Artpark & Company is seeking schools, Scout troops, regional artists, community groups and families to create fairy houses for display at Artpark's annual Fairy House Festival. The popular event returns to Artpark Sunday June 8.

UpstateLIVE recently released its staff and reporter picks for best venues, albums, shows and festivals in a five-part series on its website, www.upstatelive.com. Artpark was named one of the year's "Best Large Venues."

Artpark has announced Lindsey Stirling will perform Thursday, June 12, inside the Mainstage Theater. Reserved seating tickets are now on sale. The concert is produced by Funtime Presents.

Tickets, $29 reserved seating plus $2 facility fee, are available through Tickets.com or the Artpark box office. Call to charge by phone at 888-223-6000. For more information, call: 716-754-4375 or visit www.artpark.net.

Artpark has announced The Kingston Trio and Glenn Miller Orchestra are set to perform at the Mainstage Theater in the summer of 2014.

Everyone's favorite nanny is flying into town next summer. Artpark has announced its production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's "Mary Poppins" is slated for July 31- Aug. 8, 2014. Eight performances will take place in the Mainstage Theater.

Artpark has announced "Aladdin & Other Enchanting Tales" as its annual springtime children's theater offering. Philadelphia's Enchantment Theatre Company will present two Mainstage Theater performances (10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.) May 6, 2014.

The Artpark & Company annual meeting was held Wednesday at the Niagara Falls Country Club to confirm the re-election of officers and appointment of directors.

George Osborne, president of Artpark & Company, announced today the appointment of Carrie Veltri to the newly created position of director of development.

In making the announcement, Osborne said, "Artpark is very fortunate to have attracted a person of Carrie's experience and expertise to this position. Our search committee, headed by Artpark board member Jane Mogavero, conducted a national search for this very important position, and we found the best candidate right here in greater Buffalo. I am delighted that Carrie will be joining our staff."

VIDEO: ZZ Top closed the 2013 "Tuesday in the Park" concert series at Artpark with a mix of new songs and classics, including "Gimme All Your Lovin," "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Legs."

Gladys Knight brought charm, humor, wit, sass and a whole lot of talent to Artpark Aug. 20 as part of the "Tuesday in the Park" concert series.

Families enjoyed a summer sunset and movie at Artpark's fifth annual free Family Movie Night, presented by the Lewiston Kiwanis Club. Special guests included the Peach Queen, Peach Fuzz and Peach Blossom, and this year's Peach Queen contestants.

Artpark brings the best of Motown to the outdoor amphitheater stage as part of the popular "First Niagara presents Tuesday in the Park" concert series. "Empress of Soul" Gladys Knight and living legends The O'Jays team up for their "Family Reunion Tour," making a stop at the Lewiston venue on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m.

Lynyrd Skynyrd drew a sold-out crowd at Artpark Tuesday. The classic rock all-stars performed a slew of hit songs for the happy audience.

The Greater Niagara Ballet Company brings "Coppélia" to the Artpark & Company Mainstage Theater for two shows on Saturday, Aug. 17. Ballet's great comedy will be performed at 2 and 8 p.m.

Lynyrd Skynyrd will perform "Sweet Home Alabama," "Simple Man," "Free Bird" and a slew of other hits when the band takes the Artpark stage in Lewiston on Aug. 13.

VIDEO: A newly configured version of The Machine performed the music of Pink Floyd -- and offered an interstellar light and video show -- July 30 as part of the "Tuesday in the Park" concert series at Artpark.

Artpark & Company celebrated 40 years with the "Artpark Opening Night 1974 Anniversary Concert." The Mainstage Theater event was a recreation of the program that was presented on the performing arts venue's first night, and featured JoAnn Falletta conducting the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Buddy Guy, winner of six Grammys, the National Medal of Arts, and recognized by Rolling Stone Magazine as No. 30 on it list of the 100 top guitarists of all time, will be joined by Robert Randolph and The Family Band on Thursday, Aug. 1, at Artpark's Mainstage Theater.

Fans of The Machine would find it hard to believe the band leaves anything to happenstance.

VIDEO, PICS: Award-winning Canadian band Blue Rodeo entertained Artpark patrons July 23 as part of the "Tuesday in the Park" concert series.

Paul Rodgers and Bad Company performed to a sold-out crowd at Artpark on Tuesday.

Magic was in the air on the night of July 25, 1974, as a brand new "Art" park celebrated its grand opening. The idea was something totally innovative and different for its time.

Four decades late, Artpark invites patrons to relive that thrilling night.

While many actors have made return appearances to the Artpark stage in recent years, in my mind there's just a handful who have stood out as master performers.

To this list of all-stars, I'm adding Emilie Renier, who plays Maria in "The Sound of Music," which opened Thursday.

On Thursday, before the first performance of "The Sound of Music" at Artpark, a special presentation took place on stage. George Osborne, president of the performing arts venue, dedicated the eight-show run to Brother Augustine Towey, C.M., the visionary leader of Western New York's theater community who passed away last Thanksgiving.

Raise your hand if you guessed Artpark's summer musical would feature a cluster of children singing beneath a Nazi flag.

The Doobie Brothers made it two sold-out crowds in a row at Artpark. The classic rock band brought 10,000 of its friends to "Tuesday in the Park."

As Artpark prepares for an eight-show run of the popular musical "The Sound of Music," it is impossible to forget Brother Augustine Towey, C.M., the late visionary leader of Western New York's theater community and how special he was to Artpark's theater program development.

The hills at Artpark will be alive with "The Sound of Music" starting next week. The Broadway musical is part of the summer-long celebration of Artpark's 40th anniversary.

Students from the Grand Island Dance Center entertained at Artpark's Fairy House Festival earlier this month.

Artpark welcomed its largest crowd of the summer, more than 10,000 in total, for "An Evening with Chicago." The legendary American band performed two sets and offered hit songs including "25 or 6 to 4," "If You Leave Me Now," "Another Rainy Day In New York City," "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" and "You're the Inspiration."

Color your family summer memories with free art activities at Artpark's "Free Family Saturdays," taking place July 6-27 from noon until 4 p.m. in the Outdoor Amphitheater area.

Music has become a game of numbers for legendary Illinois-bred band Chicago.

Throughout the '70s and '80s, Artpark was renowned as a major visual arts destination during the venue's popular "Artists in Residence" program. Hundreds of artists journeyed to Artpark's inspirational setting to create on-site installations throughout the park.

This summer, Artpark welcomes the works of more than 40 alumni artists from its long and distinguished visual arts history. The "40 for 40: Artpark Alumni Artists 40th Anniversary Celebration" will feature several alumni artists constructing 16 different on-site installations throughout Artpark.

Benjamin Franklin once said, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."

Come Tuesday, we can reasonably add something else to that list of certainties: The only thing pouring down from above at Artpark will be hit songs.

VIDEO: Artpark & Company hosted the third annual Fairy House Festival on June 9.

Joan Jett and The Blackhearts performed "Bad Reputation," "Cherry Bomb," "I Love Rock-N-Roll" and a slew of new songs at Artpark, June 11, as part of the "Tuesday in the Park" concert series.

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Billy Idol kicked off the 2013 "Tuesday in the Park" concert series at Artpark. The rebel rocker performed songs including "White Wedding," "Eyes Without a Face" and "Dancing with Myself."

While the Avett Brothers technically kicked off Artpark's 40th anniversary on May 24, many will consider the upcoming week as the official start of the summer season.

Known for her flawless soprano voice that floored judges and audiences on the hit TV show "America's Got Talent," 13-year-old Jackie Evancho will perform for one night only at Artpark's Mainstage Theater on June 28 at 8 p.m.

As part of its 40th anniversary gala, Artpark & Company will hold an auction filled with prizes guests are highly unlikely to find elsewhere.