Bearsville Picnic tradition to be revived this weekend

This spring, some enterprising Woodstock folks came up with the idea to resurrect the Bearsville Picnic: a series of outdoor, daylong summer shows staged on the lovely streamside grounds of the Bearsville Theater. The original Bearsville Picnic was the handiwork of none other than Albert Grossman, the legendary manager of Dylan, Joplin, the Band and many more. Grossman’s Bearsville Picnics happened in the ’70s and featured the kind of weave of local and international luminaries of which Woodstock has always been capable.

One Bearsville Picnic was the subject of a full-length broadcast by the legendary BBC live music television show The Old Frey Whistle Test. The show’s host, Whispering Bob Harris, interviewed Grossman, Todd Rundgren, John Sebastian, Jesse Winchester, Paul Butterfield and Mick Ronson. Foghat and others performed live.

Now Woodstock’s Alex Law, of Aquarius Productions, has brought the idea back to life. The series begins on Saturday, June 21 with the Summer Soulstice Party, featuring performance by Naked, Clipadelic’s Host Ghetto Mess, Gartmann/Eppard, Fillet of Soul and more. The show will be followed by Deejay Sterling in the Bearsville lounge.

Food trucks and vendors will be on-site. In the event of rain, the show moves into the theater.

Suggested donation is $20.

On Sunday, July 20, the Bearsville Picnic returns with a program titles Reggae by Nature. The series concludes on Sunday, August 24 with a lineup to be announced. Portions of the proceeds from Bearsville picnics will be donated to Family of Woodstock.