1969 WOODSTOCK FESTIVAL

In 1969, Bethel hosted the original Woodstock Music and Art Festival that is now the site of Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center and the Bethel Woods Museum.  The Pavilion Stage amphitheater  opened in 2006 and can accommodate 15,000 both under cover and on a  natural sloping lawn, while offering unique backdrops including the  original festival site and the majesty of the surrounding Sullivan  County countryside.  The Museum at Bethel Woods opened  in 2008.  It is dedicated to the study and exhibition of the social,  political and cultural events of the 1960s, including the Woodstock  festival.  The award-winning museum provides a focus for deeper issues  and lessons of the decade. Features include a permanent exhibit space,  Special Exhibit Gallery, Corridor Exhibit Gallery, Museum Theater, an  intimate 440-seat Event Gallery, Woodstock Monument, retail store and  Muse Cafe.

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is located at the National Register Historic Site of the 1969 Woodstock festival in Bethel, NY. Located 90 miles from New York City, the lush 800-acre campus includes a Pavilion  Stage amphitheater with seating for 15,000, an intimate 440-seat indoor  Event Gallery, the award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods, and a  Conservatory for creative learning programs.  As a 501(c)3 nonprofit  cultural organization, our goal is to provide innovative, program-driven  experiences for all ages at our 800-acre campus in the Sullivan  Catskills of Upstate New York.  Each year, the Center presents a diverse selection of culturally-rich  performances, popular artists, and community and educational  programming.

History of Bethel Woods

Bethel Woods Musuem

Art, Education and Wellness Programs

1969 Woodstock Festival-Goers