Celebrate Woodstock's 43rd anniversary at Bethel Woods

Wednesday August 15, 2012 3:47 PM By Kirthana Ramisetti

Photo credit: Handout | Hippies "Magic Bus" replica at "The Story of the Sixties and Woodstock" at The Museum at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, a gallery built on the site of the 1969 Woodstock music festival.

Break out your love beads and bell-bottoms: Today is the 43rd anniversary of Woodstock, the historic music festival that defined a decade and a generation. More than 400,000 people were said to have attended the series of outdoor concerts held in August 1969, and the Museum at Bethel Woods is commemorating the occasion with events, exhibitions and a special screening that begins today and will last through Saturday, Aug. 18, the same dates as the festival’s four-day run.

If you want to relive the good vibes and amazing music, the museum will show the 1970 documentary “Woodstock: Three Days of Peace & Music” continuously during museum hours. This week marks the first time the Oscar-winning documentary will be screened at the museum, and will be shown with full concert sound at the Event Gallery, the museum’s performing and events space.

For those who’ve always wanted to emulate their favorite Woodstock rocker, there's also a 1960s costume contest scheduled. People who come to the museum dressed in costume will be eligible to win tickets to see singer Judy Collins at the Event Gallery on Dec. 15.

On Thursday, Aug. 16, visitors can meet with Michael Lang, one of the festival’s organizers. He will be at the Museum Shop at Bethel Woods to sign two of his books, “The Road to Woodstock” and “Woodstock Festival Remembered,” from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Filmmakers, authors and jewelry designers will be on hand to sell Woodstock-related books, DVDs, jewelry and more on Saturday, Aug. 18.  

The Museum also has ongoing multimedia exhibits that cover different facets of the Woodstock festival, from the journey concertgoers had to take to reach the festival site, to an immersive presentation that lets visitors experience what it was like to attend the concert, as well as an exhibit examining the event’s legacy. 

IF YOU GO

What: 43rd Woodstock Anniversary

Where: The Museum at Bethel Woods, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel; 866-781-2922; bethelwoodscenter.org

When: Wednesday, Aug. 15 to Saturday, Aug. 18

Info: The museum’s summer hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Sept. 3. Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (65 years and older), $11 for children ages 8-17, $6 for children ages 3-7, and kids 2 and under are free.

Photo: Hippies "Magic Bus" replica at "The Story of the Sixties and Woodstock" at The Museum at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Tags: Bethel , Woodstock , Museum at Bethel Woods , Woodstock Festival , events