Dear Ashwabay Alliance Community,
When the first original show, Riding the Wind, was performed in the Bayfield School gymnasium, people weren’t simply there to hear it. They were there to share in the history that grounds us to this place and to the people who call it home.
Forty years later, that spirit still guides us.
This summer, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua. We’re honoring the vision and creativity of our founders while continuing to create experiences that bring people together in meaningful ways.
Because Big Top has always been more than a concert venue.
- Instead of driving in circles in a parking ramp, you’re greeted with a smile from one of our volunteers as you park your car
- Instead of sitting in a large stadium, your seat is an old church pew under a blue canvas tent
- Instead of the big city, you’re tucked in at the base of Mt. Ashwabay, overlooking Lake Superior under a starry night sky
And this summer, we’re building even more around that experience.
With a refreshed layout on the grounds, we’re making it easier to gather, move through the space, and settle in from the moment you arrive.
You can expect shorter lines, more efficient service, and thoughtfully designed gathering spaces. The goal is simple: to make the evening feel less like waiting for a show and more like a backyard summer get-together.
It’s a place where you can grab something to eat, order a drink, pull up an Adirondack chair, and enjoy our Northwoods setting before the music begins.
Then, when the bell rings and you step under the canvas, something shifts.
What happens next, when that first note hits, is a conversation between you and the artist.
Clapping, singing, and dancing become the language you use to connect. Being immersed in the words, the melody, and the story being told creates energy. And it’s that energy between you and the stage that makes Big Top so special.
This summer, we’re creating more opportunities for that feeling to carry beyond the show itself.
For the first time, the Big Top experience is stretching into a full Northwoods weekend, with camping, mountain biking, and hiking the trails at Mt. Ashwabay.
Together, Big Top and Mt. Ashwabay offer something truly unique: a place where music, nature, and community come together in one unforgettable setting.
That’s what we’re celebrating this summer.
Forty years of music, culture, and shared experiences at Big Top. Nearly 80 years of outdoor recreation at Mt. Ashwabay. And most importantly, the memories made here, and the new ones still waiting to be made.
Because in the end, this has always been about more than a stage or a hillside. It’s about the people who gather here, the moments they share, and the experiences that will carry this place into the next seven generations.
I hope you’ll join us.
Respectfully,
Garry Schalla
Be Part of What Comes Next
Places like this don’t carry forward on tradition alone. They carry forward because people choose to be part of what comes next.
The music under the Big Top. The trails at Mt. Ashwabay. The lights, the sound, the snow, the stories, and the community that gathers here season after season. None of it happens on its own.
It happens because people step in to support it.
The Blue Canvas Club is where many people begin.
With a gift of $150 or more to any program fund, you’re supporting the full scope of our work, from music to mountain. It’s a simple, meaningful way to stay connected and help keep things moving, with early ticket access and updates along the way.
The Stage to Summit Community of Stars builds on that support.
Those who make gifts of $500 or more to any fund in a fiscal year are the folks who help sustain everything we do across performances, recreation, and community programs. It’s support that carries the season forward.
And for businesses and community partners, sponsorship is a powerful way to step in.
Sponsorship is about partnership. It’s a way for businesses and individuals to align themselves with an organization that plays a meaningful role in the cultural and economic life of this region. Each season, we welcome tens of thousands of visitors to the Chequamegon Bay area—people who dine, shop, stay, and explore while they’re here.
When you sponsor a show or program, your business becomes part of that experience. It’s a chance to expand your reach, connect with new audiences, and be visible in a setting people genuinely care about. It also directly supports the artists, crews, and programs that bring people here in the first place.
From the stage to the summit, this work is connected. And it only works because of the people who choose to support it.
If you’ve been thinking about getting involved, email me for more information.
We’d be glad to have you with us.
Shine on,
Jackie Moore
Director of Advancement
