I remember this festival very well, & fondly. Of course, the memories of details are somewhat lacking. All-in-all, I rate it as the best musical/counter-culture event I had the good fortune to attend. You can find lots of stuff about Woodstock & Altamont, etc., but it is a shame that Strawberry Fields remains unknown save for my fellow "tribal members" (we all felt that we were part of one big happy family) who had similar good fortune to attend.
I was part of a small group that drove from Edinboro College (now University) Pennsylvania on Friday afternoon. As mentioned above, the crossing from Buffalo was rather strange, security like "Checkpoint Charlie" or something. I swallowed the two tabs of mescaline I had, to avoid hassles, but as I had a copy of my discharge from the Marines including mention of my Purple Heart we got through just fine. However by the time we reached the festival site I was officially "cosmic." Mountain was playing, and the crowd & environs seemed as tripped-out as was I. We made our way to about a hundred yards center left of stage, were we remained as our spot for the weekend.
Saturday morning as I came to the first thing I noticed was that all my buttons to my shirt were "gone" (?), then a guy to my left filling up a pipe bowl of hash. Aware of my interest, he invited me to partake. Soon after another person sat down and produced a quantity of ganja for what ended up to be an improptu party on the spot, as other passersby would stop and join in. It was share & share alike, and one & all were in the most pleasant of moods.
In walking through the area, there were tents set up by folk where one could get food, smoke, acid, whatever, like some kind of counter-culture country fair. I'd expected to be able to find some good herb & psychedelics there but I didn't expect things to be so plentiful, so good, and just out-in-the-open natural - I didn't hear a single discouraging word the whole weekend. Also, no rain, no mud, just nice sunny weather. Looking back, I realize it was the "high water mark" of our liberated cultural movement.
I remember few details of the bands - there were a number of them that were part of my daily soundtrack, and all were enjoyable accompaniment to the general festivities.
On Sunday I went to find something from the "speed" family, as the night previous I had passed out during Alice Cooper and didn't want to repeat the same on Sunday night. In short order I was able to obtain some clean crystal meth which would end up serving the purpose. The party continued as before and a damn good time was had by all. Ten Years After came on late, I fortified my energy & rocked out. I distinctly recall that someone set off a bottle-rocket or similar firework, and Alvin Lee got caught up in watching the display muttering a stoned "far out!", and I realized me & Alvin were right on the same wavelength. I rocked out with wild abandonment through their set, continuing through Sly & the Family Stone's, and when the festival was over hopped in the car and rocked all the way back home!