Arts and Culture

George Winston might be best known for his piano recordings and concerts.  But the musician, who visits Central New York this weekend, is a multi-instrumentalist with a history of helping others. 

A 4-day concert and festival event wrapped up this weekend at the original site of Woodstock marking its 50th anniversary.  For some people it was a sort-of homecoming, while others just wanted to get a feeling of the original, iconic event.   

A crowd of about five thousand people wanted to recapture the feeling or relive memories at the home of Woodstock Thursday. Bethel Woods hosted the opening of a weekend of 50th anniversary concerts, with Arlo Guthrie performing on the exact date he played in 1969.

A day before the holiday in which America celebrates freedom, Syracuse and Onondaga County leaders are celebrating another icon of freedom – Harriet Tubman.  They announced winners of the National Harriet Tubman Freedom awards.  Sean McLeod is with the New York Institute of Dance and executive Producer of the awards. 

“And what better icon do we have in our country to represent freedom.  The concept of what that struggle movement looked like, and the fact that Central New York was central in that freedom movement, is very significant.”

If organizers get the record crowd they’re expecting for this Saturday’s Pride Parade and Festival, they say it’s an indication of how far the community has come.  Realities are changing for gay, lesbian, transgender and other residents here in Central New York. 

Organizer Sam Castleberry is on the board of C-N-Y Pride.  He says the festival is a time to celebrate the L-G-B-T-Q community in a comfortable and supportive way.