1969: Billed as “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace and Music”, a music festival held on a 600 acre dairy farm in Bethel, Sullivan County, drew 450,000 fans for 32 different music acts. Initial estimates projected 20,000 to 150,000 concert goers, though State Police estimated that 200,000 made it to the venue while another 250,000 were in the vicinity unable to reach the amphitheater.
The State Police began early planning for the event and initially thought the concert would be held in Wallkill. Three weeks prior to the start of the concert, the promoters had to obtain a new site due to court action. In three weeks, the State Police was able to establish a plan for the handling of traffic in Bethel, including a one way flow of traffic. These plans collapsed on the eve of the concert. Shuttle service, which the promoters planned on using, was cancelled by the promoters because of cost, as was the agreement between the promoters and off-duty New York City Police Officers. Further, the promoters failed to establish any signage to direct traffic coming into the area. Security within the grounds at the festival was to be the responsibility of the promoters as well.
On the first day of the festival, it was estimated that 100,000 persons arrived by auto, creating a traffic condition defined as chaotic. Troop F assigned a detail of 85 Troopers to address the concern. Cars were abandoned on the road causing all roads to be closed but to local traffic only.
Day two and day three allowed for the addition of 70 Troopers from Troops C, G, and K to assist with crowd control. State Police utilized helicopters to move Troopers within closed off areas and to get food and water to Troopers when posts were not accessible by vehicle. At the conclusion of the event, now known by all as Woodstock, the State Police was able to report that the music festival, which was billed as an event of peace and music, was simply that. No use of force was shown by State Police and only 109 arrest were made on the property. Of those arrests, only four were for violations aside from illegal drugs.