Big Top Chautauqua will be holding an auction to liquidate the contents of the old Northern Edge Restaurant which it now owns. Future plans for the building include moving the main offices, box office and gift shop to this location. Big Top has hired Team Auction out of Hayward to liquidate all of the unneeded contents of the old restaurant including tables, chairs, kitchen equipment, broasters, pizza ovens, and lots of small wares. For a complete list of items and additional information, go to teamauctionsale.com. The auction starts October 20 and closes October 30. All proceeds from the sale will go toward improvements to the site.

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​Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua has acquired a 70-acre parcel of property adjacent to its current tent location on Ski Hill Road in Bayfield.

The decision to acquire a new location for Big Top's tent coincides with the end of the useful life of their current canvas tent and Big Top's decision to begin planning for the construction of a new, permanent tent structure. Big Top will remain at its current Mt. Ashwabay location for the next few years as plans and fundraising develop.

After that, Big Top will be located a little further down the hill. The new parcel of land solves logistical challenges Big Top's Board of Directors has been addressing over the last three years, and provides a workable resolution to negotiations between the owners of Mt. Ashwabay (AOEF) and Big Top Chautauqua (BTC). AOEF and BTC have been partners on the ski hill property since 2005 when Mary Rice sold the property to AOEF with the stipulation that it remain a ski hill in the winter and serve as the summer home of BTC.

Over the years both AOEF and BTC have sought to revise the partnership for various reasons - most critical for BTC was to be able to own the land underneath their planned permanent tent structure. AOEF wants to expand the use of the property during the summer tourist season which has been largely prevented due to the security needs and sound issues for Big Top artists loading in and rehearsing during the day.

The property that is now being obtained by BTC is located directly adjacent to AOEF property, thus expanding the entire footprint of the two partner organizations, and freeing up the site for AOEF to grow in their outdoor education mission during the summer months. BTC Executive Director Terry Matier says that after the main concert structure is established down the hill, BTC and AOEF will explore new ways to partner together for increasing tourism and exposure for the area to the benefit of the entire region. "It is our hope that we can move forward together and ensure that both organizations continue to thrive and enrich our community."