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The Summer Solstice Celebration features the Fairy House Festival and a performance by William Close and the Earth Harp Collective. (File photos)
The Summer Solstice Celebration features the Fairy House Festival and a performance by William Close and the Earth Harp Collective. (File photos)

KeyBank Summer Solstice Celebration returns to Artpark on June 16

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Mon, Apr 23rd 2018 03:20 pm
Featuring 8th annual Fairy House Festival, William Close & The Earth Harp Collective
Artpark & Company celebrates the beginning of summer by transforming the park grounds and the amphitheater into the KeyBank Summer Solstice Celebration.
The all-ages event begins with the eighth annual Fairy House Festival, which returns with the popular fairy house tour and competition. Artists, community groups, schools, families and individuals will create fairy houses, which will be on display throughout the park.
The afternoon will include a creative collection of art activities, potion making and the opportunity to build your own small "fairy dwelling" in the Artpark Amphitheater. Visit artpark.net to register a fairy house creation for the tour and competition.
In addition to the Fairy House Festival, the afternoon includes roaming performers, a Bloomsday Buffalo celebration (international celebration of James Joyce's literary masterpiece "Ulysses"), storytellers, interactive solstice fairy dancers, a roaming poet, a real-time painting creation, a psychic entertainer, a magician and more to be announced. An expanded selection of food vendors and a beer garden/wine bar will also be offered.
The Solstice Celebration culminates with a performance by William Close and the Earth Harp Collective at 7 p.m. The finale performance will feature collaboration with choreographer Jon Lehrer in a large-scale inclusive dance by professional performers and festival visitors.
Close and his group entertained audiences at Artpark's 2017 "Big Bang" season finale. This year, his Earth Harp will soar above the audience gathered on and around the "Painted Parking Lot," 2017's re-creation of Gene Davis' "Niagara 1979." Close is a world-renowned installation artist who has performed at Coachella, Burning Man and on NBC's "America's Got Talent."
The KeyBank Summer Solstice festival is created and directed by Kate LoConti and Jon Lehrer, with immersive experience designed by Jessica Wegrzyn. The festival is presented by KeyBank and is sponsored by Modern Corporation, Niagara Falls Bridge Commission and Favorites Pizza.
Schedule
  • Noon- 4 p.m. Fairy House Festival (outdoors in Artpark Amphitheater)
  • 4-7 p.m. KeyBank Summer Solstice celebration (outdoors in the Artpark Amphitheater)
  • 7 p.m. William Close and the Earth Harp Collective ("Painted Parking Lot")
Festival tickets are $10 and are available online at tickets.com and artpark.net, by phone at 1-888-223-6000 and at the Artpark box office (450 S. Fourth St.). Tickets also can be purchased on the day of the festival.
For more information, visit artpark.net.

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