Back in December, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts announced that a three-day event would take place on August 16th-18th in 2019 at the same location where the original Woodstock Music & Arts Festival took place back on August 15th-17th, 1969. Produced with Live Nation, the Bethel Woods Music and Culture Festival was promoted to include live music, TED-style talks, and special exhibits.
Now, however, organizers have announced that the festival will “comprise three separate events over three days” as part of the venue’s newest initiative: the Season of Song & Celebration commemorations, a year-long schedule of exhibits, programs and events. As such, global live storytelling agency INVNT has announced that they will no longer be producing Bethel Woods Music and Culture Festival.
Scott Cullather, CEO, INVNT explained in a press release that the agency is proud of its support and contributions to the celebration plans and the global awareness that its efforts brought to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, as a result. “INVNT will not be involved in the new format and we wish Bethel Woods and Live Nation, as well as the organizers of the other 50th anniversary celebrations taking place around the world, the very best,” he said.
Instead of a three-day music festival, Bethel Woods will host a series of programs and events during Anniversary Week that have been developed to “welcome all who wish to visit the historic site and museum, to hear music where history was made, and to reflect and celebrate the legacy of this hallowed ground.”
Bethel Woods: Celebrating The Golden Anniversary will include standalone performances from Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band, Arlo Guthrie, The Edgar Winter Band, Santana, The Doobie Brothers, and more to be announced. See below for the new schedule and head to the event website for more information.
Thursday, August 15: A screening of the Warner Bros. Academy-Award winning documentary, Woodstock: the Director’s Cut will be held on the historic festival field. It is an experience unlike any other to watch the documentary that chronicles the emergence of the Counterculture movement on the very field where it was filmed a half-century ago.
Friday, August 16: Ringo Starr and his All Star Band will take the Pavilion Stage, along with Arlo Guthrie, who performed just after midnight on Friday, the first day of the festival; as well as Edgar Winter with The Edgar Winter Band, returning to Bethel for the first time since performing at the festival with his brother Johnny Winter.
Saturday, August 17: Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Woodstock legend, Santana returns to Bethel Woods Pavilion Stage, exactly 50 years after his groundbreaking Saturday afternoon festival performance. Santana will be joined by special guests The Doobie Brothers.
Sunday, August 18: To be announced!
Meanwhile, original Woodstock organizer Michael Lang officially confirmed that his own celebration of the iconic festival’s 50th anniversary will take place on August 16th, 17th, and 18th at Watkins Glen International. While a lineup has yet to be revealed, fans can rest assured that there will still be a traditional festival held in honor of the original model.
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