Big River Chautauqua

Big River Chautauqua Living History in your backyard I am going to explain The Chautauqua. Named after Chautauqua Lake, in western New York, where the first event was held. Kennedy.

It originated as an adult education movement in the US, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid 1920s. The Chautauqua brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainer, preachers and specialist of the day. As former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was quoted as sa

ying that Chautauqua is "the most American thing in America." So our first evening, 2022, was Jeremy Meier as Robert F. Big River Chautauqua
photos by scottie

Chautauqua is:
A living history show with an historic figure portrayed by professional actors with a ‘first-person’ presentation of the character on stage, under the big tent as it was done over a hundred years ago when folks like Mark Twain came round, town to town, along with political folks and side-shows and musicians

Many of you may already know that our own Michael Layden, son of Big River Chautauqua co-founder Joe Layden, and our emc...
08/13/2026

Many of you may already know that our own Michael Layden, son of Big River Chautauqua co-founder Joe Layden, and our emcee each evening in recent years, has been instrumental in bringing a brand new Chautauqua event to Alabama. Along with a dedicated team of volunteers, he has worked tirelessly to make this vision a reality. With the first annual Lawrence County Chautauqua now just a week away, please take a moment to visit and like the Lawrence County Chautauqua page. Your support will help recognize the hard work of these volunteers and introduce more people to this exciting new event. Thank you.

So we are asking for your thoughts....We have had Minnie Pearl, Robert Kennedy, Julia Child and many other amazing peop...
07/27/2026

So we are asking for your thoughts....
We have had Minnie Pearl, Robert Kennedy, Julia Child and many other amazing people.
Who would you be interested in?? Maybe something to do with Entertainers? Like from the 40's, the 60's, or maybe A Night at the Grand Ole Opry?? Or folks of the Wild West, interesting people from Missouri, Fan Favorites???? Please let us hear from you!!
THANKS
Just a note: if we do entertainers, Opry folks, they will be telling their stories, no singing.

What a wonderful Chautauqua! Thanks to all that attended. And wonderful job, Leslie Goddard as Abigail Adams, Jeremy M...
07/26/2026

What a wonderful Chautauqua! Thanks to all that attended. And wonderful job, Leslie Goddard as Abigail Adams, Jeremy Meier as Thomas Jefferson, and Larry Bounds as Benjamin Franklin!
Good night folks!!

Thank you Larry Bounds....
07/26/2026

Thank you Larry Bounds....

This young man later, told me that Ben Franklin was his favorite!
07/26/2026

This young man later, told me that Ben Franklin was his favorite!

Welcome Ben Franklin!
07/26/2026

Welcome Ben Franklin!

Thanks to the Bonne Terre Dairy Queen for their Ice Cream Cake. Yum!
07/26/2026

Thanks to the Bonne Terre Dairy Queen for their Ice Cream Cake. Yum!

Thanks to the City of Bonne Terre for being a Super Sponsor! Great seeing you Shawn Kay, the City Administrator.
07/26/2026

Thanks to the City of Bonne Terre for being a Super Sponsor! Great seeing you Shawn Kay, the City Administrator.

07/26/2026

Address

118 E School Street
Bonne Terre, MO
63628

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Big River Chautauqua posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share