The Chautauqua Festival is an eight-day family oriented music and arts festival presented each year by the Wythe Arts Council in Wytheville, Virginia. Approaching its 41st year, it has become an event anticipated all year long by a growing throng of fans locally and across the region. In producing this large undertaking annually, the Wythe Arts Council’s mission is to provide entertainment and extend cultural opportunities to a largely rural area and beyond. What really makes this festival unique is the nightly entertainment is provided to the public, free of charge.

The week-long festivities are conducted in and around Elizabeth Brown Park, just next to the heart of downtown Wytheville. The Festival officially starts with a parade on the third Saturday of June and runs through the following Saturday. On the first Friday evening before the official start the next morning, a Festival Prelude is held featuring a hot air balloon glow, food trucks, games, and a DJ on the lawn at Wytheville Community College.   

During festival week, the park is filled with art displays, photo exhibits, food vendors, and a crafts bazaar. Clowns and actors perform throughout the park and there’s music from local-regional groups that perform on the upper and lower stages. The large number of lunchtime festival visitors can enjoy an array of live music while they eat, too.

Each night brings a different musical theme with performances on the main stage by regional and national talent. The festival is proud to offer genres like beach music, 50's, country and western, tribute bands, folk, Celtic, gospel, jazz, rock, and bluegrass from the backyard of the Crooked Road. Festival goers bring their lawn chairs and blankets for an evening of FREE entertainment, all underwritten by a host of local sponsors.

Schedule of Events:

06:00 am: Hot Air Balloon Rally - WCC - Weather Permitting
08:00 am - 12:00 pm: Wytheville Farmers Market - Product sampling, kids crafts, and giveaways
08:45 am - 09:30 am: Kid's Fun Run Registration - Open Door Cafe - Ages 12 and under, free, no limit
09:30 am: Kid's Fun Run - Open Door Cafe - Start at Open Door Cafe, run the parade route and finish at Wytheville Town Office

10:00 am: Parade Through Downtown Wytheville - Main Street - Parade line up will begin at 9am on West Main Street beside Open Door Cafe.
The Parade will begin at 10am and will end at the Wytheville Town Office.

10:00 am - 2:00 pm: Craft of the Day-Sponsored by St. John's Preschool - EBMP, UG      
10:00 am: Outdoor Art Exhibits (until 6 p.m.) - EBMP, UG      
10:00 am: Artisan of the Day - EBMP, UG
10:00 am - 5:00 pm: Craft Show and Bazaar - CC, UL      
10:00 am: Adult Yoga with The Groovy Elephant - EBMP, LG - $15, Ages 15 and up.Bring your own mat and explore vinyasa yoga, which encourages breathing and movement.  

11:00 am: Kids Yoga with The Groovy Elephant - EBMP, LG - $10, Ages 4-8 (parent must be present). Bring your own mat and learn the basic poses of yoga. Max 15

11:00 am: Butterfly the Clown - EBMP, UG - Face Painting-Will start after the parade
11:00 am: Becki the Balloon Lady - EBMP, UG - Balloon Art
11:55 am: Blessing of the Festival - Main Stage      
12:00 pm: Wytheville Community Band- National Anthem - Main Stage      
12:00 pm: Indoor Art-Youth Art-Photography Exhibit - CC, LL      

01:00 pm: Hot Air Balloon Clay Craft - Upper Shelter - $15, Ages 8 and up.Make a hot air balloon wall hanging using air dry clay with Laurel Creek Pottery. Max 10

06:00 pm: Hot Air Balloon Rally - WCC - Weather Permitting
06:15 pm: Miss Chautauqua Introductions - Main Stage      
06:30 pm - 9:30 pm: Biergarten - Sponsored by Clarke Precision Machine, Inc.- Next to Main Stage - 21+; Featured Brewery-The Damascus Brewery