Oklahoma history: As anti-war protests ramped up in Washington, a music-loving crowd drove to Stillwater

Hundreds of thousands of anti-war protesters jammed the streets in April 1971 in Washington, D.C., and as the demonstration against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War heightened, more than 7,000 were arrested in one day in May.

In contrast, a mostly peaceful gathering was happening in Oklahoma as 7,000 people made their way to the Stillwater rock music festival. It was a sea of bellbottoms, headbands, ice chests, blankets and Frisbees — with a waft of marijuana smoke in the air.

Local bands Country, Boss Tweed and Jack Creek entertained the sunbathing, Frisbee-chasing, easy-going crowd. But also playing was Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar. And, the band that drew the most excitement? The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

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"The band evoked rousing applause after each body-jerking song. Putting on a complete show, the Dirt Band drew rousing laughter as it mingled youth-oriented jokes with songs," as reported May 3, 1971, in The Daily Oklahoman.

On hand to oversee the music event, make arrests, mend cut feet and warn of the dangers of drug use were Stillwater police and fire departments, Payne County health units, The Salvation Army, and the Paseo Street drug abuse and human contact center from Oklahoma City.

This was the second annual Stillwater rock music festival, drawing young people from throughout Oklahoma, as well as Colorado, Texas and Kansas.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma history: As anti-war protests ramped up in Washington, a music-loving crowd drove to Stillwater