Big Top Chautauqua's beautiful all-canvas blue and pearl-grey tent theatre can comfortably seat about 900. Located on the gentle sloping base of the Mt. Ashwabay Ski Hill that overlooks Bayfield, WI and the Lake Superior. On balmy summer nights when we have a large crowd, the sidewalls can be lifted to create a more open-air festival atmosphere. Over-capacity crowds with people seated outside and even up on the hillside is commonplace for these events. The sound is superb and on clear nights you can see the Milky Way and sometimes even the Northern Lights! Watch our tent being raised in time lapsed photography! Click here. 360° view of our tent Note: You must have the most recent version of the Quicktime plugin to view the tent raising video. If you do not have the plugin, you can download if free here.

As you can see we have both the big performance tent and a smaller concessions tent that houses our merchandise and food/beverage concessions with tables and seating. The building to the right is our "Spirit Cottage" which houses our recording studio, gathering room for rehearsals and sponsor events and preforming artist's green, dressing and bathrooms.

Here are Artistic Director Warren Nelson and Show Coordinator Carolyn Sneed. Warren is Big top Chautauqua's founder. It was his idea to create such a place. With his partner Betty Ferris, he's written about 10 different historical musicals including "A Martin County Hornpipe", "Souvenir Views", "Riding the Wind", "Take It To The Lake", "Whistle Comin' In", "Wild River", "Keeper of the Light", "On the Velvet", "30th Star" and "Riverpants". He's also the host at the tent and on our radio show, "Tent Show Radio", which airs weekly on stations around the country.

Now you are standing in line just outside the main tent for one of our wonderful shows. Show the ushers your tickets and they will take you to your seat.

This is a spectacular view of our stage from inside the tent. The band "Littlefeat" is performing.

Here's a view of our stage during "Whistle Comin In", one of our historical musicals. You can see we use huge period images synchronized with beautiful original songs and important readings to tell stories of people and places from the past.

From beverages to food, and clothing to CD's, find it all under our concessions tent.

We have a great collection of original CDs, gift and clothing items. Click on "Big Top Merchandise" at the top of this page to see what we have available here and at the tent.

We also have great food and beverages. Every night we offer burgers and brats and similar short-order items. On Friday nights we have fresh Lake Superior Whitefish Fish boils and on Saturday nights we have BBQ Chicken or Ribs specials. Locally produced fresh berries and ice cream are available when the berries are in season. There is also a full bar on the grounds for the grown-ups.