50 Rare Woodstock Festival Photos in Honor of its 50th Anniversary
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On August 15, 1969, hordes of music fans flocked to the Woodstock Music & Art Fair in upstate New York. Many of whom arrived way before the event even got started in anticipation of seeing acts like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Who, Jefferson’s Airplane, and more.
Last-minute changes by the organizers, including the location, left no time to build sufficient fences or ticket booths. Word spread quickly that it had suddenly become a free concert, and it didn’t take long for even more people to show up.
Now 50 years later, we still can’t help but be in awe of the epic event. For those three days, roughly a million people created their own little world filled with near-constant musical performances and an overall atmosphere of peace and love.
Take a look below to see some rare glimpses and iconic moments from the original Woodstock Festival!
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These $8 tickets might seem cheap, but according to DollarTimes, each one is the equivalent of about $56.62 in today's terms. Still not bad for a festival — especially with that lineup!
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Promoters Mike Lang, on the left, and Artie Kornfeld planned for 50,000 people to attend the Woodstock festival, but ended up selling double that many tickets.
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It wasn't easy getting to the grounds in Bethel, NY, because of the small country roads clogged with traffic, but that didn't stop music fans from trying.
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The hippie counterculture was on full display before people even arrived at the festival grounds.
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And you thought your commute to work was bad! This massive traffic jam is just a small glimpse of the crowds cramming themselves on the roads leading to the festival.
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Do you think this is what these guys had in mind when they set out hitchhiking?
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Even after finding a place to park, people had to walk several miles to actually make it to the festival grounds. This motorcycle probably helped make that trip a little easier.
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Before any rockstars hit the stage, Swami Satchidananda, a prominent yoga master who became known as "the Woodstock guru," opened the festivities with a speech and blessing.
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When the fences proved useless at keeping non-ticket-holders out, the festival organizers announced it was free for anyone to attend (because they had no other choice).
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All in all, there were about a million people at the festival by the time it was in full swing — way more than the initial 50,000 they planned on!
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For those three days, the festival became its own little town with communities cobbling together to create shelter.
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Dedicated music fans weren't afraid to brave new heights to get a better view of the performances.
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This young woman gives a whole new meaning to the "swinging '60s!"
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This photo almost captures the magnitude of having one million people show up for the musical event.
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This sea of people basked in the sunshine before the rain, which started on the first night of the festival and continued off and on throughout the weekend.
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The weather made it difficult to avoid getting muddy, but these water pumps helped people rinse off a bit at least.
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It was all about peace, love, and music!
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Folk singer Joan Baez headlined the first day, ending at her set at two in the morning with two spiritual tunes: "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," and "We Shall Overcome."
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It's pretty impressive how well organized some of the campsites that popped up managed to get during the three-day span of the festival.
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This might not be the most comfortable nap spot, but it looks like this guy needed it!
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Even if they couldn't get a decent view of the performances, many people seemed content to just listen and revel in the amazing atmosphere.
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They were also happy to create their own entertainment with impromptu jam sessions.
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Nearby bodies of water provided a nice way to cool down and clean up.
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These four ladies seem to have gotten their hands on some soap or shampoo to give their locks a much needed rinse.
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Whether these clothes were hung to dry out after an attempt to wash them or because their owners preferred the freedom of wandering around without them is anyone's guess.
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This group of friends was all smiles as they picnicked near their car.
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Carlos Santana showed off his impressive guitar skills alongside his band's bassist, David Brown.
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The Lovin' Spoonful's John Sebastian performed a short solo set on the second day of the festival.
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The Scottish group, the Incredible String Band, refused to play their set on the first day because of rain. They were rescheduled for the second day, but festival organizers still held a grudge and cut them out of the film of the event that was released later.
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The rain couldn't ruin the mood for this couple hanging out with friends in between catching performances.
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The medical tent was manned by volunteer doctors, nurses, and emergency responders.
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Members of the Hog Farm commune traveled from New Mexico to provide free food and security throughout the weekend.
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This colorfully-clad gentleman roaming the grounds was Paul Foster, a cartoonist and member of the Hog Farm, the commune that helped keep the peace. The group's leader, a man known as Wavy Gravy, would threaten to spray someone with seltzer or throw a pie in their face if he saw them causing trouble.
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Imagine turning around and seeing a friendly lamb hanging out at the same musical performance. Totally normal at Woodstock!
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Jerry Garcia performed with the Grateful Dead for their Saturday evening set at 10:30 — and the night was only getting started!
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It might be hard to tell from this photo, but that's Roger Daltrey from the Who hoisting his microphone triumphantly. The British invasion band played their set at 5:00 AM Sunday morning! They were followed by Jefferson's Airplane a few hours later before everyone took a much-needed break.
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This woman's fringe fashion choice might have been inspired by the Who's frontman after their early morning performance.
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These kids had to have some fun stories to tell their friends about summer vacation when they returned to school that year.
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Finding some shade to rest was a major priority for some people that weekend.
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Despite being soaked, this couple looks like they were completely enthralled by whatever was happening on stage.
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That's one way to avoid the rain, although it doesn't seem all that effective judging by their sopping clothes.
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Another interesting choice for shielding yourself from the rain. People were thinking outside the box, that's for sure.
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Joe Cocker kicked things off on Sunday afternoon, closing his set with a cover of the Beatles tune, "With a Little Help From My Friends."
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Much later on, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young started their performance at 3:00 in the morning — and they weren't even the final group to play before the festival came to an end!
After a couple other bands, Jimi Hendrix was the last to perform starting at nine on Monday morning, featuring his now-iconic performance of the American national anthem.
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News outlets used this area to report on the phenomena of the whole event throughout the weekend. Can you believe that guy is wearing a suit!
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This ad for the Woodstock movie shows how some of the attendees took advantage of a business opportunity when people needed a change of clothes.
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Recognize the guy in glasses standing at the back of this group? Before becoming an Academy Award winning director, Martin Scorsese helped edit the festival's movie.
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This aerial shot of the crowd doesn't even encompass the enormity of just how many people showed up for the iconic event.
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The traffic wasn't any better when everyone left the festival, but these two friends who hitched a ride in a trunk didn't seem to mind.
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Farm owner Max Yasgur and his wife Miriam didn't look all that upset about the aftermath of the festival on their land — a true testament to the feelings of peace and love it promoted.