Are There Music Festivals and Concerts in the Sullivan Catskills?
If you are planning a trip to the Sullivan Catskills and wondering what live music is happening, here is what you need to know.
Yes, and the range is wider than most visitors expect. The Sullivan Catskills has one of the most storied live music legacies in the country. The 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair happened right here in the Town of Bethel, and the spirit of that gathering still runs through the region’s creative life. Today the county offers everything from a 16,000-capacity amphitheater with major touring artists to an intimate mountain chamber music festival, free community music festivals and live music at breweries, brewpubs and community stages all summer long.
Quick Answer: Are There Music Festivals and Concerts in the Sullivan Catskills?
The Sullivan Catskills live music scene includes:
- Bethel Woods Center for the Arts: one of New York’s premier outdoor concert venues, on the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, with a 16,000-capacity Pavilion Stage running May through September
- Shandelee Music Festival: world-class classical and jazz performances on 75 acres of mountain meadow near Livingston Manor each August, now in its 33rd season
- HPAC Music Festival: free outdoor music festival in Hurleyville each July
- Narrowsburg RiverFest: live music as part of a free arts and community street festival in July
- Roscoe Beer Company: live music and food trucks in a large outdoor beer garden all summer
- Upward Brewing Company: live music events at one of the Sullivan Catskills’ most scenic brewery settings in Livingston Manor
- Outlier Inn Concert Series: weekend music and arts gatherings on 14 wooded acres in Woodridge
- Bethel Lakeside Music Summer Concert Series: free outdoor concerts at the gazebo in Bethel
- Rock Hill Summer Concert Series: free live music every Wednesday evening in July and August at Lake Ida Park in Rock Hill
- Wurtsboro Music in the Park: free outdoor concerts Thursday evenings all summer at Veterans’ Park in Wurtsboro
- Callicoon Center Band: a community band tradition dating back to 1934, performing free concerts every Wednesday evening at the bandstand in Callicoon Center
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Bethel Woods is the anchor of the Sullivan Catskills live music calendar and one of the most historically significant concert venues in the United States. The 1,000-acre campus in Bethel sits on the original site of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair, and the Pavilion Stage has hosted major touring acts every summer since opening in 2006. The 20th Pavilion season runs in 2026.
The amphitheater features covered seating for 5,000 and lawn seating for an additional 11,000. Parking is free. The Museum at Bethel Woods and the Bindy Bazaar Trails to the original stage marker make a Bethel Woods concert a full-day experience worth arriving early for.
- Location: 200 Hurd Road, Bethel, NY
- Tickets: bethelwoodscenter.org or Ticketmaster
- Box office open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm during the summer concert season
- Parking free at all events
Shandelee Music Festival
The Shandelee Music Festival has presented world-class classical and jazz musicians in the Catskill Mountains for more than three decades. The 2026 season is the festival’s 33rd. Performances take place in the intimate, climate-controlled Sunset Concert Pavilion on 75 acres of mountain meadow near Livingston Manor, where every seat is close to the stage. Internationally acclaimed artists from around the world perform during a concentrated run of August concerts. Community outreach concerts bring performances to schools and healthcare facilities across the county.
- Location: Sunset Concert Pavilion, 442 J. Young Road, Livingston Manor
- Season: August 2026, full schedule at shandelee.org
- Tickets required, see shandelee.org or call 845-439-3277
- Partnership with Bethel Woods for P.L.A.Y. The Classics youth concert series
Free and Community Music Festivals
HPAC Music Festival
The Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre produces a free outdoor music festival each July on Main Street in Hurleyville. The 2026 HPAC Music Festival takes place July 18 from 2 to 7pm, with live music from local and regional artists including Caswyn Moon and Faith Kelly and Mekayla Rayne, along with food trucks and craft vendors.
- Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026, 2-7pm
- Location: 219 Main Street, Hurleyville
- Admission: Free
- More info: hpacny.org
Narrowsburg RiverFest
The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance produces the annual Narrowsburg RiverFest each July on Main Street above the Delaware River. Live music is part of a full day that includes 40-plus artist booths, River Dogs on Parade and community gathering. The 35th annual RiverFest takes place July 26, 2026.
- Date: Sunday, July 26, 2026, 10am-4pm
- Location: Main Street, Narrowsburg
- Admission: Free
- More info: delawarevalleyartsalliance.org
Bethel Lakeside Music Summer Concert Series
Free outdoor concerts return to the gazebo at Bethel Lakeside each summer, with a schedule of musical performances and community programming throughout the season.
- Location: Bethel Lakeside Gazebo, Bethel
- Admission: Free
- Check sullivancatskills.com/events for the 2026 schedule
Live Music at Breweries and Local Venues
Live music in the Sullivan Catskills is not confined to festival stages. It happens on warm weeknights at brewery beer gardens, on back porch stages and at community spaces that have made room for it. A few of the most reliable spots:
- Roscoe Beer Company (145 Rockland Road, Roscoe): large outdoor beer garden with regular live music and food trucks all summer
- Upward Brewing Company (171 Main Street, Livingston Manor): live music events throughout the season at a property with fire pits and a forest trail
- Catskill Brewery (672 Old Route 17, Livingston Manor): beer garden and food truck with seasonal programming
- Big Eddy Brewing Co. (Narrowsburg): live music on the Delaware, check schedule locally
- Outlier Inn Concert Series (Woodridge): weekend music and arts gatherings on 14 wooded acres, combining live performances with farm-to-table meals and wellness programming
- The Woodstock Way Groovy Eatery (Mongaup Valley): Woodstock-themed restaurant with weekly live music, trivia nights and a riverfront patio on the Mongaup River
The Woodstock Legacy
The Sullivan Catskills is where Woodstock happened. On August 15 through 18, 1969, approximately 500,000 people gathered on Max Yasgur’s farm in the Town of Bethel for three days of peace and music that changed American culture. The site is now Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. The Museum at Bethel Woods tells the story through artifacts, films and immersive exhibits. The Bindy Bazaar Trails lead to the original stage marker on the concert grounds.
- Museum at Bethel Woods open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm during the summer season
- Bindy Bazaar Trails to the original Woodstock stage marker: free with museum admission
- Bethel Woods campground on site for overnight stays around concert events
Planning Your Live Music Visit
A few practical notes for building a music trip to the Sullivan Catskills.
- Bethel Woods concerts sell out regularly; book tickets well in advance for popular shows
- Shandelee Music Festival tickets sell quickly; reserve early at shandelee.org
- Free community festivals including RiverFest and the HPAC Music Festival need no advance tickets
- Bethel Woods parking is free at all events
- Arriving early for Bethel Woods concerts allows time for the Museum and the Woodstock stage marker
- For the full Sullivan Catskills events calendar, visit sullivancatskills.com/events
Frequently Asked Questions
Is two days enough for the Sullivan Catskills?
Yes. Two days is enough for a very good introduction to the region if you focus on a few high-quality experiences rather than trying to see everything.
What should I prioritize on a first trip?
For a first visit, prioritize a great place to stay, one outdoor or scenic experience, one small-town or cultural stop, and strong local dining. That combination best reflects how the destination is presented across its stay, play, and eat content.
Is the Sullivan Catskills better for adventure or relaxation?
It works well for both. The region promotes hiking, farms, arts, history, food, entertainment, and slower getaway experiences, so you can build a more active or more restorative weekend.
Should I plan every hour in advance?
No. A better approach is to plan a framework: where you are staying, one or two anchor activities, and a few food or town options. The destination is especially good for discovering things between the scheduled moments.
What makes the Sullivan Catskills different from a generic Catskills weekend?
The Sullivan Catskills stands out for its blend of scenic outdoors, local food and drink, arts and culture, destination lodging, and approachable small-town character, all within a region intentionally marketed for trip planning and weekend escapes.
If you want, I can next turn this into a fully polished on-brand webpage in Sullivan Catskills’ voice rather than just matching the Word doc structure.
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