Wythe Arts Council

07/09/2026

What an interesting post from our friends in Surry County, NC about original Chautauqua gatherings.

July 1, 1915 in "The Mount Airy News"

Chautauqua week was once a big deal in this area! Wytheville still has a celebration which was just held in the past few weeks, and they feature hot air balloons. This was part of a wave of excitement about learning and knowledge opportunities, and there is more information about the history of Chautauqua here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chautauqua
This Chautauqua was held from June 30 to July 6, 1915, and considered to be a week of America's Best Talent.
The entertainment included the NYC Marine Band, Shakespeare acting, famous quartets, plays of all kinds, many performances, and even speeches by politicians and other "big speakers" of the day.

07/09/2026

Congratulations to all of our winners! We celebrated words and writing at our awards ceremony on June 26th with guest speaker Rae Garringer. Thank you to everyone who participated this year. Our winners for 2026 are:

Adult nonfiction: First Place Tina Cunningham; second place Patty Williford; third place Charlotte Barkley

Adult poetry: First place Sharon Waters; second place Patty Williford; third place Theresa Burris

Adult fiction: First place Dayna Lafferty; second place Patty Williford; third place Don Martin.

9-12 grade nonfiction: First place Willow Delp; second place Desiree Rene Williams

9-12 grade poetry: First place Abigail Hillenberg; second place Payton Nester; third place Shannon Reeves

9-12 grade fiction: first place John Robert Williams; second place Reagan Borek; third place Loralei Witt

6-8 grade nonfiction: First place Montana Carpenter; second place Autumn Lefler

6-9 grade poetry: First place Journey Price; second place Layla French; third place Rylee Burcham

6-9 grade fiction: first place Ava Shi; second place Alyssa Kohns

07/04/2026

🇺🇸 Happy 250th July 4th! 🇺🇸
If you’re in town today we hope to see you on Main Street as our Chautauqua Grand Marshals, Downtown Wytheville, host their biggest event of the year! 🎆
And if you’re at home this evening, but sure to catch this year’s Chautauqua headliner, Emily Ann Roberts, performing on Disney’s Celebrate America special. 🇺🇸✨

06/29/2026

As we reflect on another incredible Chautauqua Festival, we are filled with gratitude for the partners who help make this cherished tradition possible.

A heartfelt thank you to the Town of Wytheville, Wythe County, and the Virginia Commission for the Arts for your continued support and commitment to the arts, culture, and community. Your partnership helps bring world-class entertainment, inspiring programs, and unforgettable experiences to thousands of residents and visitors each year.

The Chautauqua Festival is more than a week of events, it's a celebration of community, creativity, and the spirit that makes Wytheville such a special place. We're proud to work alongside organizations that share our vision and invest in making this festival a success.
Thank you for helping us create another memorable Chautauqua Festival. We couldn't do it without you!

06/28/2026

Just a quick reminder that Art and Photography entries need to be picked up today between 12pm and 2pm today (6/28). 🎨🖼️

06/27/2026

Soul Jam is bringing it at Chautauqua tonight! 🎶🎵🩷💜💛🩵

06/27/2026

We still can’t say it enough- Thank You to all of our incredible festival sponsors and patrons. An eight day festival is a huge undertaking and it absolutely wouldn’t be possible without the support of everyone listed here. If you see them, please tell them thank you.
We hope you’ll all come out tonight and enjoy the final night of performances featuring Soul Jam and MJ Dejavu!
🩷💜💛🩵

06/27/2026

Congratulations to the People’s Choice Award winner of the 2026 Chautauqua’s Cars in the Park- Jacob Johnson and his International 1964 Loadstar! 🏆

06/27/2026

Today is the final day of the 42nd annual Chautauqua Festival! We kick off the the day with the 5k race and the Car Show then we’ll wrap it up with Souljam and MJ Dejavu- a Michael Jackson tribute. Come and join us in the park. 🩷💜💛🩵

06/26/2026

Get those rides shined up and join us at Withers Park tomorrow for Chautauqua’s Cars in the Park, sponsored by Aschenbach Auto Group. 🚘🏆