Winter's End -- Orlando's answer to Woodstock

I love these children of the 1960s! I got a call this week for a woman who attended the Winter's End Festival in Orlando.

[Ernie]

it was easter weekend in 1970, not 1969,put on by the same people who put on woodstock. it was originally planned for south florida but changed at the last moment to bithlo. rolling stone has a story about it you should check out. by the way i was there and since then have met and played music with tin house member, floyd radford.

[Louie]

Yep it was Easter. I went down with some friends. Are there any photo galleries of the festival?

[Dean]

I agree, it was Easter weekend 1970. Went down from Greenville,NC with a big group of friends. The highlight was Johnny and Edgar Winter on stage playing together. Amazing! One funny memory was at one point the police or some officials started saying the festival wasn't going to start or continue like they expected us to pack up and leave. We were already totally into the event by that time, if you know what I mean, and we looked around at those thousands of people partying and cracked up with laughter because we knew there was nothing stopping this party! Wish there were some photos or videos somewhere online.

[Louie]

There used to be a guy with a gallery out there, but I'll be damned if I can find it. I've tried to send something to his e-mail but it's bounced. I had made contact with him some years ago about getting more pix, but he never followed through.

I remember driving to the site and seeing the Allman Brothers hanging out by the Holiday Inn or some motel. The only band I remember was a local band called Dr. Fox... the rest of the festival is a blur... and I was only 16...

[cory goodman]

mountain was there allman bros,tin house a local band of teens that was offered a contract from Johnny winters manager as they left the stage. lead guitar player Floyd Radford later played in both Edgar and Johnny Winter bands. Buddy Guy was there and never got to play. At the time Bithlo was still un-incorporated and had no police force , so the Orange County cops snuck in with an ambulance and were surprised that they were out numbered and had to leave and wait for people to leave before any arrests could be made. Orlando Sentinel paper had a few days of coverage with pictures