It was August 15, 1969 when nearly 400,000 music lovers trotted out to a small farm just outside of Bethel, New York. The reason for their congregation? The Woodstock Music and Art Fair. The outcome of their meeting? Music and pop culture history. The spirit of the ’60s was on full display as “three days of peace and music” were spelled out by 32 of the most famous and recognizable artists in American history. The pictures below captured this spirit and that history. Listed below are 30 of the most iconic photos from Woodstock!
Flower Power
If iPhones were flowers then you probably would get a picture for how many people wielded their ‘flower power’ with pride. Here we see a gorgeous photo of a smiling young woman, her doting boyfriend, and the flower that their movement represents. This is another shot that would fit just as easily in 2017 as it does in 1969.
Flower Power
Time For Chow
While most people look back at Woodstock as a chance to fluff up their fashion courses the biggest takeaway was the communal aspect of the concert. 400,000 people had to eat and it took a village, literally, to make it happen.
Time For Chow
Alone Together
This iconic photo could probably do wonders for the fashion merchandising industry. In a sea of thousands of people this couple takes a moment to exist close with one another, only. And you could too if you buy this beautiful blanket.
Alone Together
Come Rain or Shine
Have you ever gone an extra day without showering? Now imagine doing that in a field with 400,000 different people — while it rains on you from up above. Yeah, there’s an environmental education course waiting to be written about Woodstock.
Come Rain Or Shine
Dreamer
With so many people traveling by car the roads quickly became a quagmire. The rural roads weren’t equipped for this kind of activity and as a result people just left their cars where they parked. Here we see a couple catching a nap on their vehicle.
Dreamer
Stay Flexible!
If you’re cramming into a field with half of a million people you probably have to be a little flexible, right? Yoga was all the rage in the loving ’60s and these concert-goers were getting their flex on in front of the crowd. That picture hung between two posts? Well, his face will be seen again on our list.
Stay Flexible
Welcome To The Club
Even though they were only at Woodstock for a weekend it quickly became a way of life. Here we see a glimpse of what made Woodstock so special. People came together and banded together in communion during American history. Despite thea mount of people in attendance the event was almost unbelievably peaceful. That was the ’60s for you.
Welcome To The Club
Janis Joplin Of Course
We said musical legends were in attendance and we weren’t kidding. This incredible shot of Janis Joplin captures the heart and soul of the event as it mixed with her incredible talents. Janis Joplin played Saturday night until 2AM, captivating the crowd the entire time. This was Joplin’s biggest show since going solo.
Janis Joplin Of Course
I’m in the Band
While Woodstock initially had an admission fee the organizers of the festival quickly gave up on charging people. There were so many people in attendance that they quit trying to stop people from coming in. Here we see a group of Bohemians drumming around. We can’t imagine it sounds very good but bless them for trying.
I’m In The Band
Writing the Next Big Hit
Tim Hardin is a lesser known folk artist who wrote one huge hit, “If I Were a Carpenter”. Hardin played on Day 3 at Woodstock and his big hit was just as well received in person as it was on the radio. Unfortunately most documentaries gloss over his appearance at the festival. Hardin’s work has since appreciated with time.
Writing The Next Big Hit
Follow the Signs
Woodstock was known as “three days of love, music and peace” and it is likely a moment in time that will never be replicated. While this event was a huge chapter in positivity for humanity, it also marks one of the last gasps of peace as the ’70s rolled around and things got much worse in America. Still, we can always look back at this moment and live in it for a little while.
Follow The Signs
My Bubbles
The farmer who owned the land that the concert was held on was moved by the festival. Max Yasgur was his name and he said of the peaceful people in attendance, “If we join them, we can turn those adversities that are the problems of America today into a hope for a brighter and more peaceful future.” Yasgur can be thanked as the guy who saved Woodstock. His farmstead allowed the festival to happen.
My Bubbles
Helping One Another
One of the driving forces behind the ‘flower child’ movement was opposition to the Vietnam war. In fact, a big reason why many people attended Woodstock was to show solidarity in their opposition to the fateful war. Here we see people helping one another, embodying the ideals of the festival all in one picture.
Helping One Another
The Woodstock Guru
We mentioned a famous face on a portrait a few slides back and now here we are. Satchidananda Saraswati, also known as Sri Swami Satchidananda, was in attendance at Woodstock. He was the opening speaker at Woodstock and served as a selfless source of education and peacefulness during the festivities. He stood for peace his entire life and lived until he was 87.
The Woodstock Guru
Family Fun
Would you bring you family to something like Woodstock? The peace movement during the ’60s was a huge affair and families weren’t afraid to stay involved. Here we see a dad with his two children sitting in front of their delightfully colorful bus. We wonder what those two children are up to today and how they look back on a picture like this.
Family Fun
Extra Extra Read All About It
We didn’t have the internet back then, that was for sure. Here we see writers and readers furiously trying to stay ahead of the news. We also can’t help but notice the pure amount of clutter on the ground. Even people with the best intentions tend to litter, so it seems.
Extra Extra Read All About It
Fashionista
This look still hasn’t gone out of style, though we question what is around the older man’s neck. These two could be models for any number of ‘alternative’ clothing brands today.
Fashionista
Goth before Goth
You’d be hard pressed to find someone dressed in all black during a ’60s concert — especially Woodstock. So, with that in mind this picture is actually pretty remarkable. Every concert has to have a bad girl, right?
Goth before Goth
Melanie Sings ‘Candles in the Rain’
Melanie Schekeryk looks the portrait of beauty as she performs on stage, singing her slew of hits. Here she is performing “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”. Surprisingly Melanie is still actively making music today even though she has been performing professionally since 1967. Talk about an enduring career!
Melanie Sings Candles In The Rain
Fortune Teller
Would you take fortune telling advice from someone wearing a trippy dress/skirt like that? We aren’t sure we would but it was apparently all of the rage during the festival. Here we see two Woodstock goers sitting at a tree stump table in the woods, plying an alternative hobby. This couldn’t be more ‘Woodstock’ if we tried to make it so.
Fortune Teller
Fresh From the Farm
A common misconception is that Woodstock took place on Max’s dairy farm. This isn’t true at all. In actuality the entire concert was hosted three miles away from his farm on an alfalfa field. We aren’t sure where this cow came from, why their milking it, or who brought the cow. Still, it’s a neat little picture and a neat slice of Americana.
Fresh From The Farm
Fuller House
It’s really hard to grasp just how many people showed up to attend Woodstock. 400,00 is a lot of people but it is still just a number. So, someone did the math to make the size even more apparent. If you laid out each pair of blue jeans or striped T shirt into a row it would amount to ten million yards of fabric.
Fuller House
Jimi Hendrix Sings
There were 30+ iconic artists on the schedule to perform at Woodstock and few of them were more impressive than Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix fully embraced the ’60s, the power of the moment, and his ability to cater to everyone in the crowd.
Jimi Hendrix Sings
Joe Cocker Jams
Joe Cocker stole the show at Woodstock with his rendition of the Beatles classic, “With A Little Help”. It easily ranks in the top 3 for performances at the festival.
Joe Cocker Jams
Just Chill
This shot belongs in a car magazine and that’s about all there is to say about it.
Just Chill
2017 or 1969?
Fashion always comes back around, well — except for the ’80s. This photo could be of a pair of hipsters from 2017 or two Woodstock attendees. Either way, they’re looking cool.
2017 Or 1969?
Rain Dance Man
When storms were rolling in the audience banded together to do a rain dance in order to stop the rain. They were not successful.
Rain Dance Man
The Legend Himself
One of the most powerful moments in musical history was when Jimi Hendrix performed his version of the ‘Star Spangled Banner’. Unfortunately he didn’t have a capacity audience as many people already turned away or left for the night.
The Legend Himself
Throwback
Who knows how many young artists were inspired to take up music due to this event? We can only imagine what it was like to jam on the guitar at Woodstock.
Throwback
Twist and Shout
Remember that dance to prevent the rain from coming in? If they couldn’t stop the rain at least they worked together to stay dry.
Twist And Shout
Rush Hour
Hundreds of thousands of folks from all over America made their way to Bethel 24 hours before the concert kicked off. For miles, traffic was in a gridlock, therefore many people actually abandoned their cars and just walked to the festival grounds. That’s how desperate they were to see the show. And what a show it was.
Rush Hour
Naps for Days
With so much traffic, some people got tired of walking so they just slept on their cars. Man, times sure were different back then. And with Woodstock being as popular as it was, we’re not surprised to see sights such as this.
Naps For Days
Introduction
You’ve heard the name Satchidananda Saraswati before – and if you haven’t, prepare for a quick lesson. Saraswati was an Indian religious teacher, with a huge following who brought yoga to the Western World and made it a huge success. He was the one to deliver the opening ceremony invocation at Woodstock.
Introduction
Raindrops On My Head
Rain was just a staple of the Woodstock weekend. Everyone was used to it, everyone. However not even the rain stopped the energy or proceedings of Woodstock. People didn’t care. Getting wet wasn’t even a thought.
Raindrops On My Head
No Fences
At first they estimated some 100,000 people would attend Woodstock. However that number quickly jumped to more than 400,000 music lovers. The concert organizers quickly realized they didn’t have the means or resources to scores of people who kept coming. Therefore they made concert ‘free’ when they cut all of the fences surrounding the festival area.
No Fences
Just Dance
Everywhere you looked, people were smiling. They were dancing. They were feeling the music rushing their bodies and their souls were joyous. Woodstock caused a jubilee and that’s how we all remember it today.
Just Dance
Mister Garcia
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Jerry Garcia made sure to pose for a photograph before the Grateful Dead took the stage to perform at Woodstock.
Mister Garcia
Sitar
Ravi Shankar made an appearance and played the sitar during his set on Friday night. People were digging it. Because of course they were, it was the biggest festival of that time. Anyone who was anyone was there.
Sitar
Shelter
Impromptu shelters were a very common sight at Woodstock. Here you can see a happy group of men just resting in a grass hut that they built for the weekend. That’s pretty awesome.
Shelter
Style
You might think that crop tops and the like were popularized in the 21st century and that may be the case, as they’re all the rage again. However they were born out of the 70’s. Back when fashion really was fashion. And it was groundbreaking.
Style
Yum!
Everyone pitched in as a team to make food. No one went hungry at Woodstock as there was always someone cooking up a feast. You could just walk up to someone and politely ask for a bite, you wouldn’t be refused.
Yum
Pretty Bubbles In The Air
“I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” is a popular American song from 1919 but it seemed relevant for such a photo. And Woodstock just captures the lyrics perfectly. “I’m forever blowing bubbles, Pretty bubbles in the air, They fly so high, Nearly reach the sky, Then like my dreams, They fade and die.” It continues to sing, “Fortune’s always hiding, I’ve looked everywhere, I’m forever blowing bubbles, Pretty bubbles in the air.”
Pretty Bubbles In The Air
Cozy
Whether you came with a partner or not, everyone was friendly at the festival. You made new friends at every turn. There was no hostility, the whole place was zen. People just wanted to feel the music.
Cozy
Dance With Me
As already mentioned, someone somewhere was dancing. Whenever the beat hit you, you had to let it out. Without caring who was watching.
Dance With Me
Our Own Music
If someone wasn’t performing on stage, it didn’t matter. Everyone at the festival made their own music. And everyone joined in to collaborate together.
Our Own Music
‘Murica
The style at Woodstock was very 70’s and it was commonplace to flaunt your patriotism as well. Just look at this guy for example. Groovy.
Murica
Catch Some ZZZ’s
We told you that people would sleep anywhere. We get that sleeping on a roof of a car probably isn’t comfortable. But when the ground is wet from the rain and the cool air outside is beautiful, you do what you got to do.
Catch Some ZZZs
Ouch
A few injuries did occur as people flocked to Woodstock. Case in point, this young man suffered a head injury when he was thrown from the trunk of a car. Ambulances struggled to reach the scene because of all the traffic.
Ouch
Good Vibes
Despite some injuries here and there, everyone shared in the atmosphere of spreading nothing but love and harmony. There really was nothing but good vibes all around.
Good Vibes
Yasgur Family
The Yasgur family owned the land that Woodstock was performed on. Max Yasgur spoke of the peaceful atmosphere, “If we join them, we can turn those adversities that are the problems of America today into a hope for a brighter and more peaceful future…”
Yasgur Family
Say Cheese
Elliot Landy snapped this photo at Woodstock and he is now known as “one of the first ‘music photographers’ to be recognized as an ‘artist’.”
Say Cheese
Some Flair
This was definitely an era when flared jeans were all the rage. Whether they’re better than skinny jeans is totally up to you. Although they appear to be making a comeback.
Some Flair
Just Relax
Couples could be seen relaxing while waiting for a musician to take the stage. Then again, the whole point of Woodstock was to remain relaxed.
Just Relax
Free
Back when taking acid was deemed normal and not a felony. Actually it might not be a felony and it might not be illegal, but it’s definitely frowned upon nowadays. The 60’s were a different time.
Free
A Break
Sometimes you just needed to take a break from all the love and music. Although finding a “quiet” place was practically impossible. And you can forget about finding a secluded location as well.
A Break
Job To Do
In a swarm of people, everyone has a job to do. At least this “filmmaker” or “recorder” is watching a festival that people are still talking about today. He wasn’t just working, he was living in a moment etched in history.
Job To Do
Peace
Pretty much the entire crowd resembles this peace loving chick. (Are we still allowed to say chick? Maybe we should just say, festival member instead). In any case, familiar scenes right here!
Peace
Relaxed
Everything about this photo just puts me in a relaxed mood! From the smiles to the energy pouring out to the light color scheme. And if I’m feeling relaxed, I can only imagine how they feel!
Couple At Woodstock
Two Extremes
Now we’re looking at two extremes here! A loving couple and just a guy who is trying to keep dry from all the rain. Two extremes for sure, but one ultimate, shared goal – to have a good time.
Two Extremes
Dance Kid
Adults weren’t the only Woodstock attendees, there were plenty of kids there too! Judge all you want, she looks to be enjoying herself.
Dance Kid
Rock On
Just like our last photo, everyone busted a move. No one was scared of what other people would think, even if their dance moves were cringe worthy, they were there to have a good time. It didn’t matter if they were judged. Ahh, the 60’s. What an era to be alive.
Rock On
Those First Days
Now those first days of Woodstock, and all the days that followed, looked very much like this. A lot of music lovers, taking in the bliss of the moment they were in.
Those First Days
Pure Happiness
I told you that scenes like this were common. Just a lot of happy people, taking in the moment. Of good vibes and great music.
Pure Happiness
Mud Run
The buckets of rain at Woodstock didn’t stop anyone from having fun. Whether they were drenched by the rain or stained with mud, one thing was clear, nothing would stop them from having fun.
Mud Run
Good Music
We can only assume everyone here is enjoying some really great music. Even if they’re sitting on wet grass, that makes no difference. The music and energy is all that matters.
Good Music
Joplin
Janis Joplin was a dream at Woodstock, anyone who was there (an even those were weren’t) will tell you the same. If only some of us were there to see the great Queen in all her glory on stage.
Joplin
A Seat
If you didn’t want to sit on the ground, then just hop on top of a van and all is well. It really didn’t matter to anyone where they were sitting, as long as they could enjoy the music.
A Seat
Kiss Me
It really didn’t matter to people if they were in the swarm of a crowd, they kissed and were happy no matter what. Just take this affectionate couple for example!
Kiss Me
Different
While this look is different, she still looks amazing. And like she’s having a great time! Doesn’t really matter if you dressed up or not, as long as you had a great time.
Different
Freedom
I think we’ve hammered home already that Woodstock was a time of peace and love! And ~great~ music. We love the energy we can feel just from looking at photos of the crowd.
Freedom