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The genesis of Woodstock can be traced back to Michael Lang and Artie Kornfeld. They envisioned a fundraising concert modeled after the Monterey Pop Festival. However, as they brainstormed ways to unify a passionate generation, their plans escalated from a local event to the three-day “Aquarian Exposition: Three Days of Peace and Music." This concept fostered excitement about the possibilities of collective cultural expression among the youth of the era, who sought social change amid the backdrop of the Vietnam War.
As the festival dates approached, initial expectations of 30,000 to 50,000 attendees proved to be grossly underestimated. The actual number swelled beyond 400,000, leading promoters to scramble to manage logistics, security, and facilities in a race against time.