of American poet John Sinclair and showcase his objection with this decision.

Even though many people in the audience and the band's guitarist Pete Townshend agreed with his message, Abbie's way of reaching out was against the law. He disturbed the band's performance and the entire decorum of the festival!

Better Late Than Never

The Grateful Dead - A band that ruled over in the '60s for their happening country, jazz, and rock 'n' roll music - could have also rocked the Woodstock festival, but things did not go as per plan!

Unpredictable weather conditions had flooded the main stage with rainwater and, on top of that, Owsley Stanley a.k.a. "Bear" - their electrical engineer had to fix all those heavy instruments on the stage itself. It did not just delay the band's performance but also exposed the members to electric shocks. Looking at the photograph, you might feel that the singer probably got electrified, but luckily, no one got hurt!

The Security Team At Woodstock was called Please Force

Though the Woodstock carnival was announced as "a weekend of music and peace," members of the organizing department realized that many unruly moments might occur, which would demand their immediate attention or disrupt the peaceful atmosphere. Planting only uniformed officers was not sufficient for such a situation!

Consequently, they decided to have troops of off-duty guards among the crowd and a supervising team from Hog Farm (an established hippie commune of California). To protect the festival's vibes, its lead activist Wavy Gravy planned to tame waywards by hurling custard pies and soda water instead of conventional violent methods - thoughtful and impactful!

Take A Break

No matter how many energy drinks one would gulp, at the end of the day, everyone got tired of dancing and hopping around. Indeed, the iconic event was pretty intense! Though there were small tents to relax, we understand why this young couple chose to take a quick nap on the grass beside a river. It is always refreshing to get in touch with mother nature!

It does look like the boy is more tired than the girl, though. While he is sleeping, she's still smiling and looks fresh. She's probably thinking of going back to the dance floor as soon as her boyfriend gets up!

Waiting it out

Woodstock's organizers had advertised three days of peace and music and anticipated a crowd of 50,000 people. They had to change the location at the last minute as they sold more than three times that many tickets. It meant they didn't make proper preparations for fences or ticket booths, and in the end, most of the 400,000 festival-goers walked in for free!

This girl looks to be biding her time until an opportunity arises to gain free entry. Woodstock came at a high price but taught festival organizers a valuable lesson. Don't expect to get into one without a ticket these days!

Working the field

We wouldn’t have such an incredible record of Woodstock if professional photographers weren’t at the event as well as festival-goers. We imagine it must have been hard work to stay ready for photo opportunities for the full weekend, especially with such a party going on!

The event was notable for so many reasons that the press couldn’t stay away; Woodstock drew an unexpectedly massive crowd and internationally renowned acts! The gathering was truly the embodiment of the cultural movement taking place, and we are fortunate that so many pictures have survived, giving us a real insight into a different time.

No Dull Moments This Weekend!

It was not easy to find a dull moment during Woodstock; While not everyone got the chance to see every performance at the festival, they definitely got the opportunity to witness some of the most unforgettable moments in the world of music.

However, the musicians never made it on time; some got stuck in traffic while others faced flight delays, though nobody really cared about that. Many renowned musicians, including Jefferson Airplane and Joe Cocker, did indeed play at the event and gave the audiences the best time of their lives!

Through Unpredictable Weather

Woodstock will forever go down the history books as one of the greatest music festivals of all time. However, the weather was on the hot and rainy extremes. The heat became so unbearable that many revelers were covering themselves from the sun like this woman, and some even started doing rain dances to get some relief from the heat.

As the saying goes, 'be careful what you wish for,' the rain came down in torrents, and it didn't stop until the whole festival flooded. That didn't deter the people from having fun, though, as many continued to dance barefoot in the mud!

Trendy Fad

Most festivals bring with them fun, music, and exciting fashion trends, and Woodstock 1969 was no different. Many people showcased their diverse dressing styles that became adopted years after the event had taken place, defining a whole generation of hipsters.

This woman's image sums up the fashion trends of the time to a T, with her black and white floral top, paired with a variety of accessories giving it a different touch of simplicity. Her cute headband tops off the outfit, which we bet stood out during the entire event, and we're quite glad that it got documented.

Picture Perfect

Anyone who attended Woodstock had unforgettable experiences that would last a lifetime, but not everyone had as much fun as they would have hoped. One girl, oblivious of her surroundings, was captured in this iconic image, which turns out to be one of the best from the festival.

Some people are not enthusiastic about crowds, and one Ravi Shankar was terrified by the massive number of people. Everything that was happening at the event was a tad too overwhelming. So bad was his experience that he compared the people playing in the mud to water buffalo. We don't all have the same type of fun, do we?

Weathering the Storm

Due to Woodstock's torrential rain, it was not surprising to see some of the festival-goers leave to go home early. Most people got covered in mud from head to toe, and some of them were even daring enough to take a dip in the overflowing streams.

This lady seems like she had had enough of the mess and wanted to leave the wet weather and go home to a warm cup of coffee and cozy blankets. We hope her ride came along soon enough, and her belongings survived the downpour as she waited.

Peace Out!

The beauty of the Woodstock festival in 1969 was the peace and love message shared between the festival-goers. With thousands of people attending the event, it is not surprising that there was a lot of garbage to be taken care of after everyone had left for their homes.

A few volunteers stayed behind to help the community clean up, and they did it in the most extraordinary way. The group created a peace sign using the trash, which was so big that it was clearly visible to helicopters covering the event. Even garbage can be useful; after all, the message was loud and clear!

Musical Trance

In the history of events, none comes close to the impact Woodstock music festival left in Americans' lives. The festival took place when the nation was in a dark place, and it united people from all walks of life and all over the country, making it one of the most iconic events ever held.

There was music, lots of it, and the woman in this image portrays how much fun it was, being in attendance. Many people have tried to replicate the awesomeness of Woodstock, but none have succeeded. The event will forever remain etched in the history books as absolutely incomparable!

Name Tag

Most events experience some setbacks during the planning process, and Woodstock was no different. The festival was initially to be in town, but because of some disagreements between the organizers over the portable toilets' quality, the whole affair moved to Bethel.

Despite the change in venue coming just a month before the function, huge crowds still flocked to have the best time of their lives while donning the latest fashion pieces, accessorized with headbands and sunglasses. The music was incredibly beautiful, and the incredibly diverse array of outfits made the event truly glamorous!

Music of the Light

Among the Woodstock festival star performers was Melanie Safka, who wowed the crowd with her mellow tunes, making attending the event worthwhile. We all get inspiration from different places, and for Melanie, pictured here looking at the thousands of people listening to her was no exception.

The star's time on stage gave birth to one of her most famous songs ever, 'Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),' which was inspired by the bad weather and the candles in the rain refer to the lights Melanie saw in the audience. It was indeed a win-win for everyone as the message of love spread while creativity flowed.

Unstoppable Crowd

Many music fans expected the Beatles to headline Woodstock '69, but that did not happen, and John Lennon's visa into the US failed to go through, and therefore the legendary artist didn't make it either. However, it later became apparent that Lennon's wife Yoko Ono could've been the reason for their absence, as she couldn't access the event.

Despite the big names in music not making it, fans from all corners flocked to Woodstock to participate in what would become an iconic weekend in history. A lot of talent was in the line-up, and this young girl wasn't left behind; her woolen top and complementary accessories stood out!

Fairly Conspicuous

There are hundreds of thousands of people, and it doesn't hurt to be unique from everyone else, as this lady stole the crowd's attention. Her hair covered in neon was the perfect way for her to look distinctive, and she was living ahead of time, setting a fashion trend that would later become a significant street style phenomenon.

This, however, was just the tip of the iceberg, as she was just one of the thousands who showed up for the festival. The organizers estimated that only 200,000 people would show up, but imagine their surprise when half a million individuals came to celebrate love and life!

Not Just Hippies

While Woodstock maybe nowadays characterized as having been a hippie festival, it wasn’t just hippies that attended. We have no idea how this girl managed to stay so beautifully clean and perfectly made up, but she did! Waiting for the next headliner meant lying in a field; at least at this point, the rain hadn’t started!

When the weather turned and began to rain, the open stages meant that many acts got inevitably delayed. Only the most hardcore fans were still in attendance by the end of the weekend. We do wonder if this girl was one of them!

Where Are They Now?

Every festival has performers who go on to make more headlines, and Woodstock was no exception. This picture features Christina McKechnie, known as Licorice, performing with her group, 'Incredible String Band,' during the weekend.

The photo captures the essence of the festival, and the musician looks genuinely content. Dressed in a loose blouse with a flower headband and the long, untamed hair typical of the time, Licorice seems almost blissful. These days, the performer's whereabouts are unknown; she was reportedly last seen hitchhiking across the Arizona Desert in 1987, but social media now suggests the former songstress is in California!

Helping the Organizers

Woodstock festival was, surely, for peace and love, but having so many people meant some chaos was bound to happen. Despite the organizers being on their toes all the time, they needed more support from the army as they fell short of medical supplies and food.

Initially, the crowd guessed that the forces came to interrupt and terminate the event, but once everyone saw them bringing in essentials, all jumped out of joy! The help had to be brought in via helicopters as roads were jam-packed with miles-long car queues- we bet the organizing team must have felt relieved!

A Community of Its Own!

As the festival was a three-day event, people got tired of trying to get close performers on the stage. That is why people often grew into communities for the weekend as they decided to make their own entertainment.

Some people who brought their musical instruments started to play their music, showcasing their talents, while others made clothing for sale. Although the music festivals these days have evolved quite considerably, there is still no match to Woodstock's, which became a perfect getaway with unprecedented historical significance. It was undeniably partly due to the loving communal living nature that the three-day-long event's attendee's displayed!

Upfront Paychecks

Woodstock was more like a much-needed break for many people from their hectic everyday routines. Most of the attendees spent their days chatting, laughing, and having a lot of fun. But little did they know that the organizer of the event faced numerous challenges when it came to bringing the artists line-up together.

Besides, many of the musicians often demanded payments upfront, fearing that the organizers would forget them after the massive event was over. One unfortunate organizer spent all his savings on the event and found himself thousands deep in debt afterward!

Ready to Perform

Jimi Hendrix may be synonymous with the iconic festival, but plenty of other acts played over the three days. Some of the era's biggest rock and folk bands took to the stage; it must have been incredible to immerse oneself in such an atmosphere.

This picture features Grace Slick from 'Jefferson Airplane,' waiting to perform at the side of the stage. The band was already internationally known, and the singer looks calm and serene, ready for anything. No one expected Woodstock to be such a historical event, so the bands that turned down the opportunity to play even included The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin!

A Grand Musical Retreat

Back in the summer of '69, people were excited and determined to be a part of Woodstock. It would not be wrong to say that the audience pretty much clogged up the small town, as half a million individuals gathered for this grand musical retreat. Reportedly, the long queue of the public stretched up to 20 miles!

To tackle the crowd, busses started to make trips from the entrance gate to the staging area. This picture shows two women enjoying a moment, chatting, and savoring some seasonal grapes. It's lucky they got seats amidst all that chaos!

An Aspiring Songstress

Since the Woodstock festival was a celebration of music, love, and peace, aspiring artists were bound to be present in the audience. This young lady here in the picture also seemed to showcase her talent for singing and playing guitar. By the audience gathered around, it would be safe to assume that she's doing a pretty good job at it.

Besides these budding, undiscovered performers, some of the most famous and celebrated musicians rocked the stage providing so much inspiration. They played genres ranging from folk songs, blues, rock music to jazz symphonies, and transfixing Latin fusion.

Arts and Crafts

The hippie movement in the 1960s was about everything vibrant and different from the norm. So many festival-goers rejected capitalism and the acquisition of money and goods for the sake of it; instead, they delighted in simple pleasures and enjoying the moment. No wonder the hippies loved any opportunity to make crafts and it seems flowers were easy to come by in the fields!

This couple used their time to make a pair of matching floral headbands and made a lifestyle and fashion statement by proudly wearing them too. It just goes to show that Woodstock was all about a fuller experience- not just about the music.

People Watching

The sheer volume of people at Woodstock over the weekend must have been quite overwhelming, with over 400,000 people on a relatively small site. It’s good to see that it was possible to take some time out and reassess even in these circumstances.

Festival goers made use of what they had, and there was no option for glamping. Tents were made from whatever was available at hand, so beach mats and flags made handy shelters. And who needed a camp chair when there were cardboard boxes? Luxury was not a word that will have entered many of the revelers’ heads!

Touring the Event Area

At the Woodstock festivals, musicians weren't the only treat for sore eyes, but there was also a lot to see while casually strolling through the grounds. Take this image, for instance, where two friends are either choosing what to eat from the buffet or judging someone's fashion sense.

By their hairstyles, studded belts, and punk jewelry, these lovely ladies also look like quite the fashionistas themselves. Besides, there's a pool of other people sitting on the ground, so it could also be possible that they were choosing a group to vibe with! Events like these are filled with possibilities!

The Peace Police

Camping is all fun and games as long as it is bright and sunny. But once the sun goes down, mother nature can get really cold as well. Thankfully, this young lady came prepared with a fluffy little blanket to keep her warm in the harsh winter weather. It is even color-coordinated with her dress!

As the crowd arranged for the cold themselves, the security team took care of the rest. Its leaders were on their feet throughout the event to dismiss anyone who tried to spritz soda or throw pies at people's faces. The Hog Farm worked as the 'Pease Force' relentlessly!

Living Young, Wild & Free

This is one of our favorite Woodstock pictures ever because it's a perfect representation of the genuine happiness that this generation felt back in those days. We were all, at one point, young, wild, and free. And looking at this photo, we inevitably get some of that feeling back.

Maybe that's why Woodstock was able to leave such a mark in our collective memory. We all have felt like the young men and women of Woodstock and will forever regard those moments as some of our most precious. There's a little of Woodstock in each one of us.

The Best for the Rest

Things were going smooth at the Woodstock event until suddenly rain started to pour. The rainfall was heavy enough to delay most of the events, and out of 450K, only 25,000 people stayed back to enjoy whatever was left.

It was sad that the crowd missed Jimi Hendrix's act, who performed on Monday morning. It was such a hit that everyone present forgot about the rainshower and enjoyed it thoroughly. We sympathize with all those who could not witness the most iconic moment of the festival when every individual sang 'The Star-Spangled Banner' in perfect harmony!

Beautiful Land, Beautiful People

The Woodstock festival has earned its place in history textbooks, though not just for its grandeur level or A-list performers. Fashionistas among the hippie crowd also received a lot of attention for their glam looks! For instance, notice this girl in the frame here - doesn't she look absolutely ready to be on the cover of a fashion magazine?

Posing in a multicolored-skirt and high-collar knotted top, the young gal made quite a style statement. We bet she must have inspired many aspiring designers back then. The red glow on her face and sparkling eye makeup can't be missed either! Perhaps the lady was a model already!

Peace And Freedom

Though majorly the Woodstock festival was about the celebration of music, every individual who attended the event had their share of expectations. Some came to enjoy complimentary food and meet their favorite superstars, while others like this lady in the picture strived for harmony and freedom.

Lost in transfixing music, the girl enjoyed her time thoroughly and did a little happy dance also. The whole ground was filled with free-spirited hippies like her who wanted nothing but peace inside of them and in the world! Despite the loud soundtracks, there was a stillness in the atmosphere. What more could people have asked for?

Peace And Love Was in The Air

Now that we have established that there were close to half a million people who attended the event (credit to the free entry), we'd like to bring your attention to how smoothly everything functioned on the grounds. Thankfully, everyone stuck to the theme of the concert and successfully made it a violence-free gathering!

Sitting next to each other peacefully, doesn't the crowd look magnificent? Though arranging for chairs would have been easier than preparing food for such a large audience, the management committee ensured every single individual was well-fed. Since it was a three-day program, attendees even brought their own sleeping tents and blankets - how thoughtful of them!

Unbelievable And Unfortunate

We wish this news were only rumors, but three men did not make it out alive at the Woodstock festival. Unfortunately, two of them lost their lives due to their own carelessness - intoxication, and one - just a 17-year-old boy who was resting in his sleeping bag, got in an accident with a tractor that was meant to pick up only trash.

Rumor also had it that a couple of pregnant women went into labor on the sets, but this was, in fact, just rumors. Instead, eight miscarriages were reported during that weekend! You'd be surprised to know that the health departments recorded over 5000 medical cases during the three-day concert!