4 Days of Music, Peace, and Love- Reliving the Woodstock Music Festival 1969 (4 of 5)

The Harsh Reality

Though the festival was full of good vibes and positivity, it was unplanned. There were traffic jams everywhere on the roads, people were pouring in despite the agreement of organizers to host only 50,000 people! This was indeed chaotic!

There were no restrooms, and people threw trash all over the Dairy Farm. After the festival was over, there were piles of rubbish, which wasn’t properly disposed of!

The festival accepted the diversity of America, but it turned out to be a hot-spot for drug addicts. There was the use of marijuana at the festival, and one drug-related death occurred as well! The drugs and alcohol were used in excess at the festival.

Many people came unprepared, without shelter, without food, and without supplies for personal hygiene. The organizers themselves were not ready for a large number of visitors! It can rightly be said ‘chaotic’ to some extent!

Due to this chaos and drug abuse, Nelson Rockefeller, the then Governor of New York wished that the event be overlooked by 10,000 New York State National Guard Troops. However, he was convinced not to do so by John P. Roberts.

Even a day before the event was to start, the stage wasn’t prepared and the fences too weren’t set up. They had to choose between the stage and the fences. They took up the stage, so that the people wouldn’t agitate over the lack of planning.

In spite of this mismanagement, the festival was a success and gained its organizers’ huge profits! The event was also successful in its aim of propagating the message of love, peace, and freedom!