It’s estimated that almost half a million people made the trek to a dairy farm in rural Bethel, New York for the infamous Woodstock Music and Arts Fair. With so many people traveling in the same direction, it’s no surprise that the traffic soon came to a standstill.
Tired of waiting in stop-and-go traffic going towards the fairgrounds, this group of young people decided to take a bit of a lunch break with this roadside picnic. Judging by their relaxed expressions, we’re sure they preferred to be sitting by the road instead of inside a stuffy car.
Far-reaching Impact
Still, the festival represented a moment in which a generation of young people attained a critical mass for three days in a rural New York field. As such, it had a far-reaching impact and could be interpreted to pose a threat to society.
By focusing on negative, threatening images, such as the widespread use of illegal substances and deteriorating public safety, media coverage tended to reinforce the establishment's social order while also raising disturbing questions about Woodstock attendees' mindset and marginalizing the young generation's political standing.
The Aftermath
Two festival-goers rest between sets while reading a newspaper. With few places to catch a good rest, many Woodstock attendees had to make do with what they had, which was often just a blanket under the stars.
After the festival, many felt as if they were but fragments of their former selves; with such an eye-opening and remarkable experience, many left with a newfound sense of self.
A Pensive Moment
Though the Woodstock Music Festival is largely remembered as a positive and peaceful moment in music history and of the ‘60s, it wasn’t always fun.
The promoters of the concert originally thought that only 50,000 people would attend. Ultimately, that number swelled to close to half a million! So many people and rainy bad weather made for an extremely muddy and less-than-sanitary situation. We’re not sure exactly why this woman, named Pat McLean from nearby Massachusetts, looks like she has something heavy on her mind. Perhaps she regrets attending the infamous festival?
Get on Your Walking Shoes
With thousands of fans making the pilgrimage to Max Yasgur’s dairy farm (the site of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair), those traveling by car soon found themselves stuck in unbearable traffic due to closed roads.
At a certain point, many fans (like the people in this photo) simply parked their cars and chose to walk to the festival. Soon, thousands of concertgoers were making the trip to the farm on foot. This person looks like he’s ready to join these adventurous fans, at least, as soon as he wakes up from his nap!