When the calendar flipped to 2013, the cultural zeitgeist was firmly fixed on a specific milestone: the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination, the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, and, most importantly to music fans, the looming approach of the 45th anniversary of the original Woodstock Music and Art Fair.
In 2013, Bonnaroo was in its prime, Coachella had become a fashion Mecca, and Lollapalooza was a global empire. These festivals had successfully monetized the counterculture spirit that Woodstock had birthed in 1969, but they did so with corporate sponsorship, VIP tiers, and high ticket prices—the antithesis of the original "3 Days of Peace & Music." woodstock 2013
The problem? Weather again. September in Upstate New York is a gamble. On the second day, the remnants of Hurricane Humberto brought 40 mph winds and torrential rain. The main stage tent collapsed at 3 PM (no injuries, miraculously). The mud was so deep that porta-potties tipped over. Organizers canceled the final day, and a minor riot broke out over refunds—the exact opposite of the "peace and love" ethos. When the calendar flipped to 2013, the cultural
Around 500,000 people gathered for the three-day event, making it one of the largest open-air festivals in the world. Diverse Lineup: Weather again
When the calendar flipped to 2013, the cultural zeitgeist was firmly fixed on a specific milestone: the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination, the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, and, most importantly to music fans, the looming approach of the 45th anniversary of the original Woodstock Music and Art Fair.
In 2013, Bonnaroo was in its prime, Coachella had become a fashion Mecca, and Lollapalooza was a global empire. These festivals had successfully monetized the counterculture spirit that Woodstock had birthed in 1969, but they did so with corporate sponsorship, VIP tiers, and high ticket prices—the antithesis of the original "3 Days of Peace & Music."
The problem? Weather again. September in Upstate New York is a gamble. On the second day, the remnants of Hurricane Humberto brought 40 mph winds and torrential rain. The main stage tent collapsed at 3 PM (no injuries, miraculously). The mud was so deep that porta-potties tipped over. Organizers canceled the final day, and a minor riot broke out over refunds—the exact opposite of the "peace and love" ethos.
Around 500,000 people gathered for the three-day event, making it one of the largest open-air festivals in the world. Diverse Lineup:
