Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's wonderful Big Tap ChautauquaFest. The day was highlighted with great weather, great food, great brews, great music, and great FUN!

Several hundred guests enjoyed this favorite fall event, which benefits the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua and the Ashwabay Outdoor Educational Foundation. Kevin and Terry with Big Top dubbed this year's fest as "the best Big Tap yet." Thank you!

Special shout-out to the Volunteers who went above and beyond to make this day special.
•Coke Lindsey •Paul Norris •Sue Radtke •Randy Fahrenkrog •Sara Sneed •Kjirsten Sneed Lee •Dr. John Telford •Holly Pierce •Steve Pierce

This year's 'Fatty 5k' featured delicacies from over 20 area restaurants, producers, and caterers.
•2nd Street Bistro •Bayfield Inn •Bodin's Fisheries •Coco's Cafe •Sixth Street Market •Village Inn •Good Thyme Catering •Frankie's Pizza •Fat Radish •Penokee Mountain Foods •Ashland Baking Co. •Happy Hollow Creamery •Delta Diner •Legendary Waters •Upper Lakes Foods •Erickson Orchards •Tetzner's Dairy •Harbor House Sweets •Big Water Coffee •Trinko's Sausage •Benoit Cheese

​​Under the 'Big Tent' guests enjoyed samples from breweries, wineries, distilleries, and distributors. •Coney Island Hard Root Beer •Leiny Harvest Shandy •Vikre Vodka and Gins •Perlick Vodka •Squatters Craft Beers •Wasatch Craft Beers •St. Ambroise Oatmeal •Forbidden Secret Mocha Cream •South Shore Brewery •Doane Beer •O’so •Capital Brewery •Goose Island •Sam Adams Fall Collection •New Glarus •Minocqua Brewing •Gray Brewing Co. •White Winter Winery •Bayfield Winery •All Sisters Winery •Dogfish Head •Bell’s •Schell’s •Big Wood •3rd Shift •Central Waters

Hosted by Big Top Chautauqua and the Ashwabay Outdoor Educational Foundation, Big TAP features brews under the big tent, local cuisine on the “Fatty 5K” trek, a commemorative tasting glass, live music, wagon rides, hammerschalagan and more.

Spend an autumn afternoon enjoying unlimited samples of local, regional, and craft brews from more than 30 breweries, wineries and distilleries beneath the Big Top tent. The stage will be featuring live music from Crescent Moon and Hoff Stevens. Take a break for the “Fatty 5K” gourmet tasting adventure featuring area restaurants, producers, and caterers. Participants can hike or take a leisurely wagon ride, winding up and around Nordic and alpine ski trails, before crossing the ridge of Mt. Ashwabay. The vista offers outstanding views of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands, with the Big Top tent in the foreground.

Brews and Special Craft include: Coney Island Hard Root Beer,  Leiny Harvest Shandy, Vikre Vodka and Gins, Perlick Vodka, Squatters Craft Beers, Wasatch Craft Beers, St. Ambroise Oatmeal,  Forbidden Secret Mocha Cream, South Shore Brewery, Doane Beer, O’so, Capital Brewery, Goose Island, Sam Adams Fall Collection, New Glarus, Minocqua Brewing, Gray Brewing Co., White Winter Winery, Bayfield Winery, All Sisters Winery, Dogfish Head, Bell’s, Schell’s, Big Wood, 3rd Shift, Central Waters + MORE TO COME!

Food from Local Vendors include: 2nd street Bistro, Good Thyme Catering, The Bayfield Inn, Cafe Coco, Bodin’s Fisheries, Sixth Street Market, Penokee Mountain Foods, Ashland Baking Company, Happy Hallow Cheese, Erickson’s Orchard , Trinko’s Sausage, Tetzner’s Dairy, Portside Restaurant, Harbor House Sweets, The Village Inn, Frankie’s Pizza, Big Water Coffee, Upper Lakes Foods, Legendary Waters, Fat Radish + MORE!

• Buy tickets HERE
  

What a great kick-off to the Summer with Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua! As the fog rolled down the ski hill, Michael Franti cranked up the music and got the crowd on its feet. Thanks everyone for a great night!

After the sun washed away the Lake Superior fog from the slopes of Mt Ashwabay, the day cleared to perfection for hoisting the Big Top Chautauqua tent. A hardworking team of Crew and Volunteers enjoyed a day of smiles and camaraderie, and got the tent in the air by mid-afternoon. There's still a lot of work before New First Night, but we're on our way to another great season!

• Learn more about the lineup of performances for the Summer Season at www.bigtop.org
  

Things are gearing up for another fun summer at Ashwabay with the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua. Today Phil and his crew of of roustabouts got everything in place for the Ashwabay Bar & Grill Tent. The BIG blue tent goes up this weekend Saturday May 16 with the assistance of Volunteers, so come join in!

• Learn more about the awesome summer line-up they've got planned: www.bigtop.org