Experience Planner

Plan your perfect Chautauqua visit.
To plan your day, week or season at Chautauqua, select the dates of your visit below and choose your interests. Our experience planner will then provide personalized recommendations to make your time with us as rewarding as possible. We hope to see you soon!
Explore the events and destinations listed on our website and click the "star image" to save your favorites and create your Chautauqua itinerary.
Explore events and destinations here. Use the "star" to save your favorites to create your itinerary.

CHQ Travels: Cannes Film Festival
Through special accreditation granted to the Chautauqua Institution by the Cannes Film Festival, enjoy access to dozens of screenings of some of the most daring, promising, and topical films of the year. Stay at a hotel just a short walk from the Palais des Festivals and enjoy seven days to attend as many screenings as you wish. With your Festival badge, you’ll have access to restricted areas and hear from film professionals about their craft.


Preview Performance of Yue Yin Dance Company (YYDC)
Join us for an exclusive preview performance by YYDC, offering a sneak peek of ELSEWHERE, an evening-length dance piece that marks the third part of Yue Yin’s trilogy and which will have its world premiere in October at 92NY. The trilogy commenced with NOWHERE, which was previewed at Chautauqua and performed at Chelsea Factory in NYC in 2023, and SOMEWHERE, which was previewed at Chautauqua and performed at New York Live Arts in 2024. This upcoming work highlights Yue’s unique dance vocabulary and trademarked FoCo Technique, which focuses on generating, guiding, and transforming energy within bodies and space. Witness ELSEWHERE as a work in progress at Chautauqua!
Following the performance, join the artists for a meet and greet and moderated conversation at the Athenaeum Hotel Parlor, which includes heavy hors d’oeuvres with beverages available for purchase. Tickets are available for either the preview performance only, or for the preview performance plus reception.
*Inclement Weather Location: Carnahan-Jackson Dance Studios
About YYDC
YYDC is a NY-based non-profit contemporary dance company dedicated to the performance, producing and teaching of original choreographic works by founder and artistic director, Yue Yin. Over the past decade, Yin has refined and expanded an original movement vocabulary called FOCO Technique™, a unique contemporary form of dance movement rooted in Chinese classical and folk dance melded with the complexity and diverse influences of the immigrant experience. The overall vision for YYDC is to showcase this signature, diverse movement style in original, emotionally charged and culturally influential performances nationally and internationally.
June 21 @ 8:30 am Week One (June 21–28)
2025 Chautauqua Institution Lake Conference
Chautauqua Golf Club


2025 Chautauqua Institution Lake Conference
The 2025 Chautauqua Lake Conference will highlight the latest research, solutions and community efforts to improve Chautauqua Lake’s health. The morning will feature key presentations from Dr. Kevin Rose of The Jefferson Project at Chautauqua Lake and Dr. Courtney Wigdahl-Perry of SUNY Fredonia, who both will share updates on their research and plans for the summer.
The agenda also includes focused sessions on drinking water source protection, potential new wetlands protections, and ongoing restoration efforts around the lake. Attendees will hear from the Chautauqua Lake & Watershed Management Alliance, the New York State Department of Health, and the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, with a special look at Chautauqua Institution’s model approach to stormwater management. The day will conclude with a guided walking tour showcasing these initiatives.
THIS EVENT IS FREE – PLEASE USE THE “PURCHASE TICKETS” LINK TO REGISTER FOR THIS FREE EVENT.


Counting Crows: The Complete Sweets! Tour
For more than two decades, the GRAMMY and Academy Award-nominated rock band Counting Crows have enchanted listeners worldwide with their intensely soulful and intricate take on timeless rock & roll. Exploding onto the music scene in 1993 with their multi-platinum breakout album, August and Everything After, the band has gone on to release seven studio albums, selling more than 20 million records worldwide, and is revered as one of the world’s most pre-eminent live touring rock bands.
In October 1996, the band’s double-platinum sophomore studio album, Recovering the Satellites, debuted at number one and further solidified their growing reputation as one of the leading American alternative rock bands in the world. A follow-up to their early success, Counting Crows went on to release This Desert Life (1999), Hard Candy (2002), Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings (2008), Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did on Our Summer Vacation) (2012), Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow (2013) and Somewhere Under Wonderland (2014.) In 2004, Counting Crows recorded the chart-topping “Accidentally in Love” for the animated motion picture Shrek 2. The instant success of the track earned them an Academy Award nomination for “Best Original Song” at the 2005 Academy Awards, a Golden Globe nomination for “Best Original Song” and a GRAMMY Award nomination for “Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.”
In September 2014, Counting Crows released their critically acclaimed seventh studio album, Somewhere Under Wonderland, which debuted at No. 10 on the charts and was heralded by The Daily Telegraph as “… the best collection of songs since their debut.” The album consisted of nine sprawling tracks around rich sonic tapestries, which yielded some of the most grandiose yet intimate songs Counting Crows had recorded to date. 2018 marked 25 years since the band’s inception and sent Adam Duritz, Jim Bogios, David Bryson, Charlie Gillingham, David Immergluck, Millard Powers, and Dan Vickrey back on the road for the “25 YEARS AND COUNTING” tour. In 2021, Counting Crows ranked #8 on Billboard’s “Greatest of All Time: Adult Alternative Artists” 25th-anniversary chart.
After seven years, Adam Duritz and Counting Crows released Butter Miracle: Suite One in May 2021 to rave reviews. The band also kicked off their first tour since 2018, “The Butter Miracle Tour,” from 2021 through 2023, with sell-out performances across North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.


Sunday School
Weekly Sunday School Program for Ages 3-11. Children of all faiths and no faith are welcome.
June 22 @ 10:45 am Week One (June 21–28)
Opening Three Taps; The Rev. Jim Wallis
Amphitheater | CHQ Assembly


Opening Three Taps; The Rev. Jim Wallis
Jim Wallis is a writer, teacher, preacher and justice advocate who believes the gospel of Jesus must be emancipated from its cultural and political captivities. He is a New York Times bestselling author, public theologian, preacher and commentator on ethics and public life.
He is the inaugural holder of the Chair in Faith and Justice and the founding Director of the Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice. He is the founder of Sojourners, and is the author of 12 books, including America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege and the Bridge to America; God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get it; The Great Awakening; The Call to Conversion; and Christ in Crisis: Reclaiming Jesus in a Time of Fear, Hate, and Violence; and host of the popular podcast The Soul of the Nation. His latest book is the New York Times bestseller The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy.
He served on President Obama’s White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and has taught faith and public life courses at Harvard and Georgetown University. He also serves as a Research Fellow at the Georgetown University Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs. Wallis has previously taught at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and was awarded an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Georgetown University in 2007 when he gave the college commencement address.

CFD Annual Chicken BBQ
June 22 @ 1:00 pm Week One (June 21–28)
"Fields of Color" Exhibition - June 22-July 20
Strohl Art Center: Main Galleries


“Fields of Color” Exhibition – June 22-July 20
“Fields of Color” exhibition runs June 22–July 20. Balancing color with paint, glass, spices, patterns and shapes, this exhibition features abstract works in several different mediums. They have all mastered their techniques and personal styles resulting in a series of beautiful, intelligent works that play well together in this large space. Three of the artists were residents in the two-week residency program at the School of Art in 2024. This exhibition is generously sponsored by Willow & Gary Brost. Curated by Judy Barie.
Artists: Yura Adams, Greg Chan, Sarika Goulatia, James Harvey, Adam Kenney, Mia Tarducci and Paige Tibbe.
June 22 @ 1:00 pm Week One (June 21–28)
"Tree Portraits" Exhibition - June 22-July 17
Strohl Art Center 2nd Floor


“Tree Portraits” Exhibition – June 22-July 17
“Tree Portraits” exhibition runs June 22–July 17. Peter Hoffer’s stunning landscape paintings of trees, hills, and sky recall classically romantic paintings using traditional varnishing techniques popularized in the 19th century. The images feature nondescript views of landscapes, to which he applies many coats of reflective varnishes, sometimes between layers of paint. Over time, the surfaces show natural wear such as discoloration and cracks. so that they become rough terrain like landscapes themselves. This exhibition is generously sponsored by Friends of CVA. Curated by Judy Barie.
June 22 @ 1:00 pm Week One (June 21–28)
"Crafting Home" Exhibition - June 22–August 3
Fowler-Kellogg Art Center: 1st Floor


“Crafting Home” Exhibition – June 22–August 3
“Crafting Home” exhibition runs June 22–August 3. Beyond brick and mortar, what does it take to craft a home? The interior spaces of the home set the stage for acts of gathering, nourishing, resting, and contemplating. Every object plays its part and has its own history. From quilts to dishware to custom furniture, Crafting Home includes over thirty artists from around the country – including several from our own Chautauqua community – who craft the creature comforts that make a house a home. This exhibition is generously sponsored by the Kay Hardesty Logan Foundation. Curated by Erika Diamond.
Exhibition related programming will include: an artist lecture by U.S. Army veteran and furniture maker, Alicia Dietz, and a ceramics workshop at the School of Art with ceramic artist Yoko Sekino-Bove.
June 22 @ 1:00 pm Week One (June 21–28)
"Sculpture Garden" Exhibition - June 22–August 21
Melvin Johnson Sculpture Garden


“Sculpture Garden” Exhibition – June 22–August 21
Melvin Johnson Sculpture Garden exhibition runs June 22–August 21. Featuring artists Sean Glover, Paul Higham, and Coral Lambert.
June 22 @ 1:00 pm Week One (June 21–28)
"Likeness" Exhibition - June 22–August 19
Strohl Art Center 2nd Floor


“Likeness” Exhibition – June 22–August 19
“Likeness” exhibition runs June 22–August 19. This exhibition focuses on the ability of portraiture to exalt, empower, and elevate the subject. Through painting, thread, and found materials, each likeness reveals both the individual and the community to which they are connected. Embellished and meticulous, these portraits show us how to uplift and care for one another. Exhibition related programing includes an artist lecture by exhibiting artist Luis Sahagun on August 6. This exhibition is generously sponsored by Brenda and Larry Thompson. Curated by Erika Diamond.
Artists: Beizar Aradini, Ashley Cecil, Gregory Climer, Marcus Dunn, Beth Lo, Luis Sahagun Nuño, Nastassja Swift
June 22 @ 3:00 pm Week One (June 21–28)
Sunday Afternoon Entertainment: Jazz Ambassadors of The United States Army Field Band
Amphitheater


Sunday Afternoon Entertainment: Jazz Ambassadors of The United States Army Field Band
The Jazz Ambassadors is the official touring big band of the United States Army. Formed in 1969, this 19-member ensemble has received great acclaim at home and abroad performing America’s greatest original art form, jazz. The band’s diverse repertoire includes big band swing, bebop, Latin, contemporary jazz, standards, popular tunes, Dixieland, vocals, and patriotic selections, many of which are written or arranged by members of the band. The Jazz Ambassadors’ rigorous touring schedule and reputation for excellence has earned it the title “America’s Big Band.”
June 22 @ 3:00 pm Week One (June 21–28)
"Fields of Color" Exhibition Opening Reception
Strohl Art Center: Main Galleries


“Fields of Color” Exhibition Opening Reception
Exhibition runs June 22–July 20. Balancing color with paint, glass, spices, patterns and shapes, this exhibition features abstract works in several different mediums. They have all mastered their techniques and personal styles resulting in a series of beautiful, intelligent works that play well together in this large space. Three of the artists were residents in the two-week residency program at the School of Art in 2024. This exhibition is generously sponsored by Willow & Gary Brost. Curated by Judy Barie.
Artists: Yura Adams, Greg Chan, Sarika Goulatia, James Harvey, Adam Kenney, Mia Tarducci and Paige Tibbe.
June 22 @ 3:00 pm Week One (June 21–28)
"Tree Portraits" Exhibition Opening Reception
Strohl Art Center 2nd Floor


“Tree Portraits” Exhibition Opening Reception
Exhibition runs June 22–July 17. Peter Hoffer’s stunning landscape paintings of trees, hills, and sky recall classically romantic paintings using traditional varnishing techniques popularized in the 19th century. The images feature nondescript views of landscapes, to which he applies many coats of reflective varnishes, sometimes between layers of paint. Over time, the surfaces show natural wear such as discoloration and cracks. so that they become rough terrain like landscapes themselves. This exhibition is generously sponsored by Friends of CVA. Curated by Judy Barie.
June 22 @ 3:00 pm Week One (June 21–28)
"Crafting Home" Exhibition Opening Reception
Fowler-Kellogg Art Center: 1st Floor


“Crafting Home” Exhibition Opening Reception
Exhibition runs June 22–Aug 3. Beyond brick and mortar, what does it take to craft a home? The interior spaces of the home set the stage for acts of gathering, nourishing, resting, and contemplating. Every object plays its part and has its own history. From quilts to dishware to custom furniture, Crafting Home includes over thirty artists from around the country – including several from our own Chautauqua community – who craft the creature comforts that make a house a home. This exhibition is generously sponsored by the Kay Hardesty Logan Foundation. Curated by Erika Diamond.
Exhibition related programming will include: an artist lecture by U.S. Army veteran and furniture maker, Alicia Dietz, and a ceramics workshop at the School of Art with ceramic artist Yoko Sekino-Bove.
June 22 @ 3:00 pm Week One (June 21–28)
"Likeness" Exhibition Opening Reception
Strohl Art Center 2nd Floor


“Likeness” Exhibition Opening Reception
Exhibition runs June 22–August 19. This exhibition focuses on the ability of portraiture to exalt, empower, and elevate the subject. Through painting, thread, and found materials, each likeness reveals both the individual and the community to which they are connected. Embellished and meticulous, these portraits show us how to uplift and care for one another. This exhibition is generously sponsored by Brenda and Larry Thompson. Curated by Erika Diamond.
Artists: Beizar Aradini, Ashley Cecil, Gregory Climer, Marcus Dunn, Beth Lo, Luis Sahagun Nuño, Nastassja Swift


Deanna Nikaido and Sally Wen Mao
Chautauqua Writers’ Center Faculty Reading — Week One — Featuring Deanna Nikaido (Poetry) and Sally Wen Mao (Fiction)
Deanna Nikaido is the author of two collections of poetry, Voice Like Water and Vibrating with Silence and holds a degree in Illustration from Art Center College of Design. She was the literacy coach for Book-in-a-Day, teaching poetry and book publication to students and was a Regional Coordinator in Maryland for the national recitation program, Poetry Out Loud. She co-authored two children’s books Animal Ark, Celebrating Our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures (National Geographic 2017) with Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess and How to Write a Poem with Kwame Alexander (Harper Collins 2023), voted Top Ten Best Illustrated Children’s books for 2023 by the New York Times/New York Public Library. She also practices Jin Shin Jyutsu, a Japanese healing art. Visit her website: www.deannanikaido.com
Sally Wen Mao is the author of the poetry collection The Kingdom of Surfaces (Graywolf Press, August 2023), a finalist for the 2023 Maya Angelou Book Prize. Her debut fiction collection, Ninetails, is released from Penguin Books in May 2024. She is the author of two previous poetry collections, Oculus (Graywolf Press, 2019), a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and Mad Honey Symposium (Alice James Books, 2014). Her work has appeared in The Best American Poetry 2013 and 2021, The Paris Review, Granta, Poetry, A Public Space, Harpers Bazaar, The Washington Post, and others. The recipient of two Pushcart Prizes and a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, she was recently a Cullman Fellow at the New York Public Library and a Shearing Fellow at the Black Mountain Institute. She has taught writing at NYU, Cornell, and Sarah Lawrence College, and will be an Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Baruch College in 2024.