BETHEL — Max Yasgur told the Democrat on the last day of the 1969 Woodstock festival, “What happened at Bethel this weekend was that these young people together with our local residents turned the Aquarian Festival into a dramatic victory for the spirit of peace, goodwill and human kindness.”

This is just one of the quotes and insights from the Woodstock festival that are now on display throughout Bethel in their new Heritage Trail.

The Town of Bethel has embraced the history of Woodstock and made the world know that it happened in the Town of Bethel.

“No other place can say that,” said Bethel Town Supervisor Dan Sturm during the unveiling of a new trail on Monday.

The Heritage Trail will lead visitors through nine trailsites across Bethel, with the trailhead beginning behind the Bethel Justice Court.

The sites will tell stories of what happened before, during, and after the historic 1969 Woodstock festival and is meant to be a permanent display.

“Our goal here is to commemorate and memorialize the fact that the event happened here in the town of Bethel, and promote that in a way that has not been done in the past,” said Sturm.

According to Sturm, the trail is part of the overall development strategy to increase tourism in Bethel. 

“[It's for] people to have fun when they come and visit,” said Sturm. 

Dorene Warner of W Design created the panels for the trail. The trail was made possible through the Town of Bethel, the Bethel Woodstock Committee, Sullivan County government and Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.