Woodstock Fest, a benefit concert held in Grand Rapids on Oct. 5, supported the ElMassry-Sahmound family’s survival in Gaza, as well as local artists and musicians. The festival, which was held at Heritage Hill, was co-organized by Grand Valley State University Professor James Champion, and is held annually in an effort to garner exposure and donations to specific causes.
This year, Woodstock Fest partnered with Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids, a political organization that organizes in the Grand Rapids area for the liberation of Palestine. Partnering with Woodstock allowed the organization to help raise donations for the ElMassry-Sahmound family, which is trying to escape devastation in Gaza and relocate to Egypt. The money sent to the family in need will be used for supplies including food, water and sanitary items until they are able to evacuate from Gaza.
The festival featured 14 local artists, including GVSU student Anthony Erlandson. Performers played a variety of musical genres including folk, hyper pop, punk and more.
Additionally, this year the festival featured a costume party, and ended the night with a bonfire for guests to relax and enjoy.
Champion helped found the volunteer-based festival in 2018. The event gives local community members interested in the arts an opportunity to get involved and help uplift surrounding communities.
“(It’s exciting) to hang out with all the volunteers (at the festival) because normally, we are in serious meeting mode,” Champion said. “We are all goofy people, but it (is) fun to not be talking about the event and just be at it.”
In past years, the festival has focused on raising money to support LGBTQ+ community members, but this year, it was decided that it was more pertinent to donate to the Palestinian community.
“It is emotionally impactful for us to do and to be able to do it together,” Champion said. “(So), raising money for a global concern is what we decided to do this year.”
The festival runs on a volunteer basis, with individuals donating their time, money and talents to help make the event a success. Champion added that he hopes those in attendance at the festival and others who donated were supplied with a little bit of hope.
Many of Woodstock’s performing artists agreed to donate a portion of their merchandise sales to the ElMassry-Sahmound family.
In addition to donating to the ElMassry-Sahmound family, festivalgoers had the opportunity to donate to Woodstock Fest’s continuation in the years to come.
“If we (were) going to raise money, (the festival) had to be big,” Champion said. “It was really beautiful and inspiring because people showed up.”
