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  • Concerts & Events
    • Tickets
    • Calendar
    • Ticketing Information >
      • Policies & FAQ's
      • Seating Chart
      • Group Sales
    • COVID-19 Safety Guidelines
    • Family & Youth >
      • School Shows
  • About
    • Jobs and Internships
    • Contact Us >
      • Contact Us
      • EMail Sign Up
    • Plan Your Visit >
      • Locations & Directions
      • Shuttle
      • Planning Your Trip
  • Support
    • Volunteer
    • Donate Now
    • Levels of Giving >
      • Blue Canvas Club
      • KEEPERS
      • Heritage Society
    • Show Sponsorship
  • Tiny Tent Show
  • Tent Show Radio
  • Gift Shop
    • Gift Cards and Passes
    • CDs, DVDs, & Books
    • Apparel
    • Souvenirs
    • SALE!

"Culture Under Canvas" Since 1986

​Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua is a non-profit arts organization with a mission to provide entertaining and educational activities with an emphasis on performances that celebrate history and the environment.
​Celebrating 36 years of “Culture Under Canvas,” Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua is a non-profit arts organization with a mission to provide entertaining and educational activities with an emphasis on performances that celebrate history and the environment.

Big Top presents over 60 concerts, shows, and events June through September in an intimate 900 seat all-"canvas" tent, including international headliners, regional talent, and original productions. Our unique summer venue is located at the base of Mt. Ashwabay just outside of Bayfield, Wisconsin. Perched on the shores of Lake Superior, Bayfield is known as the gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the Gaylord Nelson Wilderness Area.
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The Big Top stage has hosted Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Garrison Keillor, The Smothers Brothers, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Nanci Griffith, Buddy Guy, Steve Earle, Brandi Carlile, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal, Jonny Lang, The Mavericks, The Beach Boys, John Hartford, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Del McCoury, Bill Monroe, Bonnie Raitt and many more renowned artists.

​Our own unique brand of shows feature songs and stories performed by Big Top’s Blue Canvas Orchestra and Singers. Together with a multitude of talented guest artists, our original productions bear the hallmark of exquisite musicianship illustrated by big-screen visuals. In addition to performances at Big Top, the Blue Canvas Orchestra tours throughout the region.

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View recent Big Top Season Programs:
2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012
Past Performers (click to expand)

​Big Top Chautauqua has presented over 30 years of outstanding performances! ​Here are just some of the artists who have performed at the Big Top:

Abigail Washburn
America
American Indian Dance Theatre
Amy Helm
Arlo Guthrie
Asleep at the Wheel
Avett Brothers
B.B. King
BeauSoleil Avec Michael Doucet
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Bill Miller
Bill Monroe
Blind Boys of Alabama
Blue Canvas Orchestra
BoDeans
Bonny Raitt
Brandi Carlile
Bruce Cockburn
Brulé & AIRO
Capitol Steps
Carmel Quinn
Chad Mitchell Trio
Chris Thile
Cloud Cult
Corey Carlson
Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues
Cory Chisel
Cowboy Junkies
Cubanismo
Dailey and Vincent
Dar Williams
Dave Mason
David Bromberg & Angel Band
David Grisman Quintet
Del McCoury Band
Della Mae
Different Drums of Ireland
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Doc Watson
Don McLean
Don Williams
Duluth-Superior Chamber Orchestra
Earl Scruggs
Elephant Revival
Emmy Lou Harris & The Nash Ramblers
Freddy Fender
G. Love & Special Sauce
Gaelic Storm
Gale LaJoye
Garnet Rogers
Garrison Keillor
Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie
Glen Cambell
Glenn Yarbrough
Gordon Lightfoot
Gov’t Mule
Great Big Sea
Greensky Bluegrass
Greg Brown
Helen Reddy
Home Free
Hot Rize
Howard Levy
Indigo Girls
Ira Glass
Iris DeMent
Jason Isbell
Jeff Daniels
Jesse Cook
Jim and Jesse & The Virginia Boys
Jim Belushi
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Joan Baez
Joan Osborne
John Gorka
John Hartford
John Hiatt
John McCutcheon
John McEuen
John Prine
John Sebastian
John Stewart
Johnny Cash
Jonathan Edwards
Jonny Lang
Judy Collins
June Carter-Cash
Kate & Anna McGarrigle
Kathy Mattea
Keb’ Mo’
Kenny Rogers
Kenny Wayne Sheperd
Kingston Trio
Koerner, Glover & Ray
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Larry Long
Leahy
Lee Murdock
Leftover Salmon
Leo Kottke
Leon Redbone
Leon Russell
Lettermen
Little Feat
Loretta Lynn
Lorie Line
Los Lonely Boys
Lost Nation String Band
Loudon Wainwright III
Lucinda Williams
Lucy Kaplansky
Lura
Luther Allison
Lyle Lovett
Marshall Tucker Band
Martin Sexton
Mason Jennings
Mason Williams
Maura O’Connell
Mavis Staples
Melissa Ethridge
Merle Haggard
Michael Cooney
Michael Feldman
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Michael Johnson
Michael Martin Murphey
Michael Perry
Michael Smith
Minneapolis Gospel
Molly & The Haymakers
Mountain Heart
Myron Floren
Nahko and Medicine for the People
Nanci Griffith
Natalie MacMaster
National Shakespeare Co.
New Christy Minstrels
Nickel Creek
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Nnenna Freelon
Oak Ridge Boys
Pam Tillis
Patty Griffin
Patty Larkin
Paul Cebar & The Milwaukeeans
Paula Poundstone
Perla Batalla
Peter Frampton
Peter Ostroushko & The Mando Boys
Peter Rowan
Peter Yarrow
Phillip Brunelle
R. Carlos Nakai
Radoslov Lorkovic
Ramblin’ Jack Elliot
Randy Sabien & The Fiddlehead Band
Rhonda Vincent & the Rage
Rich Little
Richie Havens
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Riders In the Sky
Rio Nido
Robert Bly
Robert Cray Band
Robert Mirabal
Robert Randolph
Robin & Linda Williams
Ronny Cox
Rory Block
Roy Clark
Rusted Root
Sam Bush
Sara Watkins
Second City National Touring Company
Shawn Colvin
Shooter Jennings
Siegel Schwall Band
Sierra Hull
Smothers Brothers
Sons of Never Wrong
Steve Earle
Suzanne Vega
Tab Benoit
Taj Mahal
Terrance Simien
The Beach Boys
The Charlie Daniels Band
The High Kings
The Mavericks
The Mills Brothers
The Quebe Sister
The Whites
Three Dog Night
Three Redneck Tenors
Tish Hinojosa
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Todd Snider
Tom Paxton
Tomás Kubinek
Tommy Emmanuel
Tommy Sands
Tony Rice
Tony Truschka Band
Trampled By Turtles
Tuck & Patti
Ulali
Vassar Clements
Vic Ferrari
Vince Gill
Wailin’ Jennys
Warren Nelson
Whad’ Ya Know?
Williams & Ree
Willie Nelson
Willy Porter
Yonder Mountain String Band
Ziggy Marley

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kim Ogle, President 
  • Essentia Health, Physician
Jim Perry, Vice President & Secretary
  • UW Fox Valley, CEO-Retired
  • P and B Motorsports, Owner
Mark Ehlers, Treasurer
  • Ehlers & Pierce CPAs, Partner
Keith Kylmala
  • Kylmala Truss, Owner
Kyle Ellefson
  • Northern State Bank, VP
Jim Miller
  • Strategic Enrollment Consultant
Ruth Goetz, Emeritus Board Member
  • Fundraising Consultant, Retired
Kimberly Rymer,  Emeritus Board Member
  • The Bayfield Inn, Owner
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84810 State Hwy 13, Bayfield, WI 54814
​1-888-BIG-TENT


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