The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, commonly referred to as Woodstock, was a music festival held from August 15 to 18, 1969, on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York,[6][7] 60 miles (95 km) southwest of the town of Woodstock. Billed as "an Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music" and alternatively referred to as the Woodstock Rock Festival, it attracted an audience of more than 460,000.[6][8][9][10] Thirty-two acts performed outdoors despite overcast skies and sporadic rain.[11] It was one of the largest music festivals in history and would become the peak musical event to reflect the counterculture of the 1960s.[12][13][14][15]
The festival has become widely regarded as a pivotal moment in popular music history, as well as a defining event for the silent and baby boomer generations.[16][17] The event's significance was reinforced by a 1970 documentary film,[18] an accompanying soundtrack album, and a song written by Joni Mitchell that became a major hit for both Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Matthews Southern Comfort. Musical events bearing the Woodstock name were planned for anniversaries, including the 10th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 40th, and 50th. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine listed it as number 19 of the 50 moments that changed the history of rock and roll.[19] In 2017, the festival site became listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[20]
