Good News From Bethel Woods

A quarterly update designed to share news, tell stories, inspire creativity, and most importantly - make you smile.

aerial shot of bethel woods during the fall

We aim to inspire, educate, and empower through the arts and humanities.

As the leaves change, we hope you and your families are healthy and taking the time to enjoy the surroundings and one another. We've designed this update to bring you a bit of joy and show you how your unwavering support helps us sustain our mission, especially this year. Thank YOU!

You brought the original Woodstock stage to life!

Narrated by seasoned Bethel Woods volunteers Nick & Bobbi Ercoline (the couple featured on the cover of the Woodstock album!), Meet Me At Woodstock, our new augmented reality tour, will make you feel like you are being transported back to Summer 1969 through authentic stage announcements, music, and stories from people who were there! Enjoy this video from our friend Amber, who leads your through the ins and outs of the tour:

We hope you’ll join us for this new way to experience the magic of our historic site.

You celebrated the 51st Anniversary of Woodstock!

(Even if it was different than we imagined)

Still, the most important things remained: remembering our legacy and celebrating with you - virtually, in small groups, or just in thought. Unable to visit, attend, or tune in? Festivities during the 51st anniversary of the greatest festival of all time were all recorded and are still available for you to enjoy.

Relive Anniversary Weekend

Curator Happy Hour

Bethel Woods Senior Curator Neal Hitch and '69 festival-goer and Museum Docent Jim Shelley share '60s-inspired cocktails and a conversation about music, memory and, of course, Woodstock. Originally streamed August 14, 2020.

Bottoms Up!

Dinner for 400,000

Led by Tannis Kowalchuk of The Farm Arts Collective and Willow Wisp Organic Farm, and using the finest locally-sourced ingredients, this online workshop guides you through the preparation of a meal inspired by the Hog Farmers at Woodstock from the comfort of your home. Originally streamed August 15, 2020.

Start Cooking!

Yoga on the Field

Susan Mendoza of The Chi Hive as she leads a gentle mix of Hatha and Vinyasa flow on the historic festival field providing peace and relaxation. Originally streamed August 16, 2020.

Namaste!

You helped us Grow Hope!

Your generosity and donations allowed us to deliver over 200 Growing Hope kits to Sullivan County and Orange County residents in the midst of the pandemic. Partnering with more than half a dozen schools, this project allowed us to connect with our local community during a stressful and isolating time. Using some of the flower kits from this project, we created a Community Peace Garden! Located on the historic festival field, this garden is visible from the Peace Overlook the next time you visit.

gorwing hope collage

You empowered us to respond to the COVID-19 crisis!

We invite you to attend an event as part of The Art of Wellness: a new initiative designed to combat the impact the COVID-19 crisis has had on the physical and mental well-being of individuals. The series creates opportunities for you to practice optimal well-being in body and mind.

All classes are facilitated by Candace Rivela, a Board Certified, Licensed Creative Arts Therapist. She received a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from SUNY New Paltz and a master's degree in Art Therapy and Creativity Development from Pratt Institute. Candace is the Lead Teaching Artist in Museum Education and Creation Programs at Bethel Woods, helping to further development of the Teaching Artist Program.

Wellness for Adults

Wellness for Teens

All Events & Programs

Thank you for your support yesterday, today, and always.

Although the Pavilion Stage was lonely and dark this summer, we are committed now more than ever to Share The Music, Again! In recent years, we gathered for the annual Wine Pairing Dinner and Auction in the Event Gallery to support our mission, legacy and continued growth. The funds raised from this beloved event, our most important fundraiser of the year, sustain our programming. This year, we are extremely excited to present two different opportunities of togetherness: a virtual Silent Auction and Broadway Boosts Bethel. We hope you'll join us!

Our silent auction will give you access to one-of-a-kind items and exclusive experiences as you support our efforts to reopen in 2021 to continue programming and preservation efforts at our historic site. Your participation ensures that we can offer shared experiences that encourage creativity, civility, and peace in our world.

Begin Bidding

They say we get by with a little help from our friends. Join BD Wong and more Broadway stars for an evening of songs from The Sixties. This virtual concert and unique shared experience takes place two nights prior to the close of the Silent Online Auction.

Learn More

Other ways to support us

Amazon Smile - Set it Once, Give Every Time

When you use AmazonSmile.com, you purchase the same products at the same prices but Amazon donates 0.5% of your eligible purchases to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Set it once; give every time you shop.

Go to Amazon Smile
Annual Fund - Inspiring the Spirit of Giving
Give a smile. Make a wish come true. Open doors for aspiring artists and musicians.

Annual Fund Donor Recognition Program giving levels:

CHAIRMAN'S CIRCLE $50,000+

CEO'S CIRCLE $25,000 - $49,999

CONDUCTOR'S CIRCLE $10,000 - $24,999

BENEFACTOR'S CIRCLE $5,000 - $9,999

SUSTAINER'S CIRCLE $2,500 - $4,999

ASSOCIATE'S CIRCLE $1,000 - $2,499

ENCORE CIRCLE $500 - $999

INVESTOR'S CIRCLE $250 - $499

GARDEN CIRCLE $100 - $249

PEACE CIRCLE $1 - $99

Please consider contributing to our Annual Fund today. Call (845) 295-2501 or submit our donation form.
Create a Personal Touchstone at Bethel Woods

Become a permanent part of Bethel Woods when you purchase an exclusive anniversary paver. Placed in the pathway at the entrance to Bethel Woods, your personalized message is a lasting symbol of your special memories of this place – and your continued support of our mission.

About the Paver Program
You can help Bethel Woods grow and expand its offerings, including the opening up of a newly restored trail system in the Bindy Bazaar Woodland. The paver program also helps support special exhibits, museum programming, and preservation projects.
Planned Giving

Legacy giving is at the heart of the non-profit world. It establishes connections, ensures survival, and makes dreams possible – to the organizations, the donors, and those who benefit from such a generous act.

Bethel Woods works with you and your team to arrange bequests, life insurance, gifts of real estate, retirement plan assets, charitable gift annuity, and charitable trusts. Planned giving allows you to protect the inheritance of your loved ones, while making a meaningful gift to an organization you care about. Help us provide educational programming, community outreach, museum programs, and more for all ages.

Contact our Development Office today to begin your Bethel Woods legacy at (845) 295-2501.
The Williams Endowed Education Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph D. Williams of Dover, NJ and Bethel, NY established the Williams Endowed Education Fund at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. The fund provides tuition assistance for children and youth to participate in current and future programming, and transportation assistance for the children and youth of the Hudson Valley Region.

Help the young people of our region discover their own potential and consider making a contribution to The Williams Endowed Education Fund. Complete our secure online donation form, and choose “Endowment,” under 'Area of Interest'.

Peace, Love and Lights

Just announced! The drive-thru holiday light show, totaling just over one mile, will open Monday, November 23rd and run nightly (including all holidays) through Sunday, January 3rd from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Peace, Love & Lights, powered by Healey Brothers and presented by the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association, will be filled with LED lighting and animated displays. The light show features a spectacular 120-foot Twinkle Tunnel and themed areas, including: Groovy Way, an Enchanted Forest, Snowflake Alley and Santa’s Workshop. Dinners with Santa, discounted tickets to The Museum at Bethel Woods, and special promotional nights will also be available.

To see What's Happening, please click here.

Good News - Fall 2020