LEWISTON: Artpark a popular spot this summer

Communities

September 8, 2008

Park surpasses 230,000 for event attendance

Anonymous The Niagara Gazette Mon Sep 08, 2008, 08:45 PM EDT

Artpark President George Osborne announced today that the Lewiston venue overcame a slumping economy, volatile weather and increased competition to post a 5.5 percent increase in overall event attendance from last summer, with more than 230,000 visitors patronizing Artpark concerts, musicals, workshops and family oriented performances from June to August 2008. These figures — which have risen by 174 percent since 2002 — are event estimates only and do not include fishermen, hikers and picnickers who comprise another large segment of Artpark’s visitors.

Artpark’s family-friendly free outdoor concert programming on Tuesday and Wednesday nights attracted a 15 percent overall attendance increase from 2007 and topped the 160,000 mark for the first time ever, despite the presence of a trio of other high-profile versions in the area. Coupling hands-on children’s art activities with prominent musical acts has proven to be a winning formula for Artpark & Company, Artpark’s not-for-profit programming organization.

The eight-week Wednesdays on the Gorge series, in particular, grew by leaps and bounds, showing a 99 percent spike from 2007 with a total patronage of more than 26,000. Flagship events featuring the Buffalo-born jam band moe. (July 9) and Canadian import Sam Roberts (July 30) each attracted 5,000-plus concertgoers.

However, First Niagara Tuesday in the Park remains Artpark’s largest attraction with an estimated 135,500 people trekking to Lewiston for 13 weekly free concerts by mainstream, national performers such as Trisha Yearwood, Three Dog Night, America, Michael McDonald and Kansas.

Artpark’s musical production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast welcomed a litany of fresh faces and seasoned patrons, outdrawing the venue’s acclaimed 2007 presentation of Elton John & Tim Rice’s AIDA by nearly 7,000 theatergoers, a 60 percent jump.

The park will celebrate its 35th Anniversary next season, and park officials are planning for a Spring gala to unveil an even more dynamic Artpark schedule to commemorate the milestone.

Patrons who would like to be the first to receive anniversary season announcements are advised to contact the Artpark box office at 754-4375 and join Artpark’s e-mail list by enrolling at www.artpark.net.

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