Ohio Chautauqua is a five-day event that combines living history, music and entertainment, education, theater, and audience interaction in an exciting cultural event the entire community can enjoy. Major presentations occur under the red and white striped tent and begin with local musical entertainment. Each evening, a different living history program is offered. During Ohio Chautauqua presentations, a scholar becomes a figure from the past, giving a unique monologue that showcases the person’s importance in our culture. The audience then has the opportunity to ask questions of the character. The evening concludes after the scholar steps out of character to answer more audience questions. Audience members can meet and talk with the performers after the presentation. In addition to the living history performances, other exciting activities include “behind-the-scenes” programs and workshops for adults and children, scholar presentations at local libraries and other community organizations, and various publicity appearances.

This year, Ohio Chautauqua celebrates the sesquicentennial of The Civil War. It will explore the legacies of those who helped shape our modern world. Characters for this year’s series are President Abraham Lincoln, surgeon and winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor Mary Edwards Walker, physician, journalist and soldier Maj. Martin Delany, Confederate socialite and diarist Mary Boykin Chesnut, and soldier, spy and Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman.

All Ohio Chautauqua events are free and open to the public.