Woodstock was a huge music festival held over several days in 1969. It was all about peace, love, and music! Here are 30 facts about Woodstock that you might have not known.
Woodstock Wasn’t Actually Held in Woodstock
The Woodstock festival was originally supposed to be held in Woodstock in New York. However, plans fell through and after looking for a new venue, it was decided to have the festival on a farm in Bethel, New York. This was about 70 miles from Woodstock, but nobody seemed to care enough to change the name.
There Was A Very Interesting Security Guard
An entertainer named Wavy Gravy was in charge of security and ran a “Please Force” instead of a police force. He reportedly threatened guests engaging in unseemly behavior with fizzy water and custard pies.
The Setlist Was Quickly Disregarded
Woodstock is remembered for many things. It was a legendary festival, a cultural touchstone, and a political movement. But one thing it will never be remembered for is it’s organization. The festival was so chaotic and disorganized that the original setlist was never followed.
Richie Havens Was the First Performer
Richie Havens was the first to perform at Woodstock, and he performed for hours. Havens kept trying to leave the stage but was told to keep performing. After running out of his own material, he started singing covers of The Beatles’ songs. But why was he singing so long? The original performers to go on first were Sweetwater, but they were stuck in traffic.
Woodstock Was An Expensive Affair
Woodstock cost around $3 million to fund, but only earned a $1.8 million profit. It took festival organizers years to pay off debts from the festival.
