The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

The cloudy skies and chilly air could not cast a damper on people who were determined to party. And several thousand people did just that on September 26 as Sullivan County brought it’s six-month Bicentennial celebration to a fun conclusion with a county-wide picnic on the grounds of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

The crowd was treated to guest speakers, historical exhibits, food and drink, an antique car show, and plenty of musical entertainment. Performers graced five different stages including the main Pavilion, the Sullivan County Community College portable stage, the Market Shed stage, the Terrace Stage and a performance area set up nearby the front gate.

Attendees could take their pick of several musical genres like country and western music by the Rivers Edge band, rock ‘n roll with Darren and Albi, The MountainTones marching band, soul and blues with the Slam Allen Band, and the ever-popular West Point Band’s Jazz Knights.

While the music was going on outside, other folks were listening to talks in the Bethel Woods’ events gallery. John Conway – Sullivan County Historian, Sam Yasgur – Sullivan County Attorney and son of the original owner of the Woodstock site, and Michael Lang – one of the originators of the famous Woodstock Festival, all found audiences eager to hear their take on the events that occurred 40 years ago on the famous site.

And despite the lack of sun, several families took the title of the event to heart and picnicked on the great lawn, while others tossed a football or a Frisbee and still others spread their blankets closer to the musical events.

As people roamed the grounds, they might have come face-to-face with characters dressed in colonial garb, and then, wandering into one of the market sheds, be greeted by the Sullivan County Visitors Association, and historical exhibits from the Sullivan County Historical Society, and the towns of Cochecton, Bethel, Thompson and others. In addition, displays explained the missions of the Sullivan County Recycling Program, Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development, Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History and several more county organizations.

Sullivan County Legislator Alan Sorenson, who was enjoying the picnic with his daughter, summed up the feeling of community that he hopes will continue. “It’s a nice way to celebrate our Bicentennial in Sullivan County. It’s nice to see such a large turnout in spite of the cooler weather. … this is a good way to bring in that sense of community here in Sullivan County, get people to meet one another and celebrate together, and I think it’s a wonderful event.” 

To views more photos or to purchase prints from the Bicentennial County-Wide Picnic, visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.