Bethel Woods planning safe reopening for ’21

By Nicole Davis | Manor Ink

Bethel, NY – After canceling their 2020 concert season due to the pandemic, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is making preparations for a COVID-safe summer filled with music, art, food and fun.

Emily Casey, director of marketing at Bethel Woods, made it clear that COVID-19 has been an obstacle in scheduling concerts and other events this past year. But the organization wants to be certain of people’s safety and health before scheduling any further events. “We are very hopeful that we will have a successful season. In fact, we have many shows scheduled already,” Casey said. “The constantly changing regulations have been difficult to work around, but we want to be able to host concerts in a safe and affordable way for people.”

Many factors go into opening up the center’s pavilion. The season must be financially feasible, and Bethel Woods staff have been working to sell as many seats and tickets as possible, but in a responsible manner.

“Last year, we ended up not having a pavilion season at all,” Casey said. “We did the few things that we could, such as our Harvest Festival, extending it for seven weeks. We also organized “Peace, Love & Lights,” a drive-through light show.”

Last year, Bethel Woods also opened up the museum in July with rules and regulations that fit New York state guidelines at the time.

Casey described some of the acts booked to appear this year. “We’ll be programming into the later season, in late September with Chris Stapleton and the Black Crowes. And possibly into October as well, trying to give people time to get vaccinated.”

Bethel Woods has been looking closely at what the Yankees and Mets are doing, with different sections for vaccinated and unvaccinated spectators. They’ve also been researching how other concert venues are handling COVID-19 restrictions.

Pandemic-safe activities currently offered

The Museum at Bethel Woods opened in April with a special exhibit called “Lights, Color, Fashion,” a remarkable display featuring a collection of 1960s San Francisco rock posters, fashions by Gary Westford, a Sixties-style black light room and a light show designed by Bill Ham.

There is also an augmented reality tour, “Meet Me at Woodstock,” which is available for rent. The tour is of the center’s historic site where people can listen to oral histories and music from the famous Woodstock Festival. The experience is safely out of doors.

COVID-19 restrictions at Bethel Woods currently require visitors to wear masks and remain socially distanced when indoors regardless of vaccination status; however, people may take off their masks when distanced outside. There is also a limit of 25 persons in the museum at one time. “Bethel Woods is following the 25-percent capacity rule, and we haven’t run into any issues, but we do recommend people buy their tickets in advance,” said Casey.

Other events planned for June, July

On June 16, there will be an intriguing printmaking class for which Bethel Woods will mail home kits. The virtual class will offer a beginner-level workshop on printmaking, with a focus on poster-making inspired by the museum’s special exhibit.

P.L.A.Y. programs, which are led by the education team, will begin in July. These will offer multiple art-immersive experiences for ages 9 to 15, including a rock camp, a songwriter workshop and a music theater.

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is a nonprofit cultural organization located at the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival. In 2014, the center became a nonprofit with arts education programs and “a museum dedicated to teaching people about the festival and about the 1960s,” Casey said. “All of our programs are meant to share in the beliefs of the Sixties, the peaceful gatherings while treating your neighbor with kindness and civility.”

To learn more about Bethel Woods’ concerts and events for the 2021 season, visit bethelwoodscenter.org.