If you have a penchant for all things retro-fabulous and a need for a swell space to tie the knot, it’s time to set your wedding venue sights on Bearsville Weddings at the historic Bearsville Center, a 60s-era artists’ utopia located just minutes from world-famous Woodstock.
The Bearsville Center’s story goes back to 1960, when music impresario Albert Grossman set to work building a paradise tucked in the seclusion of the Catskill Mountains where musicians could live, work, eat, record, and play. As the larger-than-life manager of some of that era’s greatest names, including Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, The Band, Todd Rundgren, and many others, Grossman achieved his vision, and for decades Bearsville was the proud heart of the Hudson Valley’s music and arts scene.
After entrepreneur Lizzie Vann purchased the Bearsville Center in 2019, the site underwent a five million dollar restoration. Today, the 16-acre wooded complex is home to the spectacular Bearsville Theater and Utopia Soundstage, two restaurants, a bar, an artisanal ice cream shop, a retail store, and now, six different spaces for brides and grooms to celebrate their nuptials in true Woodstock style.
“Bearsville is a new venue that offers a very special destination for weddings in the Hudson Valley,” says Vann. “We took an authentic, fascinating piece of musical history, and converted it into a picture-perfect setting for celebrations.”
Couples who host their weddings at the Bearsville Center get VIP access to nearly every part of the complex. There’s the brand-new outdoor venue Bearsville Park, which accommodates up to 700 people and is perfect for everything from ceremony to reception. Situated on the banks of the magical Sawkill Creek, it’s fully equipped with comfortable seating, an outdoor stage, romantic arbor, outdoor bar, modern sculptures, and a woodland walk that celebrates the lives of the musicians who shaped Woodstock’s musical revolution.
Or you can spread the party around and invite your guests to experience everything Bearsville has to offer. Host your reception in the world-class Bearsville Theater Auditorium, complete with a massive stage and studio-quality acoustics, or take your after-party to the high-ceilinged Club Utopia, where some of MTV’s first-ever music videos were made.
Hosting a more intimate shindig? The cool, comfortable vibe of Theater Lounge, which can accommodate up to 120 guests and has its own stage and bar, may be just your style. Then there’s the on-site fine dining destination, the Bearsville Cafe, whose seasonally influenced offerings, overseen by CIA-trained chef Josh Rajala, are perfect for rehearsal dinners and day-after brunches alike.
Before you tie the knot, you and your wedding party can relax in style in the Janis Joplin and Van Morrison dressing rooms, whose artsy decor is inspired by two music legends who spent time working in the area. The equally swanky Green Room gives off a glamorous backstage ambiance and is just the spot to reconvene with your party for a toast after you say “I do.”
Of course, no wedding venue would be complete without a stand-out catering program, and weddings at the Bearsville Center offer one of the region’s best. Renowned Full Moon Catering offers everything from down-home country barbecues to tantalizing hors d’oeuvres and formal gourmet dinners.
For couples looking for an authentic connection to Woodstock’s incredible artistic past, there’s no better spot to tie the knot than the creative destination that is the Bearsville Center.
Bearsville Weddings
inquiry@bearsvilleweddings.com
(845) 853-4075
Bearsvilleweddings.com Download the full Bearsville Weddings brochure here.
