Although Woodstock was 40 years ago, bands and thousands of fans still gather to celebrate their love for music.
This year's Harvest of Hope Fest will feature more than 160 bands performing everything from punk rock to children's acoustic songs to at least 12,000 people. The festival takes place from March 12 to 14 in St. Augustine at the County Fair Grounds.
And just like the good old days of Woodstock, attendees will camp out near the festival in tents.
Admission is $25 a day, $49.50 for all three days when paid in advance and an additional $20 for camping. Admission is free for children under 12.
Tickets are being sold until the day of the fest at Video Rodeo, Common Grounds and Orange and Blue Textbooks.
Proceeds from admission fees will go to the Harvest of Hope Foundation, "a non-profit organization that provides financial, educational and service oriented aid to migrant farm workers all over the country," according to a press release on the Harvest of Hope Fest Web site.
Phil Kellerman, founder of the Harvest of Hope Foundation, said lower ticket prices and fewer attendees in 2009 caused the festival to not raise any money for the foundation.
The foundation held a pre-fest benefit, including a silent art auction and dinner at Johnny's Kitchen, a restaurant in Hastings, Fla. Tickets were $25. The benefit raised $3,000 for the foundation, according to Kellerman.
"We knew that having a first-year fest, getting it off the ground would be the first priority," he said.
About 7,000 tickets were sold, and 17,000 people were counted at the gate. He said this number may not be entirely accurate because people who came all three days were counted three times.
"I'm hoping we'll double that number this year," he said.
Of the people who came last year, an array of music genres and preferences were represented, Murray said.
"I think it brings out a rainbow of people," he said.
Justin Geever, front man of Anti-flag, a punk rock band from Pittsburgh, will be playing songs on acoustic guitar for the children. The band's music is often labeled "explicit" on iTunes.
James "Buddy" Nielsen, 26, front man of Senses Fail, a post-hardcore band from New Jersey, said he was glad to be playing alongside bands that he personally enjoys such as Billy Bragg, a politically inspired folk musician, and Gatorface, a Southern rock band.
"It's the first show I've played with so many bands that I wanted to see," Nielsen said in a phone interview.
For more information on Harvest of Hope, visit harvestofhopefest.com.
