Chautauqua Institution is pleased to host the Chautauqua Food & Film Festival from Sunday, Aug. 19, through Friday, Aug. 24, the second consecutive year Chautauqua has paired a weeklong food festival with its final week of summer programming. Film and food lovers will gather with filmmakers for a festival featuring screenings, conversations, and great food and craft beverages throughout the grounds. The Institution’s town square, Bestor Plaza, will once again come alive with a daily roster of food- and drink-themed events, from cooking demonstrations and competitions to interactive experiences and tastings prepared by the best regional restaurants, farms, wineries and breweries.

Harking back to classic beer gardens of 1800s Bavaria, opening Sunday of the Chautauqua Food & Film Festival will feature a Bavarian Garden theme, with brats, homemade pretzels and more from noon to 4 p.m. A free presentation of “May It Last: A Portrait of The Avett Brothers” (donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital accepted at the door) will begin at 2:30 p.m., followed by a free preview screening of the second episode of Gary Glassman’s new PBS documentary “Native America” at 5:30 p.m. Glassman will participate in a talkback afterward. Admission to the Chautauqua grounds on Sundays is always free.

The Food Festival, sponsored by Cutco, continues from noon to 2 p.m. and from 4 to 8 p.m. daily. Visit chq.org/foodfestival for complete details.

Daily demonstrations feature a Cutco Knife Demonstration; Lindsey and RJ Marvin, owners of Barrel + Brine; Danny Dispo of The Veiled Pearl; Nick O’Brien, bar manager at Craving; Sara Bir, author of The Fruit Foragers Companion; Arthur Bovino, New York-based food writer and author; Julie Rockcastle, co-owner of Green Heron Growers; Riko Chandra, owners and cheesemaker at Reverie Creamery; Chef Corey Kley of US Foods; Chef Chris Dorsaneo of Lloyd; Chef Edward Forster, currently developing a new restaurant venture in Buffalo; Lynn Novo of Comfort Sisters; Barbara Snow of Food Tour Corporation; Dark Forest Chocolate Makers; and Michelle Stevens, owner of Buffalo Cheese Traders.

Vendors include Cutco, BioDome Project, Barrel + Brine, Oliver’s Restaurant, Kegworks, Full Moon Rising Bakery, Brazil Craft Beer and Wine Lounge and Labyrinth Press Company, Johnson Estate Winery, Mazza Wine Cellars, Victorianbourg Wine Estate, La Familia, 2 Ames, 21 Brix, Green Heron Growers, Rassie Farms, Reverie Creamery, Liten Buffel, Lockhouse Distillery, Lait Cru Brasserie, The Watermark, Wegmans and Yakisoba’s.

Participating food trucks include Sweet Melody’s, The Cluck Truck, Lomo Lomo, Kev’s Kitchen and Lloyd. 

The Film Festival portion of the weeklong celebration features appearances by documentary filmmakers Ken Burns, Dayton Duncan, Geoffrey C. Ward, Rebecca Cammisa, Grace Lee, Daniel Karslake, Macky Alston, Dan Habib, Gary Glassman, Lisa Klein and Bestor Cram, including presentations of their documentaries, followed in many cases by talkbacks with the filmmaker. Most screenings will be held in the Chautauqua Cinema; regular cinema fees apply.

Additional entertainment throughout the week includes performances by the Avett Brothers (single tickets are sold out for this show), Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra with the Flamenco Company of Columbus, Victoria Swift and the Benny Hill Trio, Ranky Tanky and Richard Marx.

More information on all Week Nine programming can be found at this link.

FOOD FESTIVAL TASTING TICKETS
Food festival tasting tickets will be available for sale on Bestor Plaza each day. All food and drink vendors will accept tasting tickets. 

GATE PASS INFORMATION
Day tickets are available for purchase at the Main Gate Welcome Center Ticket Office on the day of your visit. Morning tickets grant visitors access to the grounds from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $24. Afternoon tickets grant access from noon to 8 p.m. for $17. Combined morning/afternoon passes allow access from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and cost $41. Evening passes grant access from 4 p.m. to midnight with the cost varying based on the evening entertainment. Rates for longer stays vary by length. For tickets and information, visit chqtickets.com or call 716-357-6250.