This is Chautauqua. Community events for the whole family hosted in Syracuse Indiana and Lake Wawasee.
We celebrate creativity through performances, exhibitions, and hands-on opportunities that inspire expression, imagination, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
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We foster lifelong learning through lectures, conversations, and shared learning that encourage curiosity, reflection, and personal growth at every stage of life.
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At Chautauqua, faith plays an important role in shaping shared values, reflection, and connection within our social and cultural life.
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Recreation and healthy living are essential to life at Chautauqua, supporting connection, balance, and enjoyment through shared activity.
Learn MoreOur goal is to “raise the bar” continually by improving the quality of programs, authors, and presenters. Your support enables us to grow and carry out our mission of providing valuable programs related to education, arts, faith and recreation. Our vision is for Chautauqua-Wawasee to be cited as one reason a business and/or people choose to move and live in Syracuse, Kosciusko County, and Indiana. We promise to use all gifts wisely and responsibly toward this vision.
Our goal is to help make Syracuse and the Region a great place to visit, live, work and raise a family by providing life enriching programs in support of the four Chautauqua pillars: Arts, Education, Faith and Recreation. Our long term vision is for Chautauqua-Wawasee to be cited as one reason a business and/or people choose to move and live in Syracuse, Kosciusko County, and Indiana. We promise to use all gifts wisely and responsibly toward this vision.
Mail Donations to:
Oakwood Foundation Inc.
Chautauqua Wawasee
P.O. Box 323
Syracuse, IN 46567
Experience Art in the Open Air: 2026 Plein Air Programs at Chautauqua-Wawasee Art comes alive outdoors this spring and summer as Chautauqua-Wawasee presents plein air painting in Wawasee, inviting the community to experience the beauty of Syracuse Lake and Lake Wawasee through the eyes of talented regional artists. From personalized paintings of beloved lake homes […]
Purdue Varsity Glee Club Brings Over a Century of Musical Excellence to Syracuse Chautauqua-Wawasee is proud to welcome back the Purdue Varsity Glee Club for a special performance on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 7:30 PM at the Wawasee High School Auditorium. This return performance continues a cherished tradition, bringing one of the nation’s most […]
Wawasee “Points of Interest” Historical Cruise – May 16, 2026 Step back in time while enjoying the beauty of Indiana’s largest natural lake. The Wawasee “Points of Interest” Historical Cruise returns for 2026. This two hour experience takes place aboard the SS Lillypad II and offers a relaxing afternoon on the water. This event is […]
Old Fashioned Christmas Seeking Volunteers!
Old Fashioned Christmas Seeking Volunteers Chautauqua’s annual Old Fashioned Christmas will return bigger than ever on November 30, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This extravagant event features Santa, 50-foot tree lighting, musical groups, caroling, live reindeer, a horse-drawn wagon ride, a family photo booth, six live characters such as Frosty, Grinch, Gingerbread Man, all done with […]
Humble Gumption: Cam Shriver’s Insight on Myaamia Survival and History
Humble Gumption: Cam Shriver’s Insight on Myaamia Survival and History By: Dave Berry, Chautauqua Wawasee On a brisk September morning, about 40 people attended Cam Shriver’s presentation on the survival of the Myaamia people, hosted by Chautauqua Wawasee. Cam Shriver is a Senior Research Associate in the Myaamia Center at Miami University in Ohio. His […]
Kroemer, Lomax and Tse, join Chautauqua Wawasee’s Board of Directors.
Kroemer, Lomax and Tse join Chautauqua Wawasee’s Board of Directors. We are proud to announce, that in January 2024, Karen Kroemer, Erin Lomax, and Carmen Tse joined Chautauqua Wawasee’s Board of Directors. Karen Kroemer is retired from a career in educational, non-profit, media, and corporate positions. She has served on six non-profit boards of directors […]