Festival Rock y Ruedas de Avándaro

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Festival Rock y Ruedas de Avándaro was originally to be held in September 11 & 12 1971. It was organized in the valley of Avándaro near the city of Toluca, Estado de Mexico, the most important Mexican Rock and Roll festival ever and became know as the Mexican Woodstock. It reunited between 100,000 and 300,000 young people in peace to share and enjoy the music. The Festival was under threat of massive government oppression in one of the most repressive administrations just a few years after the massacre of Tlatelolco in 1968. Still the government had to evacuate stranded attendees en masse at the end of the festival.

It was know as Festival Rock y Ruedas de Avándaro because originally the event was supposed to be a sponsored car race with some rock bands. Somebody advised the car racer Eduardo Lopez Negrete to include ambient music. The organizers decided to consult Armando Molina for further advice. He suggested including twelve bands and got in touch with the best bands, making the event possible.

The legacy of Avandaro was the suppression of the Rock in Mexico for several decades.

Some parts were filmed by Telesistema Mexicano (today Televisa) but have been missing since.