<P> The Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival held on a 600 - acre (2.4 km2; 240 ha, 0.94 mi2) dairy farm in the rural town of Bethel, New York from August 15 to August 18, 1969 . Thirty - two acts performed during the sometimes rainy weekend in front of nearly half a million concertgoers . It is widely regarded as one of the greatest moments in popular music history and was listed on Rolling Stone's "50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock and Roll". </P> <P> The first day officially began at 5: 07 p.m. with Richie Havens and featured folk artists . 32 acts performed during the sometimes rainy weekend in front of nearly half a million concertgoers . </P> <P> 5: 07pm--7: 00pm </P>

Who was the first band to play at woodstock