Lakeside Chautauqua

150 & Onward

It’s our 150th Chautauqua season, and we’ll soon gather here together on the shores of Lake Erie. As always, community input is important, and we’re being deliberate about creating opportunities for us to reflect and plan for Lakeside’s future, together as a community. We’re committed to listening, keeping you informed and inviting you to be a part of the conversation this summer. Your voice, ideas and insights matter.

Gatherings, Community Forums & Porch Talks

It’s imperative that we start to think intentionally about the future of Lakeside, beyond Lakeside’s 150th Anniversary. From admission fees and growing the endowment to the next generation Chautauqua experience and guests’ expectations, we must purposely plan for the future.

This winter and spring, Lakesiders will graciously open their homes to host gatherings at locations around Florida and Ohio. More Gatherings are being added to the schedule. If you’re interested in hosting a Gathering in your hometown, reach out to Gretchen Colon, V.P. of Advancement & Marketing at gcolon@lakesideohio.com.

Summer Community Forums

  • Saturday, May 13 at 9 a.m.
  • Saturday, July 1 at 9 a.m.
  • Saturday, Aug. 5 at 9 a.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 14 at 9 a.m.

Summer Porch Talks

  • Tuesday, June 6 at 12 p.m.
  • Tuesday, June 13 at 12 p.m.
  • Tuesday, July 25 at 12 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 12 p.m.

Will you join the conversation?

Again, this summer, we’re being deliberate about creating opportunities for us to reflect and plan for Lakeside’s future, together as a community. After the challenges of the past three years, it’s important that we use these experiences as moments of learning to help pave a new pathway forward.

Your voice, ideas and insights matter! When people come together and share ideas, we end up making better decisions. The best days of Lakeside are ahead. Join the conversation…

Continue to stay informed and watch for updates and announcements on this page, as well as through Lakeside Chautauqua’s official Facebook page, e-newsletter and the weekly Lakesider newspaper.

We all want to preserve the Lakeside experience for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. How will you, Lakesiders of today, pay it forward to generations to come? Young and old, we need your best thinking and creativity!

Children are significantly impacted by Lakeside’s unique Chautauqua experience. Year in and year out, young minds, bodies, spirits and hearts are introduced to enriching religious experiences, educational opportunities, cultural arts performances and recreational activities found at Lakeside.

Programs such as God Squad, Middle Grade Madness, art shows, science experiments, photography shows, literature events, children’s church and Lakeside’s own Symphony Orchestra concerts enrich a child’s life when they visit. Children can take part in wellness by swimming, playing pickleball, taking tennis lessons or spending the day exploring the Pool, Splash Pad, parks and playgrounds.

Our children, the future of Lakeside, have endless opportunities to learn about themselves and the world around them as the visit Lakeside for a day, a week or the entire summer.

Children, like all our guests, take part in the enriching Chautauqua experience and use each and every facility on the grounds. As we think about programs for children, we not only have to think about the teachers and performers, but also the facilities, grounds and staff needed to implement each program.

Unfortunately, the cost to create the Lakeside experience keeps rising due to increases in the cost of supplies, travel, entertainment, utilities, speaker fees, staffing and maintenance and repairs for our historic structures and buildings.

Last year, the Lakeside Board made the decision to charge a small fee for children similar to your local zoos, aquariums, museums and other educational and enriching organizations. Preserving the children’s experiences is no easy endeavor as the Board and staff budget expenses each year. This decision to charge for children was not taken lightly and we know that it affects us all.

We want to ensure that all ages have an enriching Lakeside Chautauqua experience today and in the future. Plus, children are able to take advantage of nearly two days’ worth of programming and activities with the purchase of a Daily Chautauqua Pass.

Lakeside has invested in upgraded technology for the 2023 Chautauqua season. All passes will contain a barcode and will be scanned when entering and exiting the gates. Just as you see at airports, zoos, amusement parks and movie theatres, your pass to Lakeside (a Daily, Weekly, Partial Day, Complimentary or Season Pass) must be scanned by the gate attendant.  Passes are required for entry to Hoover Auditorium and the Grindley Aquatic & Wellness Campus Pool. 

In addition, we will be processing Complimentary Passes through our ticketing system and tracking the number of guests visiting for church, utilizing the Laundromat, and entering for shopping and dining. Children (ages 4 & under) and guests ages 90 & older who enjoy free admission to Lakeside will be given a pass to be scanned upon entering and exiting the gates. 

Children ages 4 & under enjoy free admission. Last year, Lakeside Chautauqua introduced a new Children’s Pass for ages 5-12. 

Children, like all our guests, take part in the enriching Chautauqua experience and use each and every facility on the grounds. As we plan programs for children, we not only have to think about the teachers and performers, but also the facilities, grounds and staff needed to implement each program. The cost to create the Lakeside experience keeps rising due to increases in supplies, travel, entertainment, utilities, speaker fees, staffing and maintenance and repairs for our historic structures and buildings.

For 2023, Lakeside is maintaining the admissions rate of both the Children’s and Youth Passes (Daily, Weekly and Season Passes). Remember, Chautauqua Passes are valid from the pass date until 7 p.m. the following day.  

Lakeside is a nonprofit organization. Our community is a unique and complex organization, and the financial resources required to operate and create the Lakeside experience every year continue to increase.  

Lakeside has not been immune to the effects of the economy. We are living in a rapidly rising inflationary period, and our costs to operate and maintain Lakeside keep going up. According to the economic forecasts, we anticipate continued escalating costs of supplies and materials. Payroll and benefits will continue to increase. Lifeguards and Maintenance/Service Staff will need to be paid between $15-$20/hour to remain competitive.  

In addition, our reinvestment expenditures haven’t kept up with the increasing maintenance and repair needs of our grounds, buildings and infrastructure. If we don’t make these investments today, it will impact the Chautauqua experience of tomorrow.   

Many Lakesiders expressed a desire to have the Partial Day Pass extended to 4 hours. Previously, this pass was a 3-hour pass. For 2023, the Partial Day Pass is $8 and must be purchased before 7 p.m. This pass does not include an Auto Pass or access to Hoover Auditorium entertainment or the Grindley Aquatic & Wellness Campus Pool. 

Changing in 2023, golf carts will be charged by size. The price for a 2-4 passenger golf cart is $229 per cart, and the price for a 6-passenger golf cart is $240 per cart. Please note that all golf carts must pass an inspection with Lakeside’s Safety Services Department.

Introduced in 2022, the Preservation Fee will again be added at the time of purchase to all Adult Daily and Weekly Passes - $2 per adult per day if purchased online prior to your arrival or $3 per adult per day if purchased upon entering the gates. Please note: the Preservation Fee does not apply to Season Chautauqua Passes or Youth and Child Passes. 

Our Lakeside facilities and grounds play a significant role in the Chautauqua experience every year. Across the campus, there are more than 80 historic structures and facilities, 9 miles of roads and sidewalks, and extensive parks and grounds to maintain.   

As the operating costs increase, we must invest in the maintenance and repair of our grounds, buildings and infrastructure and continue to reinvest year after year.   

Last summer, $44,473 was collected in Preservation Fees to help maintain our historic buildings and beautiful grounds. The Lakeside Board and Staff will be identifying the capital projects for 2023-24 during the budgeting process. It will take a few years to build up the funds to complete substantial projects throughout Lakeside.  

Purchase Season Passes online beginning March 4. Purchase Daily and Weekly Passes online beginning April 1. We encourage you to purchase Chautauqua Passes and Auto Passes online prior to your arrival. By purchasing online, the Gate Attendant will be able to scan your mobile pass or printed pass at any gate. If purchased online, you’ll also be able to forward passes to your guests in advance.
Lakeside will host fall concerts in Hoover Auditorium. As in 2022, adults, youth and children, regardless of age, are required to purchase a concert ticket to attend the show. A Chautauqua Season Pass is not valid for fall concerts. Concert dates and ticket information will be announced soon.