Big Tap ChautauquaFest
In Honor of Kevin Hunt
Watch for 2024 Big Tap info! Date TBD (end of Sept or early Oct.) 1-5PM
Thank you, 2023 Vendors! We hope to see you all again in 2024.
Want to participate as a vendor or know someone you'd like us to include in 2024? Contact us at info@bigtop.org
Thank you, 2023 Vendors! We hope to see you all again in 2024.
Want to participate as a vendor or know someone you'd like us to include in 2024? Contact us at info@bigtop.org
Launched in 2012 by long-time Big Top Board Member, Vice-President, and beloved friend Kevin Hunt, our annual beer/food festival Big Tap ChautauquaFest returns to the tent this fall!
Spend an autumn afternoon enjoying food & beverage sampling, live music from Molly & The Danger Band and Hoff Stevens, Oktoberfest activities, raffles, door prizes, fun, and games.
All you can eat and drink— tickets are all inclusive! Local restaurants present samples of their signature dishes, the Ashwabay Grille puts on the bratwursts and the kraut, while local & regional breweries, wineries, and distilleries offer a variety of their best taps and spirits.
Funds raised support Big Top Chautauqua and Mt. Ashwabay operations.
Rain or Shine—The Tent has you covered. If you miss the online ticket sales, you can always buy tickets at the gate!
Spend an autumn afternoon enjoying food & beverage sampling, live music from Molly & The Danger Band and Hoff Stevens, Oktoberfest activities, raffles, door prizes, fun, and games.
All you can eat and drink— tickets are all inclusive! Local restaurants present samples of their signature dishes, the Ashwabay Grille puts on the bratwursts and the kraut, while local & regional breweries, wineries, and distilleries offer a variety of their best taps and spirits.
Funds raised support Big Top Chautauqua and Mt. Ashwabay operations.
Rain or Shine—The Tent has you covered. If you miss the online ticket sales, you can always buy tickets at the gate!
About Big Tap
In Memory of Kevin Hunt
In Loving Memory
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In 2021 Big Top Chautauqua lost one of our most ardent supporters, long-time Board of Director's member, Board Vice President, and close friend, Kevin Hunt. Kevin was the driving force behind Big Tap - launching our annual fall festival back in 2012 - and was instrumental in planning & fundraising for the tent's protective sprung structure, and remodeling projects for the new Big Top office location & The Backstage event center. Kevin will be forever missed, and never forgotten.
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General Information
Age Restrictions
Hours
Restrooms
ATM Access
Merchandise
Dogs Not Permitted
- All patrons must be age 21 or older to attend Big Tap. IDs will be checked at the venue gate. Admission onto the venue grounds will only be granted to those that are of age.
Hours
- The event will run from 1:00pm-5:00pm. Venue grounds will open at 12:30pm and will close following the end of the event.
Restrooms
- Onsite bathroom facilities will be available. ADA accessible restrooms will also be onsite.
ATM Access
- There is no ATM access at the venue/on site at Big Top. Patrons are encouraged to bring cash. Credit cards are not accepted to purchase raffle tickets or to buy into any of the available games.
Merchandise
- The merchandise tent will be open from 12:30pm through the end of the event. We encourage patrons to shop early. Cash and credit cards are accepted for merchandise purchases.
Dogs Not Permitted
- No dogs or other animals are permitted on venue grounds. Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not considered service animals as defined by the ADA guidelines, and thus are not permitted at any Big Top venues. Trained service animals are permitted at the venue. Service animals must be restrained and remain with their owners at all times. If a service animal interferes with other guests, corrective action may include re-arranging seating or removal of the service animal from the venue.
2023 Vendors
2023 Music Lineup
Hoff Stevens
Molly & The Danger Band
- Made up of brothers Adam and Eric Doane, this songwriting duo are accomplished musicians, performing entirely self-written material while showcasing well-polished harmonies as they sing their own style of Folk, County, Rock, and Pop music.
Molly & The Danger Band
- You could call them a rock/country/jazz/bluegrass/celtic band, but they are really an Americana band. The blending of different American roots music creates a unique musical cocktail. From classic covers, traditional and original music, no matter what you call it, you're bound to have a good time.
Tickets
Ticket Types
Ticket Sales
Box Office Information
- $25 (Food Only)
- $45 (All Inclusive)
Ticket Sales
- Tickets to Big Tap ChautauquaFest are sold exclusively online via our official ticketing site. Big Top Chautauqua is not responsible for any tickets purchased by a third-party vendor or unauthorized source. Please note that all sales are final. No refunds or exchanges. This event is rain or shine.
Box Office Information
- Tickets to Big Tap ChautauquaFest are sold exclusively online via our official ticketing site, linked here, over the phone at
(715) 373-5552, or in person at our Box Office location in Bayfield. Day of tickets and ticket upgrades will be available for purchase at the gate starting at 12:30pm. Each patron will receive wristbands prior to entering the venue that must be worn at all times during the event.
2023 Event Schedule
- 12:30PM: Grounds open for parking, venue ticket gate opens, and merchandise tent opens.
- 1:00PM: Tent opens to patrons; food & beverage serving begins.
- 1:00-2:45PM: Live Music from Hoff Stevens
- 3:00-4:45PM: Live Music from Molly & The Danger Band
- 4:45PM: 50/50 raffle drawing.
- 5:00PM: Event end. Venue grounds close.
2023 Parking, Directions, & Transportation
On Site Parking
Directions
Shuttle Service
Free accessible shuttle service throughout Ashland, Washburn, and Bayfield is provided by Bay Area Rural Transit. Reservations are not required for Bayfield shuttle stops. Reservations are required for all Ashland and Washburn shuttle stops and are offered on a first come/first served basis. Make your reservation early - shuttle buses fill up often! To make a reservation, please call the Big Top Box Office at (715) 373-5552 and provide your name, number of riders, the pickup location, and a phone number. Please make us aware of any riders who require accessibility assistance.
For additional information please contact the Big Top Box Office at (715) 373-5552.
- Venue grounds open for parking at 12:30pm. Parking control will guide you to a parking space after entering the grounds. Vehicles are expected to exit venue grounds following the end of the event and overnight parking is not permitted. Please be aware that our parking area is located on gravel terrain and during larger events patrons may be directed to park in areas that are uphill.
Directions
- From Bayfield: Follow highway 13 south about 3 miles to Ski Hill Road then turn right (watch for the blue “Big Top Chautauqua” sign). We are located at the end of Ski Hill Road at the base of the Mt Ashwabay Ski Hill.
- From Ashland: Turn Right at the intersection of US Highway 2 and Highway 13, west of Ashland. Follow Highway 13 for 8 miles past Washburn to Ski Hill Road then turn left (watch for the blue “Big Top Chautauqua” sign). We are located at the very top of Ski Hill Road at the base of the Mt. Ashwabay Ski Hill.
Shuttle Service
Free accessible shuttle service throughout Ashland, Washburn, and Bayfield is provided by Bay Area Rural Transit. Reservations are not required for Bayfield shuttle stops. Reservations are required for all Ashland and Washburn shuttle stops and are offered on a first come/first served basis. Make your reservation early - shuttle buses fill up often! To make a reservation, please call the Big Top Box Office at (715) 373-5552 and provide your name, number of riders, the pickup location, and a phone number. Please make us aware of any riders who require accessibility assistance.
- Ashland & Washburn Shuttle Schedule (pick up times are approximate - returns begin following the event)
- Best Western The Hotel Chequamegon, 11:50am
- Bay Area Civic Center, 11:50am
- The Deep Water Grille and The Alley, 12:00pm
- Super 8 by Wyndham Ashland, 12:00pm
- Quality Inn Ashland, 12:00pm
- Thompson's West End Park, 12:15pm
- South Shore Brewery Taphouse, 12:15pm
- The Washburn Inn, 12:15pm
- Memorial Park Campground, 12:15pm
- Bayfield Shuttle Schedule (pick up times are approximate - returns begin following the event)
- Legendary Waters Resort & Casino, 12:05pm
- Dalrymple Campground, 12:20pm
- Madeline Island Information Station, 12:25pm
- Greunke’s Restaurant,12:30pm
- Old Rittenhouse Inn, 12:32pm
- Seagull Bay Motel, 12:35pm
- Apostle Islands Campground, 12:38pm
- Big Top Box Office & The Backstage Event Center, 12:40pm
- Port Superior Marina, 12:45pm
For additional information please contact the Big Top Box Office at (715) 373-5552.
Accessibility
We value each and every patron and we understand the importance of personal comfort and convenience while attending performances at our venues. Big Top Chautauqua provides a range of accommodations for patrons with disabilities to ensure their safety, comfort, and enjoyment of our events and facilities. Please visit the accessibility page on our website for more information.
Information for Vendors
General Information
Marketing Benefits
Cost and Set Up
- Our fall festival of everything beer, beverages, food, fun and music - Big TAP ChautauquaFest - is BACK, and we hope you will join us! Last year's event was a great success, and we are looking forward to partnering with food and beverage vendors to help you promote your products while supporting a fantastic cause. Funds from Big TAP support the Ashwabay Alliance, Inc., consisting of two non-profit organizations, the Ashwabay Outdoor Education Foundation and Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua. We are looking for local and national vendors to showcase their products at our one-day festival. Big Tap will feature breweries and other beverage producers, lots of food samples, door prizes, games, live entertainment and plenty of fun.
Marketing Benefits
- Our Marketing team will promote this event by updating ticket holders about new Big Tap vendors as they are registered, so the sooner, the better! We promote all vendors on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as by eblast to our list of over 35,000 contacts. We also do additional advertising via TV and/or radio, print and web advertising, posters, fliers, event program, display ads during pre-show and intermission advertising on our stage from now until the day of the event.
We recommend vendors bring business cards, coupons, and other marketing materials to hand out at the event.
Cost and Set Up
- Because this is a ticketed event, there is no cost to vendors to participate. All 10 x 10 booths will be inside our massive event tent, so the event will take place rain or shine. We have great live music planned, and patrons who attended last year's event are looking forward to coming back to this - the TENTH Big Tap ChautauquaFest!! To apply, please fill out the application form linked here. For questions or further information please contact Laura Greene at laura@bigtop.org or Holly Pierce at holly@mt.ashwabay.org