A lot more than music happens at showtime, proved by the hundreds of stories pouring in from fans who are sharing their CMAC story.

HOPEWELL — Even Dierks Bentley has a CMAC story.

Of course, you say. He’s a big country music star who on more than one occasion has rocked the stage at Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center. But his tale — from the morning after his big CMAC show Sept. 3, 2015 — is what hit the airwaves and social media: @holidayinnexpre and @OleSmoky (cops, not whiskey, that is).

Seems Bentley spent the night at the Holiday Inn Express in Canandaigua and the next morning, over Cheerios and sausage patties at breakfast in the hotel lobby, the performer hobnobbed with a few fans who also happen to be police officers. It came up in conversation that Bentley needed a lift to the airport and asked for help from his fans.

More than happy to oblige, the officers whisked the country music star to catch his plane — landing Bentley at the airport and themselves onto the star’s Twitter feed.

Ha!

Hundreds more CMAC stories are floating around out there, on social media and elsewhere — and stay tuned as more are on the way.

Waiting to be told are tales from fans through CMAC’s decade as the modern, open-air performance arena on a hillside of the Finger Lakes Community College campus.

The “CMAC Story” campaign wrapped up Friday, just in time for the start of CMAC’s 10th anniversary and a continuation of its own story.

Although the facility has been here since the early 1980s — then, it was known as the Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center — the milestone marks the historic venue’s transformation to the current venue.

Through a community investment that included backing and leadership from Constellation Brands Inc., more than $13 million was initially put into rebuilding the facility after the 2005 season. The upgrade nearly doubled seating capacity to 5,000 (the lawn fits 10,000), added top-dollar luxury booths and upgraded sound and lighting systems.

“We continue to make improvements every year,” said Sarah Axelrod, Constellation Brands director, Hospitality and Community Affairs.

The most recent makeovers have been to the stage, patron entrance sites and performers’ dressing rooms. Patrons enjoy plenty of perks, such as food and beverage vendors, including two volunteer-staffed Constellation wine and beer tents.

The partying goes to a good cause, as CMAC matches tips collected by the volunteers and the funds go to community causes such as free flu clinics and youth programs.

And of course, the music.

“The shows are great,” said Axelrod, adding that CMAC focuses as well on offering a great, all-around experience.

And the stories?

In the "CMAC Story" contest, one lucky winner will receive two season tickets and Second Stage hospitality tent access for the 2016 season. The winner will be announced prior to the first show, the return of fan favorite Jackson Browne on June 4. But everyone will enjoy hearing tales from fellow CMAC-goers. Close to 1,000 contest entries will be shared in various forms to commemorate CMAC’s decade.

Often what happens behind the scenes is the most memorable.

“A lot more takes place than just a concert on a show day,” said Ginny Clark, CMAC president and executive director.

Lindsey Sengle of Walworth can vouch for that.

She received a signed harmonica from Blues Traveler frontman John Popper, one of the greatest harmonica players in rock, at CMAC. Long before that, when she was just in grade school, she attended CMAC concerts with her parents. One in particular stood out.

“I remember we were in the lawn on a blanket and my dad said to me, ‘Do you smell that sticky sweet smell?" Sengle said. "'That's pot, that’s bad.’”

Sengle recalled in her CMAC story her dad’s attempt at a teachable moment. It makes her laugh, now.

When she was old enough to go on her own, Sengle recalled the concerts and the bands she will always associate with her youth: Dave Matthews Band, Barenaked Ladies, and the H.O.R.D.E. fest, a huge touring summer rock festival that came to CMAC in her senior year of high school. That’s when she won a contest at the festival and got to meet the musicians of Marcy Playground, Barenaked Ladies and Blues Traveler — and came home with that cherished signed harmonica.

Now, Sengle has passed her CMAC tradition on to her daughter, Mikayla. She took her first to see country star Luke Bryan when Mikayla was 6.

“We rocked out together in a mother-daughter bonding moment. In 2013, I went back to see Luke again with my fiancé, his first country concert,” Lindsey recalled.

The lucky guy, Bryan Cooksey, “was skeptical” about going, but loved it, she recalled.

“Now I am looking forward to crossing off a bucket list performance by seeing Kenny Chesney there this June,” she said.

Hannah Hayes of Honeoye Falls said one of her best birthday presents ever was when her best friend Julia Ortenzi brought her last season to see Ed Sheeran.

“It was an amazing concert,” Hayes said. “We both already loved his music, but to see it live was a new and epiphanous experience entirely.”

With only his voice, a guitar, and a looping machine that allowed him to harmonize with himself, Sheeran performed a completely solo act of his own material and some amazing covers.

"No band or anything!" Hayes said. "I specifically remember that about halfway through his show, a fan somehow snuck onto the stage. A wave of confusion swept through the audience as the stage meant to display a solo act suddenly bore two people.”

Once security rushed onto the stage, it was clear the girl wasn’t supposed to be there.

“Ed, however, wasn’t bothered. He stopped the security from detaining the girl, took a selfie with her, and continued his show with charisma and grace. That night will be one I always remember for Ed’s amazing talent, one girl’s crazy stunt, and most prominently — the love and friendship of the people I experienced it with,” Hayes said.

Bill Lopatka is a dad from Penfield. He recalled taking his son, William, to his first concert at CMAC.

William is a big Steve Lukather fan, his dad wrote. So when William found out the guitarist was coming to CMAC with Ringo Starr's All Starr Band, William, who was then 11, made a bobblehead doll he hoped someone could give Lukather.

As it turned out, William got to attend the concert, his first ever, with his dad — and with doll in hand to give the big star.

“We arrived at CMAC and found our seats and decided to walk around before the show,” Bill recalled. “We noticed security by the left of the stage and my son asked if they minded giving (Lukather) the bobblehead, which the lady fully agreed to do. ... and we continued to walk around enjoying the atmosphere of the crowd. As we returned to our seats, the security lady we gave the bobblehead to approached us and told us that (Lukather) wanted to meet my son and thank him for the bobblehead."

Needless to say, William got to meet his idol and he and the rock star talked for about 10 minutes.

What’s more, when Lukather made a video with his band Toto for the song "Orphan," he included in the video William’s bobblehead.

Now that's a story, as you're no doubt nodding your head.

'Lights on' for CMAC

In 1982, the Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center was founded and in 1983 opened on the Finger Lakes Community College campus. Marvin Sands, founder of Canandaigua Wine Company, also founded CMAC (Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center) because he and other civic leaders realized the important role that arts and culture play in the quality of the community. In early 2005, a group of community leaders met with Richard Sands, chairman of Constellation Brands, and Rob Sands, president and CEO of Constellation Brands, to discuss how their leadership, along with others in the community, might pull together in continuing Marvin’s dream and ensuring that the center would not "go dark."

Constellation then took a leadership role in forming the Friends of CMAC, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. This group worked together to keep the center’s "lights on." The Friends of CMAC are local companies, organizations, individuals and public officials who have invested their time, talent, and expertise in keeping the music alive in our region.

Newly renovated in 2006, this $13.5 million facility is the result of a privately-funded undertaking through the sale of 54 VIP boxes. Constellation Brands secured the naming rights. This state-of-the-art facility nurtures the arts for our community and provides the ultimate venue for music and entertainment. CMAC features 5,000 covered seats and lawn seating for up to 10,000 guests.

In recent years, CMAC has attracted sold out shows and top-notch musical performers such as: Dave Matthews, Kenny Chesney, Sugarland, Lady Antebellum, Bob Dylan, Mumford & Sons, Kid Rock, Snoop Dogg, The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. CMAC also accommodates musical theater, dance, ballet and children’s activities in addition to being the summer home of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Source: http://www.cmacevents.com/AboutCMAC/CMACHistory

The 2016 season at CMAC

Jackson Browne — June 4

Death Cab for Cutie and Chvrches — June 8

Kenny Chesney — June 10

Ellie Goulding — June 14

Keith Urban and Brett Eldridge — June 24

Weezer and Panic! at the Disco — June 25

Chris Young and Cassadee Pope — July 2

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds — July 6

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra — July 9

Bob Dylan and His Band, with Mavis Staples — July 12

Yanni — July 16

Chris Stapleton and Brandy Clark — July 21

Old Crow Medicine Show and Brandi Carlile Revue — July 22

Ray LaMontagne and The Arcs — July 23

Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy — July 29

Lyle Lovett and Emmylou Harris — July 30

Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration with Warren Haynes — Aug. 4

Don Henley — Aug. 12

Train, with Andy Grammar — Aug. 27

"Weird Al" Yankovic — Sept. 3