Celebration at Big Sur (1971): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1971, Celebration at Big Sur is a music, history and documentary film directed by Johanna Demetrakas, running about 82 minutes. “Everyone did it... for the sheer love of it.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Star-studded show recorded at the Big Sur Folk Festival, Big Sur, California, September 13th and 14th, 1969. Joan Baez, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joni Mitchell, John Sebastian, and others. This film captures a remarkable moment in folk, rock, and pop history - the famous folk festival that brought traditional acts like Dorothy Morrison & The Combs Sisters and Carol Ann Cisneros together with the psychedelic rockers of the day who were most deeply rooted in the folk revival. Older songs like ‘Oh Happy Day,’ ‘Rise And Shine,’ ‘All God’s Children,’ and ‘Swing Down, Sweet Chariot’ meet Joni Mitchell’s ‘Woodstock,’ Joan Baez’s ‘Sweet Sir Galahad,’ ‘Bob Dylan’s ‘I Shall Be Released,’ CSNY’s ‘Down By The River,’ and many more of the now-classic songs of what was then called the ‘new rock.’ The scene is notably intimate and - aside from one fan’s dustup with Stephen Stills - mellow, with many rare, close-up moments with the stars.

Who’s in it. Celebration at Big Sur stars Joan Baez as Self, David Crosby as Self, Joni Mitchell as Self and Graham Nash as Self, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 4.0/10, Celebration at Big Sur has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Celebration at Big Sur page.

If you liked it. Fans of Celebration at Big Sur tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco, Green Book and The Legend of 1900.