New York Events Celebrating Woodstock’s 50th Anniversary

The Woodstock Music and Arts Festival celebrates its 50^th anniversary this weekend. Originally taking place August 15-17, 1969, the historic festival summed up an era of “peace, love and music” that has continued to inspire five decades on.

Even without Woodstock 50, there are a lot of tributes happening around the New York area to celebrate the festival’s 50^th anniversary. Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of this weekend’s events ranging from concerts to movies to art exhibits. Whether you’re heading out to the original grounds or staying right here on Long Island, here are six ways you can celebrate Woodstock on this historic anniversary.

1.       Bethel Woods: Why not spend the anniversary of Woodstock at the place where it happened? The Bethel Woods Center For The Arts is celebrating all weekend long with special shows from Ringo Starr (August 16), Santana and The Doobie Brothers (August 17) and John Fogerty (August 18). If you can’t make it up this weekend, the museum’s special ‘We Are Golden: Reflections on the 50^th Anniversary of the Woodstock Festivals and Aspirations for a Peaceful Future’ exhibit goes on until December 31. That’s not to mention that it will be a whole lot easier to revel at the concert grounds post-Woodstock as security will be tight around the venue this weekend.

2.       ‘Woodstock: The Director’s Cut’: If you’re looking to see never-before-seen footage from the original Woodstock festival, Fathom Events is showing the director’s cut of the original ‘Woodstock’ film on August 15. Locations on Long Island showing the film include the Regal Westbury 12, the Regal Farmingdale 10, Farmingdale Multiplex Cinemas, Regal Deer Park 16 & IMAX and the AMC Stony Brook 17, among others. A full list of New York theaters showing the film can be found on the Fathom Events website.

3.       Morrison Hotel Gallery: If you want to see some photography from the historic event, Morrison Hotel Gallery locations in New York, Los Angeles and Maui will be hosting an exhibit called “Woodstock: 3 Days That Lasted 50 Years.” Featuring works from Henry Diltz (the official Woodstock photographer), Elliott Landy, Lisa Law, Ken Regan, Amalie R. Rothschild, Rowland Scherman and Baron Wolman, the exhibit runs through August 31.

4.       Café Wha?: A staple of 60s counterculture itself and a first home to many of the acts who would go on to perform at Woodstock, Café Wha? will be doing their own tribute to the festival this Friday (August 16). JT Curtis of Let It Be and Joan Chew of Lez Zeppelin will be on hand to cover the music of the original event’s biggest draws, including Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who and more.

5.       Deepwells Farm: Those looking to head out east on Long Island can find an outdoor tribute to Woodstock at Deepwells Farm County Park in St. James this Saturday (August 17). The event runs from 2PM to 8PM (doors open at 1PM) and features tribute performances from The Janis Joplin Experience featuring Lisa Polizzi (Janis Joplin), the Kerry Kearney Band (Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane), Reckoning (the Grateful Dead) and Dear Prudence (general Woodstock favorites and the Beatles), with a special appearance from Zebra’s Randy Jackson.

6.       Jones Beach Bandshell: Over to the west, Jones Beach has their own Woodstock tributes scheduled as part of their summer concert series at the bandshell. Friday (August 16) will pay homage to The Who with a performance from tribute band Who’s Next with special guest Katie Pearlman. Then on Saturday (August 17), Willie And The Poor Boys will pay tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival and Lisa Polizzi will make her second appearance of the day in tribute to Janis Joplin.

Woodstock turns 50 this weekend and there are many ways to celebrate the momentous occasion in New York. From visiting the original location to watching archive footage from the event to outstanding tribute concerts both in the city and Long Island, there is an event for however you want to celebrate.

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Find music from Woodstock and its historic line-up right here at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide variety of genres. Browse our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.