Peace, Love & Lights Shines Bright at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts with a Calendar of Special Events

– A one-of-a-kind drive-thru winter lights experience with family-friendly holiday fun in the Sullivan Catskills –

About Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, located at the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, is committed to building upon its rich history of peace and music by providing extraordinary experiences and access to the arts. With the belief that the world can be made better through the power of music and the arts, Bethel Woods makes music, visual, performing and creative arts programming available and accessible to the community, helping people of all ages discover and tap into their creative potential.

Located 90 miles north of New York City in Bethel, NY, the lush 1,000-acre campus includes the Pavilion amphitheater with seating for 16,000, an intimate 422-seat indoor Event Gallery, a concert campground, and creative studios for arts education programming. The award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods carries on the history, spirit, and learnings of the 1960s and the Woodstock Music & Art Fair through the preservation and interpretation of the historic site. Bethel Woods is a not-for-profit organization that relies on the generous support of individuals, corporations, and foundations. For more information, please visit www.BethelWoodsCenter.org. 

Peace, Love & Pumpkins Returns to Bethel Woods for Fourth Year

– Venue treats guests to an immersive walk-thru experience featuring 

Halloween-themed family fun –

About Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, located at the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, is committed to building upon its rich history of peace and music by providing extraordinary experiences and access to the arts. With the belief that the world can be made better through the power of music and the arts, Bethel Woods makes music, visual, performing and creative arts programming available and accessible to the community, helping people of all ages discover and tap into their creative potential.

Located 90 miles north of New York City in Bethel, NY, the lush 1,000-acre campus includes the Pavilion amphitheater with seating for 16,000, an intimate 422-seat indoor Event Gallery, a concert campground, and creative studios for arts education programming. The award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods carries on the history, spirit, and learnings of the 1960s and the Woodstock Music & Art Fair through the preservation and interpretation of the historic site. Bethel Woods is a not-for-profit organization that relies on the generous support of individuals, corporations, and foundations.

For more information, please visit www.BethelWoodsCenter.org.

BuildFest at Bethel Woods Marks Third Annual 

Art & Architecture Festival

– Five-Day Festival Gathers Elite College Students to Build Interactive Installations on the Historic Grounds of Woodstock –

BETHEL, NY – (AUGUST 14, 2024) – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the iconic non-profit performance venue, museum, and site of the historic 1969 Woodstock festival, is excited to welcome students from across the country as a part of their third annual Bethel Woods Art & Architecture Festival: Build Community: Build Creatively: BuildFest. The five-day festival, stretching from September 11-15, is designed to be an educational experience for architecture students and professors, while also enhancing the grounds of Bethel Woods.

Since its origin in 2022, the festival continues to grow, as more and more world-renowned architecture schools join the program. Bethel Woods will welcome 125 students from eight universities across the country to construct seven new interactive structures on the historic grounds.

“We are thrilled to once again welcome students to participate in the Art & Architecture Festival at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts,” said Dr. Neal V. Hitch, Senior Curator of The Museum at Bethel Woods. “With a legacy of promoting artists in all their forms, Bethel Woods is passionate about giving a stage to creatives. Our goal is to allow students and educators to experiment and push the boundaries of design, using wood as a primary building material.”

This year’s theme, BuildFest, highlights the contrast between the physical and digital. Participants are asked to imagine what a future might look like in which digital and analog methods of construction are integrated for the betterment of society. Participating schools and their coinciding planned structures include: 

Princeton University: Timberlyn is crafted from the collaboration between humans and robots, this eco-conscious stage offers versatility, accommodating music performances and community events alike. The project utilizes state-of-the-art research in human-robot collaborative construction (HRCC), leveraging sustainable practices to design and fabricate a versatile structure from reclaimed dimensional lumber.

Auburn University & Syracuse University: Curtain Call investigates the use of semi-automated construction methods to test the formal, spatial, and structural capacity of light wood framing. Semi-automated construction is a hybrid method that emphasizes human-robot collaboration. Rather than robotically automating the process entirely, this method allows human participants at all skill levels to easily engage in the construction process.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Rise and Repeat makes use of three off-the-shelf elements commonplace in everyday American domestic construction: (1) pressure-treated, pine stair stringers, (2) precast concrete deck footings, and (3) stainless-steel, star-drive deck screws. The repetition of uniform, prefabricated elements allows for an economical budget and ease/speed of assembly in the field.

Cornell University: MycoShell is an installation that exhibits the potential of biological self-growing and adaptive building materials toward a collaborative future of the digital and the analog. MycoShell is constructed of structural mycelium-bound composite panels that have been grown from a local fungal strain of the Ganoderma family on regional agricultural byproducts of corn and hemp.

Arizona State University: Spring/Summer 24 intertwines the vibrant essence of Woodstock fashion with cutting-edge architectural practices. It serves as an homage to the freedom, rebellion, and connection to nature emblematic of Woodstock’s iconic style while pioneering the utilization of textiles as a primary architectural element.

Rochester Institute of Technology: Cave-in is an interactive installation that will engage viewers both internally and externally. From a distance, the umbrella-like structure will spin due to either natural wind or human intervention. The introduction of structural elements and color will create a kaleidoscopic effect as reflected light circulates around the rotating dome, enticing viewers to investigate and participate.

Kean University:  Block (and Chain) will feature an innovative interlocking modular setup with universal connection points designed to create an interactive and multipurpose event space. This dynamic setup includes various modules: a static or stationary module that anchors the design and allows other pieces to connect at different intervals; a focused module that introduces diverse views and experiences at each turn.

The full scope of planned projects can be viewed HERE. 

“This year’s installations are focused on innovations in building technologies. From a giant interactive umbrella that will naturally spin with the wind, to a structure made of mushrooms, each will enhance visitors' experience on the grounds of the historic site of Woodstock,” added Hitch. “We are extremely proud of the growth the Art & Architecture Festival has made in its first two years, and we are excited to see what the third year creates.”

The installations will be open for the public to enjoy on Sunday September 15, coinciding with the annual Harvest Festival. Post event photos will be available upon request. 

Sponsors for this year’s Art & Architecture Festival include Think Wood, Softwood Lumber Board, Grimm Construction Inc., and Degraw & Dehaan Architects, with major visionary support by Andrew Jacobson, a trustee at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

About Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts inspires, educates, and empowers individuals through the arts and humanities by presenting a diverse selection of culturally rich performances, popular artists, and community and educational programming. Located 90 miles from New York City at the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival in Bethel, NY, the lush 800-acre campus includes a Pavilion Stage amphitheater with seating for 16,000, an intimate 422-seat indoor Event Gallery, the award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods, and a Conservatory for arts education programming.

Through the in-depth study and exhibition of the social, political, and cultural events of the 1960s, as well as the preservation of the historic site of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Bethel Woods educates individuals about the issues and lessons of the decade while inspiring a new generation to contribute positively to the world around them. The not-for-profit organization relies on the generous support of individuals, corporations, and foundations to develop and sustain programs that improve the quality of life in the region and beyond.

For more information, please visit www.BethelWoodsCenter.org

Harvest Festival Returns to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts for 26th Year

– Annual fall festival to showcase live musical performances, artisan vendors, contests and giveaways –

August 1, 2024 (BETHEL, NY) – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts—a non-profit performance venue, museum, and site of the 1969 Woodstock festival—today announced the return of Harvest Festival. The annual farmers market runs for six consecutive Sundays starting September 1 and running through October 6. Harvest Festival celebrates the wonderful offerings and essence that Sullivan County has to offer. After 26 years in operation, the iconic festival has proven to be a mainstay event and source of strength for the community.

“Harvest Festival reflects the spirit of togetherness and creativity, which have always been central to Bethel Woods' mission," said Eric Frances, CEO, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. "We see this annual event as a testament to our commitment to building community, supporting local farmers and artisans, and providing a dynamic space for music and culture."

This fall’s festival will include live music on the Harvest Stage; fresh produce and wares from over 100 farmers, crafters, and makers; a corn maze; pet adoptions; a scavenger hunt; and the return of hay wagon rides each week.

The festival runs from 11 am - 4 pm on Sundays, and weekly special attractions and activations include:

• Sunday, September 1, 2024: Harvest Festival featuring Rosehaven Alpacas

Special Attractions: Rosehaven Alpacas, Axe Throwing, Henna Tattoo Artist, Face Painting
Music: The Big Sticky Band (12:00PM), Upstate (2:00PM)

• Sunday, September 8, 2024: Harvest Festival featuring 3rd Annual Pie Eating Contest

Special Attractions: Pie Eating Contest, Axe Throwing, Rescue Ponies, Personality Portraits, Pet Adoptions

Music: The Cameramen (12:00PM) Shades (2:00PM)

• Sunday, September 15, 2024: Harvest Festival featuring Paint & Sip

Special Attractions: Paint & Sip ($20 per person - tickets available for purchase online)
Music: Annie in the Water (12:00PM) The Mighty Remains (2:00PM)

• Sunday September 22, 2024: Harvest Festival featuring Donuts on a String Challenge

Special Attractions: Donuts on a String Challenge

Music: Delaware Valley Raptors (12:00PM) Jennie Angel & the Outlaws (2:00PM)

• Sunday, September 29, 2024:  Harvest Festival featuring Stein Holding Competition

Special Attractions: Axe Throwing, Stein Holding Adult/Kids Competition
Music: Lara Hope & the Ark-Tones (12:00PM) Allison Cipris & Country Fresh (2:00PM)

• Sunday October 6, 2024: Harvest Festival featuring Paint & Sip

Special Attractions: Paint & Sip ($20 per person - tickets available for purchase online), Rescue Ponies

Music: Dan Zlotnick Band (12:00PM) Good for Mondays (2:00PM)

The event is made possible by the generous support of sponsors including Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association, Sloop Brewing, Fiddlehead Brewing Company, Allagash Brewing Company, Johnstons Subaru, Oak Ridge Wines, Ammunition Wines & Whisky, Unique Snacks, and Wise Snacks.

Festival attendance is free of charge. Parking can be purchased on-line for $5. Day-of parking can be purchased for $7 at the gate.

For more information, visit www.BethelWoodsCenter.org.

About Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, located at the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, is committed to building upon its rich history of peace and music by providing extraordinary experiences and access to the arts. With the belief that the world can be made better through the power of music and the arts, Bethel Woods makes music, visual, performing and creative arts programming available and accessible to the community, helping people of all ages discover and tap into their creative potential.

Located 90 miles north of New York City in Bethel, NY, the lush 800-acre campus includes the Pavilion Stage amphitheater with seating for 16,000, an intimate 422-seat indoor Event Gallery, and a Conservatory for arts education programming. The award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods carries on the history, spirit, and learnings of the 1960s and the Woodstock Music & Art Fair through the preservation and interpretation of the historic site. Bethel Woods is a not-for-profit organization that relies on the generous support of individuals, corporations, and foundations. For more information, please visit www.BethelWoodsCenter.org.

Iconic Woodstock Message Tree Takes Its Final Bow at Bethel Woods

- Meeting point for 1969 festival attendees to be taken down; saplings from a 100-plus-year-old tree planted to continue legacy -

BETHEL, NY – (SEPTEMBER TK, 2024) – In 1969, the Woodstock festival's iconic Message Tree became a designated meeting place for festival attendees to leave hand-written mementos and communicate with friends. The more than 100-year-old, 60-foot red maple located at the southwest corner of Hurd and West Shore Drive, just uphill from the Woodstock Monument, functioned as a bulletin board or modern-day group text with improvised notes on paper plates, signs on scraps of paper, and cardboard, made by friends and strangers hoping to reunite.

Today, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts–the iconic non-profit performance venue, museum, and site of the historic 1969 Woodstock festival–announced that because of its declining stability and health, the tree will be removed. This decision comes based on the recommendation of expert arborists tracking the tree's progress over the course of several years. However, a set of new trees has been propagated from the original so the Message Tree’s legacy lives on in new ways.

“For so many, it’s hard to imagine a time without instant access to communication. The Message Tree embodied the spirit of freedom, peace, and togetherness that defined the Woodstock phenomenon,” said Eric Frances, CEO, of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. “We did not come to this decision lightly. Based on years of discussions with experts, we know that it is time for The Message Tree to live on in new ways on our hallowed grounds.”

When the site is safely cleared and ready, Bethel Woods will host a regenerative planting ceremony, inviting the community to join us in honoring the tree's legacy and celebrating the message of peace that it has come to symbolize. In the meantime, Bethel Woods is calling on proposals from artists to create lasting works using the salvageable wood from the original Message Tree. These works will be exhibited as part of the Arts and Crafts of Woodstock exhibition at the Bethel Woods Museum in 2025.

“Our ultimate goal is to preserve the legacy of Woodstock for generations to come,” said Dr. Neal V. Hitch, Senior Curator, Museum at Bethel Woods. “Rather than let the memory of the Message Tree fade away, we want to memorialize its significance by transforming its wood into works of art that will honor its history.”

Many of the tree's original messages are featured on display in the Museum at Bethel Woods.

To learn more and submit an RFP, visit bethelwoodscenter.org/messagetree

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and Daniel’s Music Foundation Celebrate Disability Pride Month at Annual Event - Hello Inclusion: A Festival of Possibilities

Bethel Woods and Daniel’s Music Foundation partner to host special event of music and community from 3:00 to 7:00 PM on July 12

– PLUS: Tickets include entry to the Jason Mraz and The Superband
with special guest Ripe concert –

(BETHEL, NY) –  Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and Daniel’s Music Foundation (DMF) are once again joining forces to host a one-day, all-encompassing music festival on the historic grounds of Woodstock 1969. Taking place on July 12, Hello Inclusion: A Festival of Possibilities will highlight musicians with disabilities and feature a diverse array of activities such as dance parties, drum circles, songwriting workshops, and more.

The Horizon Stage will host a lineup featuring 9 artists from DMF’s record label Just Call Me By My Name ® alongside comedian Ryan Niemiller, who placed third in America's Got Talent Season 14. Mark Farrell, a motivational speaker, author, disability and mental health advocate, and award-winning NYC Radio Host, will serve as the emcee. Tickets to Hello Inclusion are $25 and grant access to the Jason Mraz and The Superband with special guest Ripe concert on the Pavilion stage at 7:30 PM following the Festival.

"It’s an honor to partner with Daniel’s Music Foundation for the return of Hello Inclusion, an event that captures the true spirit of Woodstock by celebrating diversity, acceptance and unity,” said Eric Frances, CEO of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. “Building on the success of last year’s debut, this year’s event will be a full-fledged festival with performances and activities throughout the venue, promising to be an unforgettable experience for the whole family.”

"There is no place we would rather celebrate Disability Pride Month than the historic Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, an organization that truly embodies our shared commitment to inclusion," said Daniel Trush, DMF Co-Founder and singer/songwriter. “Through Hello Inclusion, we are proud to unite individuals of all abilities, showcasing their talents to foster a more enriching, inclusive world for all," adds Ken Trush, Co-founder and Managing Director at Daniel’s Music.

Lead sponsors for the event are Deloitte Consulting LLP and The Dolber Family Foundation. Performance sponsors include Howard Siegel from the Irwin Siegel Agency and the J M McDonald Foundation. American Sign Language interpreters are underwritten by the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association. The event’s Inclusion Champions are New York State Industries for the Disabled, Inc., Peace of Stage, Pegasus Footwear, The Ad Council, the Activist Foundation, Inc., and Steve Alexander/Idylia Hachi.

“Hello Inclusion and the mission of Daniel’s Music Foundation resonates profoundly with our core purpose at Deloitte, which is to make an impact that matters by architecting a more equitable future for all through a focus on sustainability, equity, trust, and social impact,” said Scott Mager, Chief Marketing Officer and Principal, Deloitte Consulting, LLP. “Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is fundamental, and we strive to create a culture of authenticity and belonging. Deloitte is deeply honored to be a lead sponsor of this event, and we’re proud to stand with Daniel’s Music Foundation to promote a culture where inclusion amplifies every possibility.”

For more information about Hello Inclusion: A Festival of Possibilities or how to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.bethelwoodscenter.org.

About Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, located at the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, is committed to building upon its rich history of peace and music by providing extraordinary experiences and access to the arts. With the belief that the world can be made better through the power of music and the arts, Bethel Woods makes music, visual, performing, and creative programs available and accessible to the community, helping people of all ages discover the arts and tap into their creative potential.

Located 90 miles north of New York City in Bethel, NY, the 1,000-acre campus includes the Pavilion Stage amphitheater with seating for 16,000, an intimate 422-seat indoor Event Gallery, and a Conservatory for arts education programming. The award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods carries on the history, spirit, and learnings of the 1960s and the Woodstock Music & Art Fair through the preservation and interpretation of the historic site. Bethel Woods is a not-for­-profit organization that relies on the generous support of individuals, corporations, and foundations. For more information, please visit www.BethelWoodsCenter.org.

About Daniel’s Music Foundation
 

Daniel’s Music Foundation was founded in 2006 by the Trush Family to empower individuals with disabilities through music. Today, they serve thousands of individuals – locally at their 8,700 square-foot music center in NYC, and nationally through the DMF Online Community.

Through their Disability Awareness platform, which includes presentations about differences, a global award show - The Danny Awards, and record label - Just Call Me By My Name, they are challenging stereotypes about individuals with disabilities and working to build a more inclusive society for all. For more information, please visit www.danielsmusic.org.

Museum at Bethel Woods Honored with 

IMLS Inspire! Grant

– Award will help fund the continuation of Oral History Initiative  –

BETHEL, NY – (SEPTEMBER 3, 2024) – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the iconic non-profit performance venue, museum, and site of the historic 1969 Woodstock festival, is excited to announce that The Museum at Bethel Woods was awarded an Inspire! Grant for Small Museums from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The grant comes as a result of the Museum’s effort to document the personal stories of the Catskills, the Woodstock festival, and community activism during the 1960s and 1970s. 

Through the project, Community Connectors in the Catskills: Oral Histories of the 1960s, The Museum at Bethel Woods will partner with the Borscht Belt Museum and the Borscht Belt Marker Project to collect, process, and interpret oral histories from a quickly disappearing historical resource: communities who attended and participated in the summer camps, bungalow colonies, and resorts in the Catskill Mountains and Delaware River Valley during the 1960-70s. It is well-known and documented that many people who attended summer camps and participated in the bungalow and resort culture were, or went on to becomeThe  cultural leaders and changemakers. These stories are quickly disappearing.

“Together with the Borscht Belt Museum and the Borscht Belt Marker Project, we view the first-person accounts of the 1960s as essential to understanding the importance of social change, social progress, and freedom - all tenets of the tumultuous 1960s, a formative period in our country's history,” said Dr. Neal V. Hitch, Senior Curator at The Museum at Bethel Woods. “Our goal is to document these stories before they are lost forever.”

For generations of disaffected communities in the New York metropolitan area, the Catskills was the place to go each summer. Less than 100 miles from the cramped, sweltering tenements of Manhattan’s Lower East Side was a patchwork of forests, farms, and rural towns that hosted a summertime population of nearly a million urban dwellers. They sought the clean air, fresh food, and welcoming community of the region that was affordable even for blue-collar workers like garment workers or cab drivers. From the turn of the 20th century to the 1970s, more than 1,000 hotels, bungalow colonies, summer camps, and boarding houses dotted the Catskill Mountains. Year after year, generation after generation, people flocked to these mountains. 

The Museum at Bethel Woods interprets and preserves the National Register historic site of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair. The site represents one of the defining moments in American culture and tells the story of the social movements, political history, popular culture, and lasting influences of the 1960s. Collecting first-person stories is key to this mission. In 2020, The Museum at Bethel Woods embarked on a five-year Oral History Initiative, as COVID-19 made the importance of recording first-person perspectives of the 1960s more urgent with each passing day. Today, over 1,000 oral histories have been documented. By 2026, they will have one of the largest and most accessible collections of oral histories about life and culture in upstate New York.

“Our Oral History Initiative is a huge focus for our museum. Thanks to the Inspire! Grant, we will be able to collect the local stories of Woodstock. We view this as the perfect way to enter the fifth year of the OHI,” added Hitch. “Almost everywhere you go in Sullivan County someone will say, ‘I remember when I was a child, my mom made peanut butter sandwiches and we stood on the sidewalk and passed food out.’ People tell you that all over. But none of that was recorded for history until our collection. I think these oral histories will tell a side of the story about why Woodstock worked; and why it was three days of peace. Because the community stepped up and cared for people.”

You can learn more about the Oral History Initiative, and/or sign up to tell your story at: https://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/museum/oral-history-initiative

About Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts inspires, educates, and empowers individuals through the arts and humanities by presenting a diverse selection of culturally rich performances, popular artists, and community and educational programming. Located 90 miles from New York City at the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival in Bethel, NY, the lush 800-acre campus includes a Pavilion Stage amphitheater with seating for 16,000, an intimate 422-seat indoor Event Gallery, the award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods, and a Conservatory for arts education programming.

Through the in-depth study and exhibition of the social, political, and cultural events of the 1960s, as well as the preservation of the historic site of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Bethel Woods educates individuals about the issues and lessons of the decade while inspiring a new generation to contribute positively to the world around them. The not-for-profit organization relies on the generous support of individuals, corporations, and foundations to develop and sustain programs that improve the quality of life in the region and beyond.

For more information, please visit www.BethelWoodsCenter.org.

About Borscht Belt Museum: 

In July 2023, the Committee for a Catskills Resort Museum, a registered 501(c)3, purchased a historic building and mounted a pop-up exhibit in Ellenville, N.Y. The Borscht Belt Museum will open at this location in the fall of 2025. The Museum’s curatorial mission includes themes and narratives embodying the antisemitism that spurred the creation of a Jewish vacationland, and the refuge the Catskills provided to African Americans, Irish-Americans, LGBTQ+ communities, and other marginalized groups.

About Borscht Belt Marker Project: 

This organization is building a comprehensive marker system and self-guided audio driving tour that traverses the Catskills along with an array of public programming and educational materials. A series of exhibitions and public programs such as film screenings, and literary, comedic, and musical events will provide fun, educational opportunities that further education and dialogue about the Borscht Belt. The project begins in the fall of 2023 and will be completed by 2026 for the commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary.

About IMLS: 

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. They advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage.