Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua (sha-ta-qwa) is a year round non profit performing arts organization with a rich history. We operate an intimate 900-seat, all-canvas, state-of-the-art tent theater, producing and presenting a seventy-plus night summer season of concerts, plays, lectures, and a highly acclaimed professional local troupe which performs original multi-media musicals in the tent and on tour. Tent Show Radio, a weekly one hour program which showcases live performances from the Big Top Stage, is aired on public radio stations throughout the country.

We are nestled at the base of Mt. Ashwabay Ski Hill, 3 miles south of Bayfield, Wisconsin, overlooking Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Our summer schedule includes performances by renowned national, regional and touring musicians and runs from mid June to early September. On balmy summer nights the tent sidewalls can be lifted and people may sit outside and even up on the hillside. The sound is superb and on clear nights you can see the Milky Way and sometimes even the Northern Lights! Big Top

2009 Season Schedule
6/19 7:30pm New First Night 24th Season Opener Join us for Grand Opening Night of our 24th year of music and magic under canvas! On this night we showcase our Blue Canvas Orchestra Players and Singers.
6/20 Shooter Jennings $28
6/24 Pie & Politics Free
6/25 Best of the Big Top
6/26 Richie Havens w/Harry Manx $38/$30/$20
6/27 Riding the Wind
6/28 Indigo Girls w/Brandi Carlile $65/$55/$45

7/2 Special Event: Bill Miller with Blue Canvas Orchestra FREE
7/3 The Robert Cray Band w/John Nemeth & Ben Gillman $60/$50/$40
7/5 Simply Folk Live Broadcast with Tom Martin Erickson w/BCO
& John McCutcheon $26/$20/$16
7/8 Song of the Seasons
7/9 Gov’t Mule All Seats $44
7/10 American Stories
7/11 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy $38/$32/$24
7/12 Lura $28/$24/$20
7/16 Keb’ Mo’ $65/$55/$45
7/17 Song of the Seasons
7/18 Wild Woods & Waters
7/22 Steve Earle $48/$40/$30
7/23 Best of the Big Top
7/24 Riding the Wind
7/25 Marshall Tucker Band $48/$40/$30
7/26 Riverpants
7/30 Moon Songs & Moon Shadows: Tribute to the Songs Paul Simon And Cat Stevens
7/31 Call FOr Peace Dance & Drum w/6 Around One $26/$20/$16

8/1 Larry Long family Matinee show $4
8/1 Larry Long w/BCO Evening Show
8/2 African Children’s Choir $38/$30/$20
8/6 Wild Woods & Waters
8/7 Joan Baez Grounds Passes at the Tent
8/8 American Stories
8/9 Dailey & Vincent w/Rising Gael and BCO $28/$22/$18
8/13 Corey CaRlson
8/14 Yonder Mtn String Band All Seats $38
8/15 Song of the Seasons
8/16 Chic Gamine w/La Banda Nueva $26/$20/$16
8/19 Riding the Wind
8/20 Lincoln's Living Legacy featuring Bruce Burnside & BCO
8/21 Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek $28/$24/$18
8/22 Lincoln's Living Legacy featuring Burnside & BCO Shows: 3 & 8:15
8/23 Gaelic Storm $32/$26/$20
8/26 Moon Songs & Moon Shadows:Tribute to the Songs Paul Simon And Cat Stevens
8/27 Songwriter competition Hosted by BCO & Bill Isles
8/28 Singer/ Songwriter Showcase Darrell Scott, Adrienne Young, Johnsmith and Karen Savoca with Pete Heitzman, Rad Lorkovic, and Dan Sebranek $28/$22/$18
8/29 Suzanne Vega $48/$40/$30
8/30 Greg Brown $38/$28/$22

9/2 Garrison Keillor 2 Shows $65/$55/$45
9/3 Wild Woods & Waters
9/4 Riding the Wind 7:30
9/5 Riverpants 7:30
9/6 Different Drums of Ireland w/Mcinnis’ Kitchen $28/$24/$18
9/11 Best of the Big Top 7:30
9/12 Old Last Night Comedy - BCO, Micheal Perry, Circo Comedia & Mike Murcury $28/$22/$18