By August Wilson Directed by Jade King Carroll Bratton Theater August Wilson’s celebrated classic solo piece is an autobiographical tour de force that follows Wilson’s journey through the streets of Pittsburgh’s Hill District — through artistic awakenings, odd jobs and heartbreaks — capturing the moments that forged his identity. From the hustle of his early...
Chef- As the evening continues, the celebration of food and community moves to the screen. Feast on Film pairs great food with great storytelling for a relaxed, movie night at the CHQ Cinema. Guests are invited to join us for a free movie, grab a snack, and settle in for a film screening connected to...
The Rev. Natalie Hanson has been a longtime presence at Chautauqua; with her husband, the Rev. James Paul Womack, pastor of Hurlbut Memorial Community United Methodist Church, she has co-hosted the United Methodist Missionary Vacation Home at Chautauqua for several years. Hanson has also served Chautauqua as interim senior pastor in 2022, crafting, planning and...
Danielle Nierenberg is a world-renowned researcher, speaker and advocate, on all issues relating to our food system and agriculture. She is president of Food Tank, the think tank for food, and an expert on sustainable agriculture and food issues. She has written extensively on gender and population, the spread of factory farming in the developing...
A moving feast of regional flavor. Taste Caravan transforms Bestor Plaza into a rotating showcase of the area’s most exciting restaurants and food trucks, offering guests the opportunity to sample 15–20 different regional establishments each week through thoughtfully prepared small bites. Food trucks will be available: Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Lunch) Tuesday & Friday, 4:30–8:00...
Big flavor meets big ideas in Bestor Plaza. Enjoy a dynamic lineup of live culinary demonstrations and discussions featuring chefs, artisans, and community partners from across the region and beyond. These engaging sessions spotlight innovative techniques, cultural traditions, sustainability practices, and the stories behind the food we love. Held daily during the Taste Caravan, each...
Adrienne Krone is associate professor of environmental science and sustainability and religious studies at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Her work focuses on religious food justice movements in North America. She is the author of Free-Range Religion: Alternative Food Movements and Religious Life in the United States. The book offers a critical ethnographic exploration of...
High energy. High stakes. Incredible food. Inspired by competitive cooking shows, Battle of the Bites brings the thrill of a culinary showdown to Bestor Plaza as talented local chefs go head‑to‑head in a fast‑paced, flavor‑driven competition. Each week features four different chefs and a guest judge. Chefs are given three hours to develop and execute...
Experience the captivating Naeve Trio in a performance of expressive chamber music and dynamic collaboration. Blending violin, cello, and piano with remarkable sensitivity and balance, the trio brings both classical and contemporary works to life with warmth and clarity. Their performances highlight deep musical connection, refined artistry, and a shared spirit of exploration. Join us...
A Juilliard graduate and winner of the 2025 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, Kortum has become a familiar face on the most iconic stages in jazz including Birdland, Blue Note, Mezzrow, Dizzy’s Club, SXSW Festival, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Kortum has toured internationally and collaborated with modern jazz leaders including Cyrille Aimée, Bryan...
The Rev. Natalie Hanson has been a longtime presence at Chautauqua; with her husband, the Rev. James Paul Womack, pastor of Hurlbut Memorial Community United Methodist Church, she has co-hosted the United Methodist Missionary Vacation Home at Chautauqua for several years. Hanson has also served Chautauqua as interim senior pastor in 2022, crafting, planning and...
Chautauqua Science Group Weekly Lecture
Nyesha Arrington is the dynamic co-star of FOX’s hit culinary competition series “Next Level Chef,” where she brings her signature blend of mentorship, humor and fierce expertise to millions of viewers each season. She also hosts and produces the acclaimed digital series “Plateworthy” for Eater, celebrating the craft, culture and creative spirit of cooking. Drawing...
A moving feast of regional flavor. Taste Caravan transforms Bestor Plaza into a rotating showcase of the area’s most exciting restaurants and food trucks, offering guests the opportunity to sample 15–20 different regional establishments each week through thoughtfully prepared small bites. Food trucks will be available: Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Lunch) Tuesday & Friday, 4:30–8:00...
Bird, Tree & Garden Club lunchtime lecture series
Big flavor meets big ideas in Bestor Plaza. Enjoy a dynamic lineup of live culinary demonstrations and discussions featuring chefs, artisans, and community partners from across the region and beyond. These engaging sessions spotlight innovative techniques, cultural traditions, sustainability practices, and the stories behind the food we love. Held daily during the Taste Caravan, each...
Derrick Weston is the Director of Theological Education and Formation, Creation Justice Ministries. Derrick is a writer, filmmaker, podcaster, speaker and educator whose most recent work has focused on the intersection of food and faith. He is the co-host of the “Food and Faith” podcast and producer of “Spoon, Spade, and Soul,” a podcast highlighting...
At the intersection of food insecurity and climate change lies one powerful opportunity: food rescue. Food waste and food insecurity are often treated as separate crises — yet they stem from the same structural inefficiencies in our food system. In the United States, up to 40% of food produced goes uneaten, even as 1 in...
A moving feast of regional flavor. Taste Caravan transforms Bestor Plaza into a rotating showcase of the area’s most exciting restaurants and food trucks, offering guests the opportunity to sample 15–20 different regional establishments each week through thoughtfully prepared small bites. Food trucks will be available: Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Lunch) Tuesday & Friday, 4:30–8:00...
Guest Chef Dinner: Nyesha Arrington 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 18, 2026 | Athenaeum Hotel Join acclaimed chef and television personality Nyesha Arrington for an unforgettable evening of elevated dining at the historic Athenaeum Hotel. This exclusive Guest Chef Dinner offers an intimate opportunity to experience Arrington’s soulful, seasonally driven cuisine through a thoughtfully curated multicourse...
Rossen Milanov, conductor Maxim Lando, piano Maxim Lando joins the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in an evening of rhythmic fire. Lando commands the Amphitheater stage in Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, balancing bold modern energy with moments of lyrical warmth. Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances offers nostalgia and momentum, with the widely recognized Dies Ire making its looming...
Enjoy the beauty of the lake during our sunrise paddle. This is not a guided tour but an opportunity to rent a kayak, SUP or canoe for an enjoyable hour at sunrise. Reservations accepted one day in advance at the Sports Club. Contact sportsclub@chq.org with questions.
The Rev. Natalie Hanson has been a longtime presence at Chautauqua; with her husband, the Rev. James Paul Womack, pastor of Hurlbut Memorial Community United Methodist Church, she has co-hosted the United Methodist Missionary Vacation Home at Chautauqua for several years. Hanson has also served Chautauqua as interim senior pastor in 2022, crafting, planning and...
Brian Frank is the founder and general partner of FTW Ventures, bringing decades of experience in building transformative technology that impacts the way people work, play and live. In 2015, Frank turned his attention to how technology can improve the lives of every person on the planet by building a better food system. He raised...
A moving feast of regional flavor. Taste Caravan transforms Bestor Plaza into a rotating showcase of the area’s most exciting restaurants and food trucks, offering guests the opportunity to sample 15–20 different regional establishments each week through thoughtfully prepared small bites. Food trucks will be available: Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Lunch) Tuesday & Friday, 4:30–8:00...
Big flavor meets big ideas in Bestor Plaza. Enjoy a dynamic lineup of live culinary demonstrations and discussions featuring chefs, artisans, and community partners from across the region and beyond. These engaging sessions spotlight innovative techniques, cultural traditions, sustainability practices, and the stories behind the food we love. Held daily during the Taste Caravan, each...
Karen Florini is a strategic advisor with C-Change Conversations, which educate audiences throughout the country about how climate change will impact them personally, why there is urgency to address it and how to forge consensus for action. She also serves as a senior fellow with the Climate Democracy Initiative. Previously, she held multiple leadership roles...
A celebration of food, art, music, and family. Taste of Chautauqua invites guests to experience the spirit of the region through an afternoon that brings together regional cuisine, craft beverages, live music, and local art—all in the heart of Bestor Plaza. Designed for guests of all ages, this vibrant community gathering showcases the incredible culinary...
At the intersection of food insecurity and climate change lies one powerful opportunity: food rescue. Food waste and food insecurity are often treated as separate crises — yet they stem from the same structural inefficiencies in our food system. In the United States, up to 40% of food produced goes uneaten, even as 1 in...
Programmed by Unity of Chautauqua
Preacher Lawson is a stand-up comedian, actor, and creator known for his high-energy storytelling and physical, joy-driven comedy. He first gained national attention as a finalist on America’s Got Talent and has since built a global fanbase through touring, social media, and multiple comedy specials. Preacher headlines clubs and theaters across the world, selling out...
The Rev. Natalie Hanson has been a longtime presence at Chautauqua; with her husband, the Rev. James Paul Womack, pastor of Hurlbut Memorial Community United Methodist Church, she has co-hosted the United Methodist Missionary Vacation Home at Chautauqua for several years. Hanson has also served Chautauqua as interim senior pastor in 2022, crafting, planning and...
A moving feast of regional flavor. Taste Caravan transforms Bestor Plaza into a rotating showcase of the area’s most exciting restaurants and food trucks, offering guests the opportunity to sample 15–20 different regional establishments each week through thoughtfully prepared small bites. Food trucks will be available: Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Lunch) Tuesday & Friday, 4:30–8:00...
Big flavor meets big ideas in Bestor Plaza. Enjoy a dynamic lineup of live culinary demonstrations and discussions featuring chefs, artisans, and community partners from across the region and beyond. These engaging sessions spotlight innovative techniques, cultural traditions, sustainability practices, and the stories behind the food we love. Held daily during the Taste Caravan, each...
Norman Wirzba is Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Christian Theology & Senior Fellow at the Kenan Institute of Ethics at Duke University. His research and teaching interests are at the intersections of theology, philosophy, ecology, and agrarian and environmental studies. He is the author of Love’s Braided Dance: Hope in a Time of Crisis...
At the intersection of food insecurity and climate change lies one powerful opportunity: food rescue. Food waste and food insecurity are often treated as separate crises — yet they stem from the same structural inefficiencies in our food system. In the United States, up to 40% of food produced goes uneaten, even as 1 in...
Go beyond the glass and into the heart of artisanal spirits production in this immersive Masters Series class presented by Laika Spirits. This special program brings two master distillers—one of mezcal and one of whiskey—directly from Mexico to Chautauqua for an insider look at how some of today’s most compelling spirits are made, transported, and...
Sip, swirl, and savor at this lively Premium Craft Beverage Tasting Event, an interactive evening designed to showcase exciting wines, craft beers, and artisanal spirits you may not have encountered before. Set in the heart of Bestor Plaza, this social tasting experience invites guests to explore new flavors, discover emerging brands, and connect directly with...
This special evening marks the official launch of the Denyce Graves Foundation’s Generational Voices program, a dynamic new initiative dedicated to mentoring and elevating the next generation of vocal artists. The final concert of our orchestral season showcases rising talent from this groundbreaking program. Join maestro Rossen Milanov and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra for a...
Enjoy the beauty of the lake during our sunrise paddle. This is not a guided tour but an opportunity to rent a kayak, SUP or canoe for an enjoyable hour at sunrise. Reservations accepted one day in advance at the Sports Club. Contact sportsclub@chq.org with questions.
A moving feast of regional flavor. Taste Caravan transforms Bestor Plaza into a rotating showcase of the area’s most exciting restaurants and food trucks, offering guests the opportunity to sample 15–20 different regional establishments each week through thoughtfully prepared small bites. Food trucks will be available: Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Lunch) Tuesday & Friday, 4:30–8:00...
Big flavor meets big ideas in Bestor Plaza. Enjoy a dynamic lineup of live culinary demonstrations and discussions featuring chefs, artisans, and community partners from across the region and beyond. These engaging sessions spotlight innovative techniques, cultural traditions, sustainability practices, and the stories behind the food we love. Held daily during the Taste Caravan, each...
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle — Bite by Bite: Nourishments & Jamborees by Aimee Nezhukumatathil From the New York Times bestselling author of World of Wonders, a lyrical book of short essays about food, offering a banquet of tastes, smells, memories, associations, and marvelous curiosities from nature. In Bite by Bite, poet and essayist Aimee...
A moving feast of regional flavor. Taste Caravan transforms Bestor Plaza into a rotating showcase of the area’s most exciting restaurants and food trucks, offering guests the opportunity to sample 15–20 different regional establishments each week through thoughtfully prepared small bites. Food trucks will be available: Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Lunch) Tuesday & Friday, 4:30–8:00...
This collaboration brings together 5x Grammy winning soprano Renée Fleming and 19x Grammy-winning banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck for a celebration of Appalachian folk music. For our country’s 250th anniversary, the program mines a rich vein of America’s musical heritage, weaving the expressive depth of Fleming's voice with the brilliance of Fleck’s banjo and his all-star My Bluegrass...
The Silkroad Ensemble featuring Rhiannon Giddens brings an electrifying fusion of global traditions and contemporary expression to the stage. This acclaimed collective of artists creates a vibrant tapestry of sound that celebrates cultural exchange and musical curiosity. Giddens’ compelling voice and storytelling artistry add emotional depth and urgency to the performance. Audiences will be swept...
Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., is a Jesuit priest and the founder of Homeboy Industries. Based in Los Angeles, the organization is the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. From 1986 to 1992 Boyle served as pastor of Dolores Mission Church, then the poorest Catholic parish in Los Angeles, and the one...
Community Gathering with Dance Theatre of Harlem Dance Theatre of Harlem invites you to “Dancing in the Streets,” a participatory dance workshop for people of all ages and abilities in Bestor Plaza. This free and fun workshop brings world-class artistry directly to our Chautauqua community. Deeply committed to building connection through the arts, company artists...
Chautauqua Writers' Center Faculty Reading— Featuring January Gill O'Neil (Poetry) and Jimin Han (Prose) January Gill O’Neil is a professor at Salem State University and the author of Glitter Road (2024), Rewilding( 2018), Misery Islands (2014), and Underlife (2009), all published by CavanKerry Press. Glitter Road received the 2024 Poetry by the Sea Best Book...
Kriss 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...
Where food builds community. Weekly Feast with Friends invites guests to gather around the table together in Bestor Plaza and kick off each week of the Chautauqua Institution Food Festival with a warm, welcoming shared meal. Designed to bring people together, this communal dining experience celebrates the joy of connection, conversation, and exceptional food. Guests...
Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., is a Jesuit priest and the founder of Homeboy Industries. Based in Los Angeles, the organization is the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. From 1986 to 1992 Boyle served as pastor of Dolores Mission Church, then the poorest Catholic parish in Los Angeles, and the one...
Priya Parker opens Week Nine of the 2026 Chautauqua Lecture Series and the theme of “The Importance of Gathering” by helping us take a deeper look at how anyone can create collective meaning in modern life, one gathering at a time. She is a facilitator, strategic adviser, acclaimed author of The Art of Gathering: How...
A moving feast of regional flavor. Taste Caravan transforms Bestor Plaza into a rotating showcase of the area’s most exciting restaurants and food trucks, offering guests the opportunity to sample 15–20 different regional establishments each week through thoughtfully prepared small bites. Food trucks will be available: Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Lunch) Tuesday & Friday, 4:30–8:00...
Big flavor meets big ideas in Bestor Plaza. Enjoy a dynamic lineup of live culinary demonstrations and discussions featuring chefs, artisans, and community partners from across the region and beyond. These engaging sessions spotlight innovative techniques, cultural traditions, sustainability practices, and the stories behind the food we love. Held daily during the Taste Caravan, each...
Jose Arellano is an organizational leader and entrepreneur with a proven record of driving transformation, building high-performing teams and delivering sustainable growth. He began his career at Homeboy Industries in 2013 as a trainee and advanced to vice president of operations, where he leads organizational initiatives, workforce development, integrates departments, and implements strategies that strengthen...
High energy. High stakes. Incredible food. Inspired by competitive cooking shows, Battle of the Bites brings the thrill of a culinary showdown to Bestor Plaza as talented local chefs go head‑to‑head in a fast‑paced, flavor‑driven competition. Each week features four different chefs and a guest judge. Chefs are given three hours to develop and execute...
Dance Theatre of Harlem is a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim, encompassing a world-class company, a professional studio school, a leading arts education program-Dancing Through Barriers®, and community engagement activities.Each component of Dance Theatre of Harlem carries deep commitment towards enriching the lives of young people and adults around the world through the...