The 50th anniversary of the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival was supposed to be a giant celebration with a mix of contemporary and legendary artists over a three day period in August. Today, the final nail in the coffin of the troubled may have just been hammered in.
Festival organizers were able to strike a deal to hold the concert at Vernon Downs, just outside of Utica. It looked like everything was in place, but again, the festival was denied its mass gathering permit by Oneida County.
Through it all, festival organizers have insisted the show will take place. Even today, Woodstock 50 president Greg Peck said:
We understand the public safety and traffic concerns of the local community. We have been working diligently over the last several weeks to secure the permits needed to hold the festival, and will continue to work with Law Enforcement and Public Safety Officials to present a cohesive safety and traffic plan that will be satisfactory in addressing the concerns. We appreciate the honest feedback from the Town of Vernon and will continue to address their comments as we enter the final planning phases for Woodstock 50. We are confident that this careful planning and consideration of community concerns will result in a safe, world-class Festival.
Organizers have five days to appeal the rejection.
Since it was announced earlier this year, it has hit a series of brick walls. First, they were denied a mass gathering permit at the original venue of Watkins Glen. In order to get approved for the permit, organizers had to cut the crowd size from 150,000 to 65,000, which then caused their major financial backer to drop out. Then Watkins Glen pulled the plug all together.
So what's next? #FyreFestival
[Variety]
photo: Getty Images