For the day that’s in it we celebrate the power of a music festival.
And look back and forward on how gatherings of the lovers and the dreamers will always prevail over nihilism.
Woodstock stands as a watchword for peace, libertarianism and inclusivity.
We are stardust
And still promotes these values today at the Bethel Woods Center in upstate New York.
Fifty-five years have passed since 400,000 free-livers and lovers descended on Yasgur’s Farm to join the musical giants of the day.
Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, Creedence Clearwater et al but not Joni Mitchell.
Who tried to get there but was snarled up in traffic and wrote about it in the classic Woodstock.
Bethel ethereal
You can relive that last summer of the Sixties with an interactive tour from $20.
And don’t worry if you weren’t there, you probably know more about it than those who were!
Of course music fills the museum and footage and even a hippie bus.
But Bethel Woods being true to the spirit of Woodstock is a living museum.
Visitors from this Friday will be able to enjoy and participate in the Peace, Love & Pumpkins celebrations which last until October 27.
We are golden
Woodstock is well within the reach of day trippers from New York, 114 miles north.
And can obviously be accessed by car, and our Joni might recommend that now the traffic has abated.
Particularly if you ramp up her Woodstock on your playlist.
Or bus from £23 with Trailways.
Stay the night in rather more comfort than those campers of 1969, at the Great Western Hotel from £112 per night.
Of course the town of Woodstock, which is actually an hour and a half away from Bethel, draws today’s New Age free spirits.
Karma chameleons
And one of those I’ve stumbled across is Holly Habeck who advises us of the best places to eat, shop and visit in Woodstock in Ulster County.
And so for the first two that’ll be Tinker Street for the best merch and Tinker Street Taco, for the best, er, Tacos.
While this being hippy trail then you can’t leave without getting some karma.
And the best place for that is the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra Tibetan Buddhist Monastery where it’s all about the meditation.
And maybe pray for peace and for the safety of music goers all over the world.
New York is obviously served by everyone who can put a motor on a big bird.
But we return to Ireland’s national airliner Aer Lingus with flights and pre-clearance from Ireland from £216.04.
