Activities & Forms
We appreciate your excitement about the 2026 Chautauqua Festival!
Everything you should need can be found below.
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Please click the associated links for rules and registration information.
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Registration information for daily workshops will be posted soon.
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Fees, if required, are paid at registration. The following week, during the Festival, registrations will be taken at the Chautauqua office located in the gazebo near the park entrance.
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Register early, since many of the events fill up fast.
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Art/Photography show - June 20-27, 2026 10 - 5 pm
The Art & Photography Show will exhibit a variety of artists' work during the week of the Chautauqua Festival. Please find registration forms and entry instructions below:
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Entry forms must be received by mail before June 15th. Works must be delivered to the former Wytheville Community Center downstairs at the corner of 4th and Spring Streets on Thursday, June 18, from 4 pm to 7 pm. No work will be accepted before 4 pm or after 7 pm. Checks are to be made payable to “Wythe Arts Council, Ltd.”
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Entries must be picked up on Sunday, June 28 between 10 am & 2 pm.
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Art and Photography Facebook Page
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Balloon Festival - June 19, 20, & 21, 2026
Hot Air Balloon Rally Information
Friday Evening Balloon Glow - June 19, at 7 pm on the Wytheville Community College Lawn
Saturday Morning Balloon Flight - June 20 at 6 am on the Wytheville Community College Lawn
Saturday Evening Balloon Flight - June 20 at 6 pm on the Wytheville Community College Lawn
Sunday Morning Balloon Flight - June 21 at 6 am on the Wytheville Community College Lawn
Follow The Chautauqua Balloon Festival on Facebook for up-to-the-minute updates.
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Cars in the Park -June 27
Date: June 27, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Withers Park, 200 W. Monroe Street.
Chautauqua's Cars in the Park Facebook Event page
Chautauqua 5K Road Race - June 27
Sponsored by Alpha Therapy
Date: June 27, 2026
Start Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Start and Finish – 4th Street in front of Wytheville Recreation Center
Race Day Registration: 7:45 AM – 8:45 AM on 4th Street
Entry Fee: $30.00 - Pre-registration:
Must be received in the mail by Wednesday, June 24
Or by registration/paid entry fees before 6:00 PM June 26, 2025
at Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park Information Gazebo
$35.00 - Day of Race: At race event registration
All entrants will be divided into the following 20 divisions (gender/age brackets):
Gender: Male or Female
Age Brackets: 14 & Under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 & Over
1) First, second, and third place finishers will receive an award in each age group, in addition to 1st and 2nd overall male and female.
2) Registrants will receive a Chautauqua Festival in the Park 5K recovery tee shirt (while supplies last).
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Chautauqua Craft Show & Bazaar-June 2o & 21, 2026
The Craft Show & Bazaar will feature handmade art and crafts along with your favorite goodies on the upper level of the 4th Street Civic Center.
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Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21 - the doors will be open from 9 am until 5 pm on Saturday and 12 pm until 5 pm on Sunday.
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Vendors find the Craft Show application and rules through the link below, and email ChautauquaCraftBazaar@gmail.com for any additional information.
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Craft Show & Bazaar Application
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Chautauqua Festival Pageant - June 6, 2026
George Wythe High School Auditorium
For more information, visit the Pageant page.
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Creative Writing Contest - June 26, 2026
The Chautauqua Creative Writing Committee is now accepting entries for our 2026 contest. Participants must be amateur authors. We are accepting entries in the categories of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Entry is free for students in 6th through 12th grade; adults must include a $15 entry fee payable to the Wythe Arts Council. Cash prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners at our awards ceremony. The deadline for submissions is May 29.
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Our awards day will be Friday, June 26, 3:00 PM at the Millwald Theatre. Rae Garringer will be our guest author presenter, and we encourage everyone to attend. If you have any questions, contact Julia Tomiak at julia.tomiak@gmail.com or visit Chautauqua's Creative Writing Website.
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Flower & Table Show - to Be Announced
The Flower & Table Show will be returning to the upper level of the 4th Street Civic Center. Flower show entries will be accepted and Table Show setup will occur on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Flower show entries are open to the public at no cost. Table Show entries are open to individuals & businesses in the community at no cost, however, pre-registration is required.
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Flower Show categories can be found here
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Flower & Table Show Facebook Event Page
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Fur Fest Pet Show - To Be Announced
Register at the event to enter for Biggest Pet, Smallest Pet, Best Trick, Look-Alike, and Costume Contest.
We love to see all your pets! This year's pet show will be held at Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park in the field behind the shelter.
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Parade - June 20, 2026 10 am
The Chautauqua Parade will kick off the festival Saturday at 10 am, with the lineup beginning at 9 am.
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Toy SHOW- To Be Announced
The Chautauqua Toy & Doll Show is returning to the festival. Entries will be accepted from Monday, June 23rd, 4 pm to 6 pm. The show is open to the public at no cost. All entries must be picked up on June 25 between 5 and 7 pm.
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other Events
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​Brews and bands - May 16, 2026 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Open Door Cafe - Wytheville, VA
Visit the Brews and Bands page for updates.
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