The original Woodstock kicked off 53 years ago on August 15, 1969.
Nearly 400,000 people descended on Bethel, New York for “3 Days of Peace, Love and Music,” which turned into four days running from August 15-18. Some of the most iconic names in music played the legendary festival including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Sly and the Family Stone, The Band, Joe Cocker, Santana, The Grateful Dead, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and many more.
To celebrate this iconic moment in music history, check out the gallery below and browse through photos of festivalgoers.
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareVisitors to the Woodstock pop festival in New York State climbing the sound tower to secure a better viewing point. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareMembers of the American youth subculture generally termed 'hippies' walk along roads choked with traffic on the way to the large rock conert called Woodstock, Bethel, New York, August, 1969. Here one particularly free-thinking, barefoot fellow makes an impish face for the camera while dressed in the brass-band jacket made popular by the musical group The Beatles. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareMembers of the American youth subculture generally termed 'hippies' walk along roads choked with traffic on the way to the large rock conert called Woodstock, Bethel, New York, August, 1969. Some get rides in or on the vehicles of likeminded motorists. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareMembers of the American youth subculture generally termed 'hippies' walk along roads choked with traffic on the way to the large rock conert called Woodstock, Bethel, New York, August, 1969. Some get rides in or on the vehicles of likeminded motorists. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareMembers of the American youth subculture generally termed 'hippies' walk along roads choked with traffic on the way to the large rock conert called Woodstock, Bethel, New York, August, 1969. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareMembers of the American youth subculture generally termed 'hippies' walk along roads choked with traffic on the way to the large rock conert called Woodstock, Bethel, New York, August, 1969. Some may get rides in or on the vehicles of likeminded motorists. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareMembers of the American youth subculture generally termed 'hippies' walk along roads choked with traffic on the way to the large rock conert called Woodstock, Bethel, New York, August, 1969. The lucky few may get rides in or on the vehicles of likeminded motorists. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareMembers of the American youth subculture generally termed 'hippies' walk along roads choked with traffic on the way to the large rock conert called Woodstock, Bethel, New York, August, 1969. Occasionally they are given rides in or on the vehicles of likeminded motorists. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareMembers of the American youth subculture generally termed 'hippies' walk along roads choked with traffic on the way to the large rock conert called Woodstock, Bethel, New York, August, 1969. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareMembers of the American youth subculture generally termed 'hippies' walk along roads choked with traffic on the way to the large rock conert called Woodstock, Bethel, New York, August, 1969. Sometimes likeminded motorists give them rides in or on their vehicles. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareMembers of the American youth subculture generally termed 'hippies' walk, or get rides on the the trunks of cars, as they move along roads choked with traffic on the way to the large rock conert called Woodstock, Bethel, New York, August, 1969. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareMexican-born American musician Carlos Santana (right) and American bassist David Brown perform with the other members of Santana at 'Woodstock,' a large rock and roll music concert, Bethel, New York, August 16, 1969. (Photo by Tucker Ransom/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareAmerican bassist David Brown performs with the other members of Santana at 'Woodstock,' a large rock and roll music concert, Bethel, New York, August 16, 1969. (Photo by Tucker Ransom/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareAmerican bassist David Brown (left) performs with the other members of Santana, including drummer Michael Shrieve (behind drums), Mexican-born bandleader Carlos Santana (with guitar, center), and percussionists Michael Carabello (2d right) and Jose Areas (far right), at 'Woodstock,' a large rock and roll music concert, Bethel, New York, August 16, 1969. (Photo by Tucker Ransom/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareAmerican bassist David Brown performs with the other members of Santana at 'Woodstock,' a large rock and roll music concert, Bethel, New York, August 16, 1969. (Photo by Tucker Ransom/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareAmerican bassist David Brown performs with the other members of Santana at 'Woodstock,' a large rock and roll music concert, Bethel, New York, August 16, 1969. (Photo by Tucker Ransom/Getty Images)
Leaving WoodstockWoodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareAugust 1969: A pregnant woman and her friend wait as a motorcycle is unhitched from a car, as they prepare to leave Max Yasgur's Bethil farm and the Woodstock music festival. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareAugust 1969: Pat McLean from Brighton Massachusetts, hangs her head as she waits beside a car at the Woodstock music festival. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareAugust 1969: A festival-goer at the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair at Bethel, in New York State. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareAugust 1969: A group of people listening to the music at the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair and enjoying the relaxing atmosphere. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareAugust 1969: A man walking past a car notices the feet sticking out of the window during the Woodstock Music And Arts Fair. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareAugust 1969: A girl among the large crowds at Woodstock enjoying the music and the atmosphere. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareAugust 1969: A group of friends sitting by their car at the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair, one of them is giving a peace sign. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareAugust 1969: Faced with a ten mile walk in the mud to White Lake, followed by three more miles to the Woodstock pop festival in New York State, a couple turn back and hitch-hike home. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareAugust 1969: Two young men in the boot of a car after hitching a lift home from the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareA music fan at Woodstock pop festival in his car covered in anti-war slogans for love and peace. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareTorrential rain and thick mud at the Woodstock music festival result in some people removing their shoes to allow them to dry. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)
Woodstock: Images from the Iconic Festival
ShareTwo festival goers that found Woodstock too much lay passed out on the bonnet and roof of their Volkswagen Beetle. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)
