Fountain Park Chautauqua beginning in less than two weeks

Fountain Park Chautauqua beginning in less than two weeks

Two individuals volunteer for the penny candy stand. There are still volunteer shifts open. Photo taken with permission and courtesy from Dana Pampel.

The Remington area’s Chautauqua is rooted in history and family ties but offers events for visitors and the community.  When you’re stepping into Fountain Park, just north of the town of Remington, you’re stepping into history. According to its website, it’s been serving the community since 1895.

The two week event runs from July 13 to July 28, and while family and friends gather at their cottages over that period, all events are open to the public. 

The schedule is packed this year, with a variety of entertainment, including but not limited to bluegrass music, a Jimmy buffet tribute band, an Elivs Tribute Artist, folk music, modern swing music, and more. Some non-musical entertainment will be Silly Safari, a magic show, a car show, ventriloquists, and more. Admission to the park for those five and older are as follows: a two week ticket is $60; a one week ticket (Sunday to Sunday) is $40; a daily ticket is $5. You can pay by cash, card, or check. You can bring a lawn chair if you wish, but benches are all around and plenty of seating is inside.

The Kick-Off Chicken Dinner is held on the opening Saturday of the Chautauqua, kids 13 and older are $10, and 12 years or younger are $5.

All meals are home cooked, served in the traditional family style, and include a main course, vegetables, sides, dessert, and drink. Breakfast is at 7:30 a.m. and is $7. Lunch is at 12:00 p.m. and is $8. The Sunday lunch is $10. Dinner is at 6 p.m. and is $10. Children from five to six years old eat all meals for $5. Children under four eat all meals free. If you’re not staying in the hotel, reservations are needed. Make your reservation by noon the day before. Seating starts 30 minutes before the meal is served. 

Five generations ago, Dana Pampel’s family built their cottage in 1904. It’s still owned by the family today, and is surrounded by 68 other family-owned cottages.

A Facebook post can be found citing the unique events people find at Fountain Park, which mention but are not limited to kick off night, the “penny” candy stand, art classes, ice cream social, and more. 

Another opportunity of the Chautauqua is the Art Colony, where Chautauqua attendees can take art classes when they want a break from the entertainment. There are eight art classes that span over the two weeks the event is held. The mediums range from acrylic paint, colored pencils, oil pastel, watercolor, and more. Most classes are $10, but a few are free. Art Colony Registration is on Monday, July 15, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Payment is appreciated at the time of registration. 

The oil pastel class is new this year. They also have a painting pour class, which has proven to be popular in the past few years. There will be an art show on Sunday of the Chautauqua, where current members of the Art Colony, and also art class attendees will be able to display their art. Classes can only be paid for with cash or check. A full schedule of the art classes can be found here.

Amy Detrick, Art Colony President, wants those interested to know that new people are welcome and that the classes are fun, relaxing, and collaborative. The Art Colony will also host an annual picnic and meeting.

“Fountain Park is a unique place where kids can roam around, ride their bikes, participate in all the activities, and just be a kid,” Pampel said. “Fountain Park for my family is an opportunity to step back in time, slow down, and be surrounded by family and friends.”

Pampel said she’s seen families come all the way from California, Texas, Alabama and more to attend the Chautauqua.

The Chautauqua movement, as described by Britannica, is a movement that began as a program for training Sunday school teachers and workers in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and eventually widened its arms to include education, recreation, and entertainment. The success of the Chautauqua began in Chautauqua, New York, and eventually spread to other areas to create chautauquas throughout the United States. Enter: Remington. Fountain Park Chautauqua is one of the three Chautauquas that have remained in existence since their establishment, the others being in New York and Ohio. Fountain Park Chautauqua comes from the work of Robert Parker, who purchased land in 1893 as a site for the Chautauqua. 

This is a huge opportunity for the community to experience one of the few remaining Chautauquas in the country…Fountain Park is such a special piece of Remington history and we want to keep its spirit alive and get people here to experience its uniqueness,” Pampel said.

Those who are interested in the schedule of events and learning more about Fountain Park Chautauqua can visit the website or visit its Facebook page. They can be emailed at [email protected]

Remington also has a Splash Pad, Homestead, and Bob & Connie’s. Remington’s Main Street will also be installing two to three murals downtown this July. Fountain Park Chautauqua is located at 6244 W 1600 S in Remington.

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