BETHEL, N.Y. (August 15, 2009)—Saturday is the 40th anniversary of the start of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair whose organizers promised “three days of peace and music.”

What John Roberts, Michael Lang and Joel Rosenman didn’t count on was a much bigger than expected crowd as tens of thousands of people—many without tickets—flooded the concert site.

The decision was made to make it a free concert.

The festival, which lasted until Aug. 17, 1969, produced massive traffic jams and was dogged by shortages of water, food and medical facilities.

Twenty-five top acts performed.

Three concertgoers died accidentally.

And at least one baby was born.

Arlo Guthrie says he didn't see any babies born at Woodstock, but says it might be interesting to count ahead and come with up the number of babies born who were conceived during the concert.

Guthrie says the fact that people are still talking about the festival shows how much of an impact on the culture it had.

The Woodstock site is now home to a performing arts center called Bethel Woods.

It hosts concerts this weekend featuring Woodstock alumni Richie Havens, Country Joe McDonald, Jefferson Starship, Canned Heat, Big Brother and the Holding Company and
Mountain.