The most infamous festival in Central New York history reached its chaotic climax 27 years ago. Woodstock ’99 drew an estimated 200,000-plus fans to the tarmac of the former Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome from July 22–25, and the final Sunday became legend for all the wrong reasons — but also for an astonishing lineup. July 25 alone offered Willie Nelson, Elvis Costello, Jewel, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Creed, Megadeth, Godsmack, Collective Soul, and a closing set by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, as bonfires and riots erupted across the field. Equal parts cultural touchstone and cautionary tale, it remains the biggest concert event the region has ever seen.
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