Part of the Western NY Hub
The Chautauqua Institution is a 501 nonprofit education center and summer resort for adults and youth located on 2,070 acres in Chautauqua, NY.
Chautauqua Lake and the Finger Lakes differ significantly in geology, geography, and culture. Chautauqua Lake sits at a higher elevation, runs southeast-to-northwest, and drains south toward the Gulf of Mexico, whereas the eleven Finger Lakes are deep glacial trenches running north-to-south that drain toward the Atlantic Ocean.
Culturally, Chautauqua is famous for its historic institution centered on arts, education, and summer lectures, alongside premier walleye and muskie fishing. In contrast, the Finger Lakes region is primarily recognized for its expansive wine trails, craft beverage industry, and steep state parks filled with waterfalls.
Chautauqua Institution: Summer Programs & Tickets
Chautauqua Institution Weekly Themes - June -August 2026
- June 27–July 4 • Icons and Instigators: Women Who Change the World.
- July 4–11 • Breaking the News: Charting a New Media Landscape
- July 11–18 • The 2026 Election: What’s at Stake?
- July 18–25 • Wasted: Our Era of Disposability.
- July 25–August 1 • Art and Artists Against the Odds.
- August 1–8 • America at 250: In Partnership with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
- August 8–15 • Global Power and Our Evolving International Order.
- August 15–22 • The Future of Food: Climate, Technology and the Next Agricultural Revolution.
- August 22–30 • The Importance of Gathering: A Collaboration with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
Your Guide to Rates and Fees for Day Passes, Tickets and Registrations
- Gate Pass: Used for overnight, multi-day, weeklong or season visits. Includes access to the grounds and general admission seating for Amphitheater programs.
- Day Passes: Best for visiting for part of a day, such as a morning, afternoon or evening.
- Parking: All vehicles need to pay for parking with parking available in the Main Lot. No cars inside the main grounds.
- Family Policy: Admission to the institution's grounds is always free for children 12 and under.
- Tickets: Tickets for amphitheater events and general gate passes can be purchased via the Ticketmaster Chautauqua Amphitheater Page or by viewing the full schedule on the Chautauqua Institution homepage. Latest Rates/Fees
Chautauqua Amphithearter Schedule
- Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue – Let’s Go Get ‘Em Tour • $70–$145, 8:00 PM • Fri, Jul 10, 2026, Chautauqua Amphitheater
- Chautauqua County Day • Free for Chautauqua County Residents, 7:00 AM–7:30 PM • Fri, Jul 17, 2026 Chautauqua Institution
- Harry Connick, Jr. In Concert • $85–$265 8:00 PM • Fri, Jul 17, 2026 Chautauqua Amphitheater
- Morning Ticket | Rainn Wilson • $45 10:45 AM • Fri, Jul 24, 2026 Chautauqua Amphitheater
- Alison Krauss & Union Station ft. Jerry Douglas w/ Theo Lawrence • $75 – $155 7:30 PM • Fri, Jul 24, 2026 Amphitheater
- Dolly Parton's Threads: My Songs in Symphony with the CSO • $55–$95 8:00 PM • Sat, Aug 1, 2026 Chautauqua Amphitheater
- Josh Groban: Stage, Screen and Symphony • $85–$285 8:00 PM • Thu, Aug 13, 2026 Chautauqua Amphitheater
- The Revivalists with Olivia Barnes • $71–$161 8:00 PM • Fri, Aug 14, 2026 Chautauqua Amphitheater
- The Music of Billy Joel with Tony DeSare w/ the CSO • $55–$75 8:00 PM • Sat, Aug 15, 2026 Chautauqua Amphitheater
- Silkroad Ensemble featuring Rhiannon Giddens • $60–$90 8:00 PM • Sat, Aug 22, 2026 Chautauqua Amphitheater
- Buffalo Day • Free for Buffalo residents 7:00 AM–11:59 PM • Tue, Aug 25, 2026 Chautauqua Institution
- Samara Joy • $60–$140 8:00 PM • Wed, Aug 26, 2026 Chautauqua Amphitheater
- The Australian Pink Floyd Show • $54–$84 8:00 PM • Fri, Aug 28, 2026 Chautauqua Amphitheater
- Tower of Power • $55–$120 8:00 PM • Sat, Aug 29, 2026 Chautauqua Amphitheater
- Indigo Girls • $50–$150 7:00 PM • Thu, Sep 10, 2026 Chautauqua Amphitheater
Chautauqua Institution Tours
Non-members can explore the Chautauqua Institution through narrated bus tours, guided historical kayak outings, and free, self-guided nature tours.
Top Guided Tour Options For Non-members
- Narrated Bus Tours: Experienced guides narrate the fascinating history of the Chautauqua Institution on a comfortable coach. Tickets cost $10 and are available for purchase exclusively on the day of the tour at the Main Gate Welcome Center—no advance reservations.
- Historic Kayak Tours: Paddle along the beautiful shores of the institution while learning about its historic sites. This hour-long tour departs from the Sports Club; pricing includes your equipment rental plus a $12 guide fee. Reservations are required at least one day in advance (contact sportsclub@chq.org to book).
- Free Self-Guided Options: Explore CHQ App. This app features over 30 digital nature and history tours of the birds, trees, gardens, and the lakefront. It is available for free download to use on the grounds or remotely.
Chautauqua Institution
Address: 1 Ames Ave, Chautauqua, NY 14722Phone: (716) 357-6250
Website: Chautauqua Institution
Latest Rates/Fees
Chautauqua Institution. Your Place to Experience Community through Music, Art and Lectures.
Chautauqua Amphitheater
Address: 31 Roberts Ave, Chautauqua, NY 14722Phone: (716) 357-6250
Website: Chautauqua Amphitheater
Latest Rates/Fees
Live performances from artists like Trombone Shorty w/ Orleans Avenue (July 10) and Harry Connick Jr. (July 17).
Mayville: Lakeside Village & Depot Museum
Mayville is located on the northern shores of Chautauqua Lake. It's a lakeside community centered around Mayville Lakeside Park, which features a lifeguarded swimming beach, a public boat launch, and an ADA-compliant waterfront. Mayville serves as a hub for year-round recreation and is located just a 10-minute drive from the historic Chautauqua Institution.
- Waterfront Recreation: Mayville Lakeside Park offers excellent boating, fishing, picnic pavilions, and tennis courts. Continuous enhancements including accessible kayak and multi-use trail expansions.
- Seasonal Festivals: The village hosts the lively 4th of July Celebration and the annual Winter Festival (held every President's Day weekend), featuring the famous ice castle.
- Outdoor Adventures: Beyond the lake, visitors can explore the hiking trails at the nearby Chautauqua Gorge State Forest.
Mayville Lakeside Park
Address: 50 W Lake Rd, Mayville, NY 14757Phone: (716) 753-2125
Highlights: Public restroom · Dogs allowed · Picnic tables
Hours: 6am to 11pm
Offers excellent boating, fishing, picnic pavilions, beach, playgroung and tennis courts. The shoreline is undergoing continuous enhancements, including accessible kayak and multi-use trail expansions.
Chautauqua Gorge State Forest
Address: Mayville, NY 14757Phone: (716) 363-2052
Website: Chautauqua Gorge State Forest
The 538-acre state forest provides opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, fishing, and hunting. This state forest also offers a day use area with picnic tables and fire rings, out house facilities, and a public parking area.
Mayville Depot Museum
Address: 16 Water St, Mayville, NY 14757Phone: (716) 753-7535
Website: Mayville Depot Museum
Thousands of artifacts and documents representing all aspects of our area's rich and varied past, located in an old Pennsylvania Railroad Depot.
Bemus Point: Village, Floating Stage & Stow Ferry
Bemus Point Stow Ferry
Address: 2 Lakeside Dr, Bemus Point, NY 14712Website: Bemus Point Stow Ferry
For 215 years we've connected the western shore of Chautauqua Lake with the eastern shore. Take a trip back into time. Come Ride The Ferry!
Floating Stage
The floating stage, historically known as the Bemus Bay Pops venue, was a popular summer concert destination in Bemus Point on Chautauqua Lake. While the floating stage has been permanently relocated and is no longer in operation in the village, the waterfront remains a major regional attraction.
History: The Bemus Bay Pops started in 1998, with a floating stage built in 2003 that allowed audiences to watch concerts from the shoreline or directly from boats anchored in the bay.
Current Status: The floating stage left Bemus Point several years ago, bringing an end to the "Pops" concerts in the village.
What is there now: The original site of the floating stage on Lakeside Drive is now home to The Landing, a private waterfront club that features boat parking, fire pits, and seasonal events
The Hotel Lenhart
Address: 20-22 Lakeside Dr, Bemus Point, NY 14712Phone: (716) 386-2715
Website: The Hotel Lenhart
The Hotel Lenhart – A Timeless Escape on Chautauqua Lake nestled in the heart of Bemus Point, New York, facing west overlooking beautiful Bemus Bay.
The Village Casino
Address: 1 Lakeside Dr, Bemus Point, NY 14712Phone: (716) 386-1247
Website: The Village Casino
Lakefront food-&-music joint preps casual American fare with weekly karaoke, trivia & family nights.
Chautauqua Lake Activities: Boating, Fishing, Beaches
Boating & Sailing
- Rentals: You can secure pontoon boats, fishing boats, or paddleboards from full-service vendors like Chautauqua Marina in Mayville.
- Cruises: Take a scenic ride on the Chautauqua Belle, one of only five operating steamboats in North America, departing from Mayville. You can also take a vintage ride on the historic Bemus Point-Stow Ferry.
- Launch: Long Point State Park features the most modern, accessible boat launch on the lake.
Fishing
- Species: Chautauqua Lake is historically celebrated as one of the best bass lakes in the Northeast and a top fishery for trophy muskellunge (often exceeding 50 inches).
- Shore Access: Cast a line without a boat at Long Point State Park, Midway State Park, or McCrea Point Park in Jamestown.
Beaches & Swimming
- Long Point State Park: Located on a peninsula, this park offers a pristine, lifeguarded swimming beach surrounded by thickly wooded hiking trails.
- Lakeside Park: Located in Mayville, this community park features a small lifeguarded beach, pavilions, and a launch point for the Chautauqua Belle.
- Midway State Park: Known as one of America's oldest continuously operating amusement parks, it also provides family-friendly waterfront access and swimming.
Summer Events Calendar: Institution, Bemus Point, Mayville
Chautauqua Institution Season (June 27–August 30): The 9-week summer assembly offers daily performances, lectures, religious worship, and recreation classes.
America 250 Synchronized Fireworks (July 4): Both Visit Bemus Point and the Mayville July 4th Celebration are partnering to launch an extended, 25-minute firework display across Chautauqua Lake set to music on Kix Country 96.5 & 100.3 FM Visit Bemus Point. Mayville's festivities begin with a grand parade down Route 394 at 10:00 AM Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau.
Mayville's Saturday Evening Market (Saturdays, 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM): Stroll the Mayville Train Depot for local vendors and community treats.
Chautauqua County Historical Society Antique Show (July 18–19): Held at the Chautauqua Suites Hotel & Expo Center, featuring 22 dealers.
Bemus Point Summer Fest (August 1–2): A village-wide celebration featuring a "Party in the Park," live music, and treasure hunts to raise funds for the Bemus Point Volunteer Fire Department The Villager.
Mayville Bluegrass Festival (August 15–16): Hosted at Big Inlet Brewing, this outdoor event features multiple bands and food trucks.
Where to Stay & Eat Around Chautauqua Lake
Where to Stay
Chautauqua Harbor Hotel (Celoron, NY): Located just minutes from the National Comedy Center, this AAA Four Diamond property offers luxurious rooms, a sweeping patio with fire pits, an outdoor pool, and lake views.
Athenaeum Hotel (Chautauqua, NY): Overlooking the lake since 1881, this Victorian "Grande Dame" located inside the world-famous Chautauqua Institution offers a classic, full-service hotel experience.
Maple Springs Lake Side Inn (Bemus Point/Maple Springs, NY): A Dutch Colonial-style bed and breakfast sitting on 11 private acres with its own 350-foot beach and dock.
Where to Eat
Lakehouse Tap and Grille (Celoron, NY): Located inside the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, this spot serves up American cuisine with fantastic al fresco dining patio options and views of the water.
Stella a Kitchen & Bar (Lakewood, NY): A standout, highly rated dining destination located on Chautauqua Avenue, known for its elevated contemporary plates and craft cocktails.
Lakeview Hotel (Mayville, NY): A historic local landmark situated at the north end of the lake, offering a relaxed tavern atmosphere, hearty pub fare, and live entertainment.
Ellicottville Brewing Company (Bemus Point, NY): A lively spot near the water offering locally brewed craft beers and elevated pub-style food in a vibrant, lakeside atmosphere.