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  • Rev. Zina Jacque

    Hall of Philosophy Hall of Philosophy

    The Rev. Zina Jacque serves as President and Chair of the Board of National Senior Communities, overseeing the largest not-for-profit network of continuing-care retirement communities in the nation. Across two distinguished careers in higher education and ministry, she has worked to lift people, strengthen communities, and send good into the world. She continues to guide...

    free
  • Micah Hendler

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    Micah Hendler is the founder and artistic director of the Jerusalem Youth Chorus (JYC), an Israeli-Palestinian music and dialogue project he has brought from a dream to the global stages of TED and “America’s Got Talent” to The New York Times and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” JYC’s work and mission will frame Hendler’s...

    $40
  • CTC Theater Chats

    Smith Wilkes Hall Smith Wilkes Hall

    Theater Chats (formerly known as Brown Bags) On selected Thursdays at 12:15 p.m., bring lunch to Smith Wilkes Hall and join special guests, including actors, designers, playwrights and more, for a look at our upcoming productions and discussions on the craft of theater-making. Free and open to the public.

  • CHQ Mystic Heart – Mateo Mortellarto, Tibetan Meditation, seminar and practice

    Hall of Missions Hall of Missions

    Taking a general and non-sectarian approach to Buddhism, Mateo Mortellaro (Konchok Tsering Tengye) has years of experience leading meditation and teaching Buddhist philosophy. Mateo started his spiritual journey early in life practicing Zen Buddhism, eventually shifting focus to the Tibetan tradition, primarily within the Drikung ,Kagyu and Sakya schools. Mateo’s main teacher is His Eminence...

    free
  • CHQ Dialogues

    Everett Jewish Life Center Everett Jewish Life Center
    free
  • Chautauqua Theater Company Presents New Play Workshop 2: The Motions by Zora Howard

    Bratton Theater Bratton Theater

    In the wake of an untimely prognosis, a father and son must relearn how to share space after years of estrangement. They pass the time with quiet rituals – making coffee, playing chess – navigating what is left to say and what is better left unsaid. Funny, tender, and deeply human, The Motions is an...

    $20
  • Micah Hendler

    Hall of Philosophy Hall of Philosophy

    Micah Hendler is the founder and artistic director of the Jerusalem Youth Chorus (JYC), an Israeli-Palestinian music and dialogue project he has brought from a dream to the global stages of TED and “America’s Got Talent” to The New York Times and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” JYC’s work and mission will frame Hendler’s...

    $20
  • FACKHAM HALL

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    Directed by Jim O'Hanlon, this comedy spoof on Downton Abbey stars Katherine Waterston and Damian Lewis as Lady and Lord of the house."Deliciously silly, stupid and hilarious, and I guarantee you’ll leave the cinema with a smile on your face." -Nikki Gemmell, The Australian "There are twists, turns and ridiculous faux pas in a congenially...

    $11 – $15
  • CHQ Dialogues

    United Methodist House United Methodist House
    free
  • Masters Series Masterclass: Natalie Merchant on Art as a Tool for Social Change

    Norton Hall Norton Hall

    For decades, Natalie Merchant has used her artistry not only to inspire audiences, but also to strengthen communities and advance meaningful social causes. Merchant will reflect on the power of music, film, photography, and other creative mediums to foster connection, raise awareness, and inspire action. Drawing on her work in areas such as environmental advocacy,...

    $49
  • Masters Series Masterclass: Write On: Writing for a Revolution with Jillian Hanesworth

    Alumni Hall Ballroom Alumni Hall Ballroom

    James Baldwin once said, “I’m aware, you know, that I and the people I love may perish in the morning. I know that. But there’s light on our faces now”. This workshop will offer participants the opportunity to grapple with the social and political climate we face as a nation, and write poetry that encourages...

    $49
  • PUT YOUR SOUL ON YOUR HAND AND WALK

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    A powerful act of witness and remembrance, this urgent, deeply personal documentary unfolds through video calls between filmmaker Sepideh Farsi and 25-year-old Palestinian photojournalist and poet Fatma Hassona. Their connection bridges both geography and grief, offering a rare, unfiltered window into daily life inside Gaza. Hassona’s grace, resilience, and luminous spirit ground the film in...

    $11 – $15
  • CHQ Dialogues

    Disciples of Christ House Disciples of Christ House
    free
  • Chautauqua Theater Company Presents Best for Baby

    Bratton Theater Bratton Theater

    WORLD 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...

    $55 – $65
  • Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra: Sounds of Strauss

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    Rossen Milanov, conductor The Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra presents two of Richard Strauss’s most compelling tone poems. In Also sprach Zarathustra, Strauss explores themes of human striving and philosophical inquiry. Death and Transfiguration offers a contrasting perspective, portraying the final moments of an artist’s life and the transformation that follows. Together, these works showcase Strauss’s extraordinary...

    $55 – $65
  • FACKHAM HALL

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    Directed by Jim O'Hanlon, this comedy spoof on Downton Abbey stars Katherine Waterston and Damian Lewis as Lady and Lord of the house."Deliciously silly, stupid and hilarious, and I guarantee you’ll leave the cinema with a smile on your face." -Nikki Gemmell, The Australian "There are twists, turns and ridiculous faux pas in a congenially...

    $11 – $15
  • Sally Love & Friends: Sleep is the New Sex

    Roe Green Theater Center

    Usually in bed by 10, but willing to stay up and entertain us with her hilarious takes on sleep, sex and the indignities of our aging bodies, Sally Love and friends will perform their stand up routines alongside improv artists in a brand new and exciting collaboration. Ticket sales for this performance benefit Friends of...

    $25
  • Sunrise Paddle – Kayak/SUP

    Sports Club, Waterfront

    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.

  • CHQ Mystic Heart – Mateo Mortellarto, Tibetan Meditation

    Presbyterian House Presbyterian House

    Taking a general and non-sectarian approach to Buddhism, Mateo Mortellaro (Konchok Tsering Tengye) has years of experience leading meditation and teaching Buddhist philosophy. Mateo started his spiritual journey early in life practicing Zen Buddhism, eventually shifting focus to the Tibetan tradition, primarily within the Drikung ,Kagyu and Sakya schools. Mateo’s main teacher is His Eminence...

    free
  • Daily Word Meditation

    Hall of Missions Hall of Missions

    (Programmed by Unity of Chautauqua)

    free
  • Catholic Mass

    Hurlbut Church sanctuary Hurlbut Church sanctuary
  • Movement and Meditation with Monte Thompson

    Hall of Philosophy Grove

    Monte 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...

    free
  • Dave Eggers

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    Dave Eggers is the author of many books, among them Contrapposto, The Eyes and the Impossible, The Circle, The Monk of Mokha, Heroes of the Frontier, A Hologram for the King, and What Is the What. Contrapposto, released in June, is a moving and funny novel about allies and art, and what it means to...

    $40
  • Masters Series Masterclass: Amy Grant

    Norton Hall Norton Hall

    Join Friday night's Amphitheater stage headliner, Amy Grant for a conversation about her life and career. Grant, an American singer-songwriter and musician, began her career in contemporary Christian music before crossing over to pop music in the mid-1980s. Her latest album, "The Me That Remains" was released in May 2026.

    $49
  • Tessa Hulls

    Hall of Philosophy Hall of Philosophy

    Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle — Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir by Tessa Hulls An astonishing, deeply moving graphic memoir about three generations of Chinese women, exploring love, grief, exile, and identity. In her acclaimed graphic memoir debut, Tessa Hulls traces the reverberations of Chinese history across three generations of women in her family. Tessa’s...

    $20
  • Chautauqua Theater Company Presents New Play Workshop 2: The Motions by Zora Howard

    Bratton Theater Bratton Theater

    In the wake of an untimely prognosis, a father and son must relearn how to share space after years of estrangement. They pass the time with quiet rituals – making coffee, playing chess – navigating what is left to say and what is better left unsaid. Funny, tender, and deeply human, The Motions is an...

    $20
  • GIRLS LIKE GIRLS

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    Based 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
  • DESCENT: INTO THE BLUE

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    A powerful documentary narrated by Peter Coyote, showcasing the best of the human spirit - the fight to save our ocean's ecosystem and critically endangered coral reefs. Post film discussion led by Rory and Courtney Fielding with a panel of experts featured in the film joining by Zoom: Film participants Mike Goldberg, Eric Wehemeyer, John...

    Free Admission
  • Men’s Softball League

    Sharpe Field Sharpe Field

    Interested in playing slow pitch softball? Contact co-commissioner Wes Delancey at markernalt21@gmail.com to be added to a team roster. Fee per team for league play.

  • PROJECT HAIL MARY

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    When 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 Theater

    WORLD 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...

    $55 – $65
  • An Evening with Amy Grant

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    Amy Grant's career spans more than 40 years and stretches from her roots in gospel into becoming an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality and philanthropist. With three multi-platinum albums, six platinum albums and four gold albums, her total career album sales have exceeded 30 million and over 1 billion global streams. Grant’s chart success...

    $55 – $115
  • CHQ Mystic Heart: Centering Prayer with Carol McKiernan

    Hall of Philosophy Hall of Philosophy

    Carol McKiernan grew up at Chautauqua and says that her love of mystical practices began here on the grounds. She was formally introduced to meditation many years ago at an off-season yoga and meditation retreat led by Subagh Singh Khalsa and has been practicing Centering Prayer daily ever since. She has attended many seminars, workshops, and retreats...

    free
  • Old First Night Race and Kids Races

    Sports Club Sports Club

    The Sports Club is hosting the popular 50th Annual Old First Night Run/Walk Race and Kids Fun Runs. The OFN 2.75 mile chip-timed race follows the perimeter of Chautauqua's beautiful grounds. This year we will also host two kids races - a 1 mile non-chip timed race and little kids short fun run. Kids hats...

    Gate passes will be provided morning of the event
  • Food Donation Drop Off Outside Turner Community Center

    Turner Lobby

    Every Saturday during season the Chautauqua Climate Change Initiative and Chautauqua Property Owners Association are collecting unopened non-perishable food items for donation to local food pantries. Outside front entrance of Turner Community Center. Help reduce waste and feed our neighbors in need.

  • Chautauqua Theater Company Presents FutureNow New Play Lab 1: The Bone Wars

    Roe Green Theater Center

    Paleontologists O.C. Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope race against each other to uncover the secrets of the prehistoric world. Between them, they discover and named 136 new species of dinosaurs, including Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Coelophysis, and Allosaurus. Their rivalry also led to their professional and personal ruin. The Bone Wars brings to life the explosive true...

    $35
  • Chautauqua Theater Company Presents New Play Workshop 2: The Motions by Zora Howard

    Bratton Theater Bratton Theater

    In the wake of an untimely prognosis, a father and son must relearn how to share space after years of estrangement. They pass the time with quiet rituals – making coffee, playing chess – navigating what is left to say and what is better left unsaid. Funny, tender, and deeply human, The Motions is an...

    $20
  • PROJECT HAIL MARY

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    When 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
  • Catholic Mass

    Hall of Philosophy Hall of Philosophy
    Free
  • Chautauqua Theater Company Presents Best for Baby

    Bratton Theater Bratton Theater

    WORLD 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...

    $55 – $65
  • Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony features Dolly’s songs and the stories behind them in an innovative multimedia symphonic experience featuring Dolly on screen, leading audiences in a visual-musical journey of her songs, her life, and her stories. Guest vocalists and musicians bring new and innovative orchestrations of Dolly’s hit songs together into a...

    $55 – $95
  • GIRLS LIKE GIRLS

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    Based 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
  • Catholic Mass

    Hurlbut Church sanctuary Hurlbut Church sanctuary
    Sunday Free Event
  • Unity Service

    Hall of Missions Hall of Missions
    Free Sunday Event
  • Rev. Anna Carter Florence

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    The 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...

    Free Sunday Event
  • Art in the Park

    Miller Park Miller Park

    Hosted by the Friends of CVA, Art in the Park is an open art fair with 70+ vendors held in Miller Park, showcasing art by members of the Chautauqua community, artists-in-residence from the School of Art, and artisans from the region around Chautauqua Institution. Items for sale include ceramics, paintings, prints, Chautauqua-themed trinkets, pieces made...

  • PROJECT HAIL MARY

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    When 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 Theater

    WORLD 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 Quad

    Join 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...

  • 6-Week Residency Exhibition Opening

    CVA: Arts Quad

    We 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...

  • John Hoppenthaler and Roy Hoffman

    Hall of Philosophy Hall of Philosophy

    Chautauqua 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...

  • CHQ Mystic Heart -Church of the Wild -Family Friendly

    Outdoor Classroom

    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...

    Free Sunday Event
  • New Visitors Orientation

    Hultquist 101 Hultquist 101

    Join 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...

  • Newcomers Reception

    3 Taps

    Join 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...

  • PROJECT HAIL MARY

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    When 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...

    $11 – $15
  • Chautauqua Theater Company Presents Best for Baby

    Bratton Theater Bratton Theater

    WORLD 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...

    $65
  • GIRLS LIKE GIRLS

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    Based 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...

    $11 – $15
  • Daily Word Meditation

    Hall of Missions Hall of Missions

    (Programmed by Unity of Chautauqua)

    free
  • Catholic Mass

    Hurlbut Church sanctuary Hurlbut Church sanctuary
  • Movement and Meditation with Monte Thompson

    Hall of Philosophy Grove

    Monte 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...

    free
  • Rev. Anna Carter Florence

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    The 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...

    Free
  • Ken Burns and Jeffrey Rosen

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    Celebrating 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...

    $45
  • Guided Kayak Eco Tour

    Sports Club, Waterfront

    Enjoy 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...

  • Conversation with Kyle, Interim CEO

    Smith Wilkes Hall Smith Wilkes Hall

    Join 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...

  • PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR: BEYOND THE MASK

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    This 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...

    Free Admission
  • Rosemarie Zagarri

    Hall of Philosophy Hall of Philosophy

    Rosemarie 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...

    $20
  • Masters Series Masterclass: A Conversation with Ken Burns

    Norton Hall Norton Hall

    Join Ken Burns for an in-depth conversation about his latest work, "The American Revolution." A filmmaker for almost 50 years, Burns will expand upon his morning lecture on the Amphitheater...

    $49
  • Chautauqua Chamber Music: Ruckus with Keir GoGwilt, violin

    Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall

    Experience 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...

  • THE EYES OF GHANA

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    Directed 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...

    Free Admission
  • CHQ Travels Reception

    Athenaeum Porch

    Join 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...

  • W.E.B. DUBOIS: REBEL WITH A CAUSE

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    This 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
  • CHQ Mystic Heart – Dhara Kowal, Zen Buddhism Meditation Practice

    Presbyterian House Presbyterian House

    Sensei 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,...

    free
  • Daily Word Meditation

    Hall of Missions Hall of Missions

    (Programmed by Unity of Chautauqua)

    free
  • Catholic Mass

    Hurlbut Church sanctuary Hurlbut Church sanctuary
  • Rev. Anna Carter Florence

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    The 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...

    Free
  • Judi Greewald, CEO of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance

    Hurlbut Church sanctuary Hurlbut Church sanctuary

    Chautauqua Science Group Weekly Lecture Judi Greenwald is the President and CEO of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance. Ms. Greenwald has over 35 years of energy and environmental policy leadership experience in the public and nonprofit sectors, including the U.S. Congress, the White House, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,...

  • Ken Burns and Jeffrey Rosen

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    Celebrating 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

    Bestor Plaza Bestor Plaza

    The 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...

  • Colonial Williamsburg Historic Trades & Skills Demonstrations: Milliner & Journeyman Founder

    Oliver Archives Center Oliver Archives Center

    The 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,...

  • Sigrid Jakob: “Fruiting Bodies and Big Ideas: a Citizen Science Adventure”

    Smith Wilkes Hall Smith Wilkes Hall

    Bird, Tree & Garden Club lunchtime lecture series Sigrid Jakob is a freelance marketing strategist during the day and mycophile in her spare time. She’s an avid member and president of the New York Mycological Society, a mushroom club that goes out and observes fungi in New York City’s parks 52 weeks a year. She...

  • CHQ Mystic Heart – Dhara Kowal, Zen Buddhism Meditation, seminar and practice

    Hall of Missions Hall of Missions

    Sensei 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,...

    free
  • CHQ Dialogues

    Presbyterian House Presbyterian House
    Free
  • Manisha Sinha

    Hall of Philosophy Hall of Philosophy

    Manisha Sinha is the Draper Chair in American History at the University of Connecticut and immediate Past President of the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic. She received her Ph.D from Columbia University where her dissertation was nominated for the Bancroft Prize. She was nominated to the OAH Distinguished Lecture Series in 2003....

    $20
  • CHQ Dialogues

    Everett Jewish Life Center Everett Jewish Life Center
    free
  • TIME & WATER

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    Climate Change Initiative-Special Filmmaker Event! Free Admission! Icelandic writer and filmmaker Andri Snær Magnason returns to Chautauqua Cinema with his new film Time & Water, a vibrant elegy which preserves vanishing glaciers, departed grandparents, family memories, and flowing time in his personal archives, transforming loss into a time capsule. "This is a beautiful film. It's...

    Free Admission
  • Masters Series Masterclass: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation presents Becoming History with Stephen Seals, Nation Builder James Lafayette and Fifes & Drums Experience: Tuesday

    Norton Hall Norton Hall

    During "Becoming History with Stephen Seals, Nation Builder James Lafayette", learn how Colonial Williamsburg’s Nation Builders bring the voices of the past to life with a behind the scenes look into the art and craft of interpretation and how they move from research to scripts, to performance, to impact. The story of America is full...

    $49
  • Old First Night

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    Old First Night is Chautauqua’s birthday party, and all are invited! In the early years of Chautauqua, the season's first night was not in late June but early August. Therefore, Old First Night (OFN) is a celebration of the original first night of the season at Chautauqua. This event begins with music from Thursday Morning...

  • Puppy Pals Live – The Action-Packed Comedic Stunt Dog Show

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    As Seen on America's Got Talent, Puppy Pals Live is a family fun action-packed show where adopted and rescued dogs perform spectacular stunts and breathtaking feats. Watch as Puppy Pals Live leads the puppies and audience through challenging and comical tricks as the pooches show everyone who is really boss! Full of canine stunts and...

    $15
  • PURSUING LIGHT – THE BILL STRICKLAND STORY

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    Director Karen Somers' documentary Pursuing Light follows the life and legacy of Bill Strickland, whose philosophy of "hope through opportunity" has impacted thousands of lives. This film traces his personal journey and examines how arts education, workforce training, and environments of beauty can help individuals transcend circumstances and achieve their fullest potential. Introduction by Kwame...

    Free Admission
  • Sunrise Paddle – Kayak/SUP

    Sports Club, Waterfront

    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.

  • CHQ Mystic Heart – Dhara Kowal, Zen Buddhism Meditation Practice

    Presbyterian House Presbyterian House

    Sensei 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,...

    free
  • Daily Word Meditation

    Hall of Missions Hall of Missions

    (Programmed by Unity of Chautauqua)

    free
  • Catholic Mass

    Hurlbut Church sanctuary Hurlbut Church sanctuary
  • Movement and Meditation with Monte Thompson

    Hall of Philosophy Grove

    Monte 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...

    free
  • Rev. Anna Carter Florence

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    The 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...

    Free
  • David W. Blight and Tiya Miles

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    Continuing Chautauqua’s weeklong commemoration of “America at 250,” two of the country’s pre-eminent historians present a mainstage conversation about the moral foundations of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and how they have been interpreted and reinterpreted throughout American history. David W. Blight is Sterling Professor of History and Director of the Gilder Lehrman...

    $40
  • Colonial Williamsburg Historic Trades & Skills Demonstrations: Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Carpenter & Joiner

    Bestor Plaza Bestor Plaza

    The 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...

  • Colonial Williamsburg Historic Trades & Skills Demonstrations: Milliner & Journeyman Founder

    Oliver Archives Center Oliver Archives Center

    The 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,...

  • CHQ Dialogues

    Presbyterian House Presbyterian House
    free
  • Guided Kayak Historic Tour

    Sports Club, Waterfront

    Enjoy paddling while learning about historic sites 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...

  • Brandon Dillard

    Hall of Philosophy Hall of Philosophy

    Brandon Dillard is Director of Historic Interpretation and Audience Engagement at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, the iconic home and historic plantation in Virginia, where he has worked for sixteen years. At Monticello, he leads interpretation efforts and works on exhibits, programs, and training. As a public historian, he focuses on best practices for encouraging connection between...

    $20.00
  • Masters Series Masterclass: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation presents Becoming History with Katharine Pittman, Nation Builder Martha Washington and Fifes & Drums Experience: Wednesday

    Norton Hall Norton Hall

    During "Becoming History with Kathatine Pittman, Nation Builder Martha Washington", learn how Colonial Williamsburg’s Nation Builders bring the voices of the past to life with a behind the scenes look into the art and craft of interpretation and how they move from research to scripts, to performance, to impact. The story of America is full...

    $49
  • WICKED FOR GOOD

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    The conclusion to Jon M. Chu's 2024 Wicked is "a soaring musical triumph filled with standout performances, extraordinary craft, and an emotional core that is sure to delight fans young and old." -Linda Marric, HeyUGuys "From its director to its cast, the movie is a testament to diversity (species included) as a common good as...

    $11 – $15
  • CHQ Mystic Heart – Therapeutic Gong Meditation with Kim Hehr

    Hall of Christ: Sanctuary

    Kim Hehr is a lifelong Chautauquan and a certified level 2 teacher of Kundalini Yoga and Meditation. She has been a yoga and meditation practitioner for 30 years and has been teaching Kundalini Yoga and Meditation for 25 years. A retired hospice nurse, she is presently the coordinator of the CHQ Mystic Heart Meditation Program. Kim...

    free
  • CVA Lecture Series: Susan Lichtman, School of Art Faculty

    Hultquist 101 Hultquist 101

    The Chautauqua School of Art proudly welcomes Susan Lichtman as a member of our 2026 visiting faculty. Susan Lichtman will participate in the School’s Summer Lecture Series, sharing insights and practices with our artistic community. Susan Lichtman is a figurative painter of domestic spaces, working out of her home studio in southeastern Massachusetts. She graduated...

  • Alonzo King LINES Ballet

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    Alonzo King LINES Ballet is a celebrated contemporary ballet company that has been guided since 1982 by the unique artistic vision of award-winning choreographer Alonzo King. Since 1982, LINES Ballet has collaborated with noted composers, musicians and visual artists from around the world to create performances that alter the way we look at ballet today....

    $55 – $65
  • WICKED

    Chautauqua Cinema Chautauqua Cinema

    Starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, and pop superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda who is gilded by privilege and ambition, director Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the broadway hit musical is "a wickedly good time at the movies." -Max Weiss, Baltimore Magazine "Smart, sweet, and sassy in equal measure,...

    $11 – $15
  • The Sarah James Trio

    Roe Green Theater Center

    Chautauqua’s own award-winning singer-songwriter and recording artist Sarah James from Scottsdale, AZ, brings her trio to our late-night series at the Roe Green Theater. From Pittsburgh, PA, accompanying Sarah will be notable guitarist and musical artist Doug Edgell and Aaron Majiros on bass and keys. Sarah James has been a staple at 3Taps here at...

    $25
  • CHQ Mystic Heart – Dhara Kowal, Zen Buddhism Meditation Practice

    Presbyterian House Presbyterian House

    Sensei 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,...

    free
  • Daily Word Meditation

    Hall of Missions Hall of Missions

    (Programmed by Unity of Chautauqua)

    free
  • Catholic Mass

    Hurlbut Church sanctuary Hurlbut Church sanctuary
  • Rev. Anna Carter Florence

    Hall of Philosophy Hall of Philosophy

    The 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...

    Free
  • Melody Barnes

    Amphitheater Amphitheater

    Melody Barnes is the founding executive director of the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, where she leads the Institute on an action-oriented path to realizing the promise of democracy in both principle and practice. She joins Chautauqua’s weeklong exploration of “America at 250” with remarks reflecting on the foundations of democracy and justice,...

    $40
  • Colonial Williamsburg Historic Trades & Skills Demonstrations: Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Carpenter & Joiner

    Bestor Plaza Bestor Plaza

    The 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...

  • Colonial Williamsburg Historic Trades & Skills Demonstrations: Milliner & Journeyman Founder

    Oliver Archives Center Oliver Archives Center

    The 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,...