Upcoming Events

We're so excited to announce that the theme of the 2024 Big River Chautauqua will be D-Day. In remembering the 80th anniversary of D-Day, we will hear three different perspectives on this momentous occasion. It will be held July 25th, 26th and 27th, inside the air conditioned Bonne Terre City Hall Auditorium. Be sure to mark your calendars for this year's event! Our selected scholars will portray Dwight Eisenhower, Jackie Cochran and Winston Churchill.

Once again, admission and parking are both FREE, and food will be available at the Bonne Terre Nutrition Center next door (entry behind City Hall). Parking is available behind City Hall.

Food will be available starting at 5:00 pm, and Darren Thomas will be providing musical entertainment again this year during dinner. He has quite a following, so be sure to join us for dinner, relax and enjoy some great country and rock classics!

Starting at 6:00 pm, the evening's activities in the City Hall Auditorium will begin with the amazing Chautauqua Singers performing. We never know for sure what they have in store, but they always keep it in tune with our theme, and their grand finale is always a wonderful ensemble of military songs and a heart-felt recognition of our past and present military members and their families.

Each scholar will take the stage at 7:00 pm each evening. These scholars have extensively researched their characters, and will present themselves as their character, not only in costume, but also in knowledge and attitude. After each night's performance, the audience will have an opportunity to ask the scholar, while still in character, any questions. And lastly, the scholar will come out of character and the audience can then ask them any other questions they might have.

We hope you can join us this year for the 27th Annual Big River Chautauqua!

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