Events
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Hurlbut Marion Lawrancefree
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PROJECT HAIL MARY
Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua CinemaWhen science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up alone on a spaceship light years from home he has no recollection of how he got there. As his memory returns he uncovers his mission to save the Earth's sun from a mysterious threat, and discovers that an unexpected alien friendship may be the key. "One...
$11 – $15 -
Chautauqua Theater Company Presents Best for Baby
Bratton Theater Bratton TheaterWORLD PREMIERE By Sharyn Rothstein Directed by Oliver Butler Bratton Theater Best for Baby and its devilishly funny emcee takes audiences inside Johnson & Johnson’s decades-long and still evolving baby powder scandal. A Big American Play ripped straight from the headlines, this world premiere is equal parts showbiz spectacle and intimate human storytelling, brought to...
$65 -
6-Week Residency Open Studios
CVA: Arts QuadJoin us at the Arts Quad where visitors are invited to step inside our 6-week resident artists' studios, learn more about their processes, and engage with the residents before gathering for a reception celebrating the exhibition next door at the School of Art Gallery. This event provides a glimpse into the ideas, experiments, and conversations...
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6-Week Residency Exhibition Opening
CVA: Arts QuadWe are excited to announce the culmination of the Chautauqua School of Art's 6-Week Residency Program with an opening reception, following our open studios event. Over the course of six weeks, resident artists have immersed themselves in focused studio practice, meaningful dialogue, and creative exploration. This special evening offers an opportunity to experience the work...
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Cabinet of Wonder Live! A Free Family Concert with Natalie Merchant & Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra Musicians
Amphitheater AmphitheaterStuart Chafetz, Conductor Natalie Merchant, Composer and Vocals American singer-songwriter, recording artist, and activist Natalie Merchant will be in residence at Chautauqua Institution this summer (July 25-August 2, 2026) for Week Five’s programmatic theme, “Art & Artists Against the Odds.” Merchant will give a matinee family-friendly concert performance with a chamber orchestra ensemble of Chautauqua...
Free Sunday Event (Ticket Required) -
John Hoppenthaler and Roy Hoffman
Hall of Philosophy Hall of PhilosophyChautauqua Writers' Center Faculty Reading — Featuring John Hoppenthaler (Poetry) and Roy Hoffman (Prose) John Hoppenthaler’s books of poetry are Night Wing Over Metropolitan Area, Domestic Garden, Anticipate the Coming Reservoir, and Lives of Water, all with Carnegie Mellon UP. He has co-edited a volume of essays on the poetry of Jean Valentine, This-World Company...
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CHQ Mystic Heart -Church of the Wild -Family Friendly
Outdoor ClassroomKriss Young Miller and her husband Gary manage the Quaker House. Kriss is a 2022 graduate of Earlham School of Religion with her Master of Arts in Peace and Social Transformation. Kriss is currently a student of Victoria Loorz in the Seminary of the Wild Earth at the Center for Wild Spirituality. She has completed...
Free Sunday Event -
New Visitors Orientation
Hultquist 101 Hultquist 101Join us for lemonade and cookies at the Orientation for new Chautauquans, where we warmly welcome you to our vibrant community. This event is designed to introduce you to the rich history, diverse programs, and unique experiences that Chautauqua offers. Meet fellow newcomers, engage with staff, and learn about the array of cultural, educational, and...
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Newcomers Reception
3 TapsJoin us for the Newcomers Reception, a welcoming gathering open to all first-time and new visitors to Chautauqua Institution. This lovely event is a chance to meet fellow newcomers, connect with members of the community, and learn more about all that Chautauqua has to offer. Guests will enjoy light refreshments while taking in the beautiful lake...
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PROJECT HAIL MARY
Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua CinemaWhen science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up alone on a spaceship light years from home he has no recollection of how he got there. As his memory returns he uncovers his mission to save the Earth's sun from a mysterious threat, and discovers that an unexpected alien friendship may be the key. "One...
$11 – $15 -
Hebrew Congregation, Shirley Lazarus Sunday Evening Lecture Series- Sheldon Goldberg
Smith Wilkes Hall Smith Wilkes HallFree Sunday Event -
Palestine Park Tour
Palestine Park Palestine ParkFree Sunday Event -
Chautauqua Theater Company Presents Best for Baby
Bratton Theater Bratton TheaterWORLD PREMIERE By Sharyn Rothstein Directed by Oliver Butler Bratton Theater Best for Baby and its devilishly funny emcee takes audiences inside Johnson & Johnson’s decades-long and still evolving baby powder scandal. A Big American Play ripped straight from the headlines, this world premiere is equal parts showbiz spectacle and intimate human storytelling, brought to...
$65 -
Sacred Song Service
Amphitheater AmphitheaterFree Sunday Event -
GIRLS LIKE GIRLS
Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua CinemaBased on writer/director Hayley Kiyoko's hit single and best-selling novel of the same name and featuring all-new music from Kiyoko, Girls Like Girls is a heartfelt coming-of-age story. Set over the course of one sun-drenched summer, new-girl-in-town Coley (Maya Da Costa) falls in love for the first time while learning to accept herself along the...
$11 – $15 -
CHQ Mystic Heart – Dhara Kowal, Zen Buddhism Meditation Practice
Presbyterian House Presbyterian HouseSensei Dhara Kowal- Kowal is Dharma Successor to Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede, who sanctioned her as a Zen teacher in 2022 and gave her Dharma Transmission in 2025. As a resident teacher and priest (ordained in 2023), she serves as Co-Director of the Rochester Zen Center, in partnership with Sensei John Pulleyn. In the preceding years,...
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Episcopal Holy Eucharist
Chapel of the Good Shepherd Chapel of the Good ShepherdFree Sunday Event -
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Catholic Mass
Hurlbut Church sanctuary Hurlbut Church sanctuary -
Movement and Meditation with Monte Thompson
Hall of Philosophy GroveMonte Thompson was a professional dancer, and also spent years as a restauranteur. His life was spent on his feet. Now retired, he is interested in continuing to be able to move easily and gracefully while using breathing and stretching techniques to help quiet his mind and prepare him to face each day with purpose...
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Chautauqua Prays for Peace though Compassion
Hall of Philosophy Grovefree -
Rev. Anna Carter Florence
Amphitheater AmphitheaterThe Rev. Anna Carter Florence is the Peter Marshall Professor of Preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga and an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church. She is also currently serving as Co-Director of the Columbia Preachers Studio for Renewal, a Lilly-funded Compelling Preaching grant. Before joining the Columbia faculty in 1998, Florence served...
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Service of Blessing and Healing
Randell Chapel, UCC HeadquartersFree -
Ken Burns and Jeffrey Rosen
Amphitheater AmphitheaterCelebrating the United States semiquincentennial, Chautauqua presents Week Six, “America at 250: In Partnership with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.” The milestone anniversary offers an opportunity to survey the previous quarter millennium – how a collection of British colonies became the world’s pre-eminent constitutional democracy, with major successes, failures and continued struggles along the way –...
$45 -
Colonial Williamsburg Historic Trades & Skills Demonstrations: Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Carpenter & Joiner
Bestor Plaza Bestor PlazaThe Colonial Williamsburg Historic Trades and Skills community uses 18th-century tools and techniques to apprentice in and eventually master more than 20 historic trades and skills. These world-renowned experts not only make goods and provide services to the Historic Area, they also consult and produce for other cultural institutions around the world. Carpenters and joiners...
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Colonial Williamsburg Historic Trades & Skills Demonstrations: Milliner & Journeyman Founder
Oliver Archives Center Oliver Archives CenterThe Colonial Williamsburg Historic Trades and Skills community uses 18th-century tools and techniques to apprentice in and eventually master more than 20 historic trades and skills. These world-renowned experts not only make goods and provide services to the Historic Area, they also consult and produce for other cultural institutions around the world. Milliners design, make,...
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Guided Kayak Eco Tour
Sports Club, WaterfrontEnjoy paddling while learning about ecological info along the shores of Chautauqua Institution during this hour-long guided kayak tour. The tour begins and ends at the Sports Club. The cost is for rental of single or tandem kayak plus $12 per person for the tour guide. Limited spots so please reserve one day before the...
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Conversation with Kyle, Interim CEO
Smith Wilkes Hall Smith Wilkes HallJoin us for “Conversations with Kyle”, an open, drop in conversation for members of the entire community. These informal gatherings offer the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with Interim President Kyle Keogh. All are welcome.
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English Lawn Bowling Tips
Sports Club, Lawn Bowling Green -
PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR: BEYOND THE MASK
Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua CinemaThis feature-length documentary directed by Frederick Lewis, a professor at Ohio University, illuminates the life and legacy of Paul Laurence Dunbar, the first African American writer to gain national and international fame. Frederick will introduce the film and lead a post-screening discussion. (NR, 115m)
Free Admission -
Rosemarie Zagarri
Hall of Philosophy Hall of PhilosophyRosemarie Zagarri is Distinguished University Professor and professor of history at George Mason University. A specialist in Early American political and women’s history, she is the author of a numerous articles and several books, including The Politics of Size: Representation in the United States, 1776-1850, A Woman’s Dilemma: Mercy Otis Warren and the American Revolution,...
$20 -
Masters Series Roundtable: A Conversation with Ken Burns
Norton Hall Norton HallFormer Chautauqua president Tom Becker will engage Ken Burns in an in-depth conversation about his forthcoming films and projects. A filmmaker for almost 50 years, Burns will expand upon his morning conversation on the Amphitheater stage. An opportunity for Q & A, patrons can ask about Burns' awards, career, research and future plans.
$49 -
“Courageous Conversation on Death and Dying” Shahid Aziz
Presbyterian Chapelfree -
Play CHQ: Hopscotch
Heinz Beach Heinz Beach -
Chautauqua Chamber Music: Ruckus with Keir GoGwilt, violin
Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall Elizabeth S. Lenna HallExperience the electrifying energy of Ruckus, a boundary-pushing baroque ensemble redefining early music performance. With virtuosic flair and a fresh, improvisatory spirit, Ruckus brings 17th- and 18th-century works vividly to life. Their performances blend historical authenticity with modern vitality, creating concerts that feel both timeless and daringly new. Don’t miss this exuberant celebration of baroque...
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THE EYES OF GHANA
Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua CinemaDirected by Ben Proudfoot and executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama. The Eyes Of Ghana follows Chris Hesse, the personal cameraman to revolutionary leader Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, who was deposed in a coup d'état in 1966.(NR, 93m)
Free Admission -
CHQ Travels Reception
Athenaeum PorchJoin Chautauqua Travels for an hour of wine and conversation at 5 p.m. this evening on the porch of the Athenaeum Hotel. This informal travel information session offers an opportunity to learn about upcoming Chautauqua Travels experiences, including journeys to Singapore, South Africa and Santa Fe, while hearing directly from travel experts about each destination....
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Taize and Tea Meditation Worship
Randell Chapel, UCC Headquartersfree -
Chautauqua School of Dance with the Music School Festival Orchestra
Amphitheater AmphitheaterChautauqua School of Dance presents an outstanding mixed repertoire evening of new and established works, masterfully performed by the Music Student Festival Orchestra. This performance will feature the most exceptional young talent in the country. Under the leadership of Sasha Janes, the school continues its long tradition of excellence as a top-tier summer training program...
$35 -
W.E.B. DUBOIS: REBEL WITH A CAUSE
Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua CinemaThis film directed by Rita Coburn and narrated by Viola Davis, explores the life of the pioneering civil rights activist and scholar W.E.B. DuBois, charting his journey from his birth in 1868 during Reconstruction to his death in 1963 on the eve of the March on Washington. Rita will introduce the film and lead a...
Free Admission