Artpark to bring community together for Strawberry Moon, Fairy House festivals

Two of the Niagara River Region’s biggest, family-friendliest events this summer will take place at Artpark. Each festival seeks to unite the community in a celebration of culture, music, dance and creativity.

Strawberry Moon Festival

Saturday, June 29 | 2-8 p.m. | Featuring smoke dance competitions and live performances by Robert “Freightrain” Parker, Tonemah (Kiowa/Comanche/Tuscarora), and Geneviève Gros-Louis Salamone from the Huron-Wendat Nation.

Artpark & Company will present a vibrant celebration of cultural heritage, storytelling and the interconnectedness of all beings at this year's Strawberry Moon Festival. The event will delve deep into the rich tapestry of creation narratives, honoring the origins of Turtle Island and the relationships that bind us all.

A press release added, “We are proud to present the Strawberry Moon Festival each summer as a celebration of the Indigenous cultures of the Niagara Region through storytelling, music, dance, arts and crafts, and more. We welcome everyone to participate in an inclusive and engaging Native American community gathering.”

This year’s lineup includes:

√ Musical performances throughout the day by Leah Shenandoah, Robert “Freightrain” Parker, Tonemah, and Geneviève Gros-Louis

√ Smoke dance competitions

√ Indigenous vendor market with more than 30 participating vendors

√ Indigenous Discovery Zone 

√ Elders Teachings Circles

√ Interactive teachings, workshops, dance and lacrosse all day long

√ Lacrosse workshop by Gary and Avery Parker

√ “Gifted by Creator: A Theatrical Journey of Interconnectedness and Responsibility,” featuring Gros-Louis, a collaboration of Haudenosaunee singers and dancers, Tonemah, Leah Shenandoah, Jordan Smith, Arrianna Smith, Violet Printup Richard, and artwork by Kyle Joedicke (Cayuga Nation, Turtle Clan)

This event is sponsored, in part, by Seneca Resorts & Casinos, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Consulate General of Canada in New York.

Artpark Fairy House Festival

Saturday, July 13 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Featuring a performance by Jon Lehrer Dance Company and Artpark Bridges; tour the woods to discover fairy houses crafted by local artists.

The celebration of Artpark’s 50th anniversary season continues with Artpark’s Fairy House Festival. This event returns for the 14th year on Saturday, July 13, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Artpark’s Lower Park (South Fourth Street entrance).

Tickets may be purchased for $12 in advance, or $15 on the day of the event. Purchase online at ticketmaster.com.

Featured acts and artists include:

√ Performances by Jon Lehrer Dance Company, Artpark Bridges

√ Fairy houses created by local and regional artists, as well as families and groups 

Organizers said the Fairy House Festival has “evolved from an art walk of miniature fairy houses installed in the park by both local community and professional artists to an international, interdisciplinary and immersive performing arts festival with interactive performances by international, national and local actors, performers and musicians presented in the setting of the park overlooking the Niagara Gorge.

Children of all ages may engage in fairy art activities and spaces. 

This year’s festival also will feature a fairy market place by local artisans and craft vendors where attendees can purchase a piece of this magical world to bring home. 

Join in for a free performance by Jon Lehrer Dance Company from 3-4 p.m. on the Emerald Grove Stage.

Jon Lehrer Dance Company originated in Buffalo in 2007, and has been based in New York City since 2019. Its annual residency and continued relationship with Artpark “fills Lehrer and the company with joy, as they always look forward to coming back and reuniting with the community that started it all.”

The Fairy House Festival is supported, in part, by the Kiwanis Club of Lewiston.

•Lineup subject to change. For more information on the Strawberry Moon and Fairy House festivals, visit www.artpark.net.