Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

My family has been here quite a few times and we raving how much I was going to like it and it seems to be in a great area. They said no problem getting in the parking lot and it will be easy to get out of there after the concert. That's until Rod Stewart packed the place!! Despite having the same issues most concert venues when a lot of people show up it's in a great area with a great views just about anywhere. Prices are "Big City " which is par for the course these days but overall it is a great place to see a concert.

Absolutely beautiful venue! Parking is free, security check and ticket entrance went quickly. Everything is set up to flow right to where you need to go whether it is the lawn or covered pavilion. We had an excellent time.

It was a great venue to experience a show.
The grounds are impeccable, friendly staff, the sound was great, the video monitors were crystal clear, and there were plenty of food and drink options.
Parking was a little suspect trying to get out, but assume that is the case for any large show.

Great covered pavilion with open sides with food & beverage vendors to all sides. Parking with shuttle bus is an added perk. I do not think there is a bad seat in the house. Seats under the pavilion are comfy & there’s a fairly good amount of leg room. Lawn chairs are available for rental & free parking just adds to the charm of this venue. W/C ADA compliant from the parking lot to the pavilion which is a hike(no pun intended). A beautiful spot with the Catskill Mountains as a back drop. The aroma of cannabis is around but not overpowering and brings back memories of yesteryears.

The place itself is beautiful. Beautiful streams and walking paths to get to the main pavilion. The lawns are well manicured. The covered pavilion/stage itself is very nice. Seats are comfortable and fairly spacious. The sound system is excellent along with the lighting. There is also lawn seating available although I don't recommend it due to the distance from the stage and the acoustic quality which I heard is not the best. But under the pavilion, it's REALLY nice.

However some big issues. The biggest being exiting the concert. Friends reported it taking them 2 hours to exit the grounds. There is only one way in and one way out. Despite the help of the State police and park workers, be prepared to wait and wait. Tip: park near the exit when you arrive but be prepared to walk quite a distance to get to the venue. Wear comfortable shoes!

Another big problem is getting in once you reach the gates. There was a problem the night of the James Taylor concert where they could only scan bar codes on cell phones. Folks with paper tickets were having trouble getting in. There is also no order, just a mass of people trying to get in. They should really set up lines.

Once you are thru the gates, it's smooth sailing with paved walkways and a lot of security. Bags, pockets, etc... must be emptied and lots of folks are wanded after going thru the initial metal detector.

One more thing... For the small price of $200 you can buy premium parking which gets you a spot near the entrance to the park, but from what I could determine, it's probably the worst place to park when trying to exit. I'm guessing exit time will be well over 2 hours.