August 15-17, 1969 was the weekend it all went down. Over 400,000 people attended Woodstock, the first music festival of its kind and still the largest musical event ever recorded. We’ve all heard the stories, but now you can check out the behind-the-scenes photos that tell the true story of Woodstock.
Sit back, relax, and relive the most iconic music event ever…
Taking It All In
The sheer amount of people on this hillside is just a slight indication of how jam-packed the festival was. The butterfly kite is also a very “Woodstock” touch.
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix is the best guitarist of all time, and the proof is in the pudding. He had the largest crowd of any performer at Woodstock.
Grown-Up Playground
Grown men climbing scaffolds like a jungle gym? Must be Woodstock.
The Only Way Out
While the fences clearly didn’t hold up against the enormous crowd, the only communication people had with the outside world was a couple of payphones.
Piping Up
The majority of the people at Woodstock smoked “grass” and they were more than happy to share their stash with fellow concert-goers.
The Woodstock Diet
Round the clock partying makes for a hungry crowd, but then again, this was the late 60s, and thin was in.
Poppin’ Bottles
This is one classy festival-goer. Popping champagne at Woodstock–who knew?
Tim Hardin Signing Off
Everybody wanted an autograph from the man, Tim Hardin, and he was kind enough to sign off on a bunch for festival-goers.
Baby on Board
A mother’s job never ends, even at Woodstock. This little girl doesn’t know that she witnessed history.
So. Many. People.
If you think Coachella seems like an aggressive amount of people, Woodstock was far worse. People were packed like sardines to get a glimpse of their favorite artists.
Making Sweet Music
This photo is glorious, everybody has a DIY “instrument” to get in on the musical action.
Good Vibes
This gal really pulls off the leather tassled two-piece outfit. Definitely Woodstock appropriate, and yet, probably in style again now.
Thank You, Max Yasgur
Woodstock took place on a farm, owned by Max Yasgur. While he probably thought it was a good idea, the aftermath of it was probably not ideal.
Groovy Moves
These two concert-goers were really feeling the music, either that or they indulged in a little extra-curricular activities
Taking a Snooze
This guy has the right idea. At Woodstock, rest was hard to come by–you had to get it while you could.
The Documentary
There’s a whole documentary about the Woodstock experience. Released by Warner Brothers, directed by Michael Wadleigh and edited by Martin Scorsese, the film was a huge success and received an academy award.
Keepin’ It Real
Wonder where this couple got the newspaper at on a farm with 400,000 people around, either way, there was a bit of normalcy in the middle of the chaos.
The 60s Vibe
There’s a whole lot of hippy fashion going on in this picture. Crop tops, headbands, and bell-bottoms all scream 1960s style.
Sing-A-Long
Aside from the musicians who played on the big stage, many of the attendees brought along their own instruments.
A Personal Show
Concert-goers brought everything from guitars to drums, to flutes and harmonicas.
All-Weather Event
Regardless of the weather conditions, Woodstock didn’t stop. The rain wasn’t going to ruin this experience.
Ridin’ Down Happy Ave
With one main road in and out, traffic was obscene. Many attendees just ditched their rides and walked the rest of the way.
Makeshift Shower
Showering at the festival was an afterthought, so people made do with the small spigots the grounds provided.
Wet & Wild
Woodstock was a washout, but it wasn’t a bust. This party wasn’t about to stop for a little rain.
Population: Four-Hundred Thousand
This broader shot of the crowd shows just a portion of how many bodies were packed into the show.
Astonishing Aerial View
This aerial shot from Woodstock shows just how massive the crowd really was at the festival. Every inch of the farmland was covered.
Getting Some Shuteye
After a wild weekend, concert-goers were catching a snooze anywhere they could find one.
Reliving the Magic
Ever since the original Woodstock, fans have been trying to recreate it over the years. Looks like they’ve got the whole wet and muddy part down.
Peace & Love
This happy couple found a little time away from the chaos together.
Little Woodstock
This little girl has no idea what a remarkable event she was attending, she was just having fun catching toads.
Ahead of His Time
The fashion at Woodstock was truly one-of-a-kind. This guy was serving looks in this matching getup.
Among the Crowd
These teens hung out on the grass near the free stage at Woodstock and took in the tunes.
Fashion Icon
Crop tops and bell-bottoms? This is an iconic look from the ’60s, that’s now made its way back around again.
Woodstock Minis
There were a lot of children at the festival, and from the looks of it, they had just as much fun as their parents.
Born at Woodstock
One of the wildest sights at Woodstock was a live birth. You read that right… a pregnant woman went into labor and there was quite an audience.
Woodstock Village
Woodstock resembled somewhat of a refugee camp. Because so many more people attended than anyone expected, they had to get creative.
Flower Child Love
“Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch, but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same.” – Helen Keller
The Endless Sea
For the performers, there was nothing quite like playing for a crowd of 400k.
The Style Of The ’60s
This chick kept it concert-casual for her time at Woodstock.
Melanie Performs
Melanie Safka, known simply as Melanie, performed “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” during her set. She was a fan-favorite of the festival.
The Woodstock Guru
The Woodstock Guru opened the festival with a heartfelt speech. Of course, Woodstock had a guru…
Talk About A Crowd
Did you ever see almost half a million people together for a festival? Well, now you have, and it is wild. This is quite literally a sea of people.
Getting a Better Look
While there were only two fatalities recorded at the festival, one of them occurred in a hayfield when someone was accidentally run over by a tractor. The other death was related to a heroin overdose, either way, for 400k in attendance, those were pretty good odds.
Boho Jewelry Vibes
The festival was also a fashion showcase–from standard late 60s bellbottoms and fringe to layered boho-inspired jewelry, Woodstock had it all.
Learnings with the Guru
The Woodstock Guru also chatted amongst the crowd and shared his wisdom with the attendees.
The Endless Line
Not only was the festival crowded, but getting there was an even bigger mess.
Drummer Boy
Musicians were obviously drawn to the festival, and even if they didn’t have stage time, they performed whenever and wherever throughout the weekend.
Not for the Claustrophobic
With almost half a million people in attendance, it was bound to get a little tight in the crowds, but this took tight to a whole new level.
Sly And The Family Stone
The festival was pretty unstructured. Sly and The Family Stone didn’t start their set until 3:30 am and didn’t finish until 4:20 am.
Can You Feel The Vibes?
People found a seat anywhere they could at the festival, and with loads of VW vans in attendance, rooftops became a favorite place to watch.
Miracles In Line
One woman gave birth in the back seat of her car while waiting in the line to get into Woodstock. That baby has one epic story.
Good Times
These two took it all in, literally, as they watched the show.
Grace Slick Live
During this time, you were a Janice Joplin fan or a Grace Slick fan–there was no sharing allegiance.
All Were Welcome
This young girl showed off her moves in the crowd. Woodstock didn’t discriminate based on age.
Joe Cocker Jams
Check out those thick sideburns–if they don’t scream the 1960s than nothing does.
Santana in the Flesh
Arguably one of the best guitarists to ever live, Santana played an unbelievable set at Woodstock.
Richie Havens Rocked
The people really showed up for Richie Havens’s performance. Looking out into the crowd, it was hard to decipher where the sea of people ended.
Bert Sommer Sidestage
Bert Sommer checked out the crowd before putting on a show. The artists were very casual at the festival and frequently took in other musicians’ performances.
The Raddest Kids on the Block
These children didn’t realize it at the time, but they were at the most iconic festival of all time. Lucky kids!
In the Moment
This festival was full of happy folks dancing and singing along to their favorite musicians.
Solo Jam Sesh
This concert-goer took a little time to unwind with his amigo, the guitar.
Janice Joplin Doing Her Thing
Everybody wanted to see Janice. Literally, everybody, and she sure soaked up the moment.
Signs of the Times
“Hey, want to meet in the intersection of Groovy Way and Gentle Path Highway?” – a festival attendee, probably.
Magic School Bus
This Magic School Bus was a bit different than the one on the children’s TV show.
Got a Light?
These two took some time to share a smoke while taking in all the action at Woodstock.