Chautauquans gather for the Great American Picnic and Silent Auction, programmed by the Alumni Association of the CLSC, July 16, 2023, on the lawn of the Literary Arts Center at Alumni Hall.
The Great American Picnic returns this weekend, and with it comes the return of Chautauquan-approved, fan-favorite hotdogs.
The Alumni Association of the CLSC, which hosts the annual picnic, happily announced that this year, Smith’s hotdogs will be back on the grill. The brand, which shall not be named, on the menu last year just wasn’t quite up to the discerning standards of picnic-goers.
Parks Zachry purchases food tickets from Donna Dominick at last year’s Great American Picnic.
From noon to 2:30 p.m. Sunday on the lawn of the Literary Arts Center at Alumni Hall, the community is invited to enjoy live music from a brass band, paired with not only Smith’s hotdogs, but also the option of veggie hotdogs, watermelon and a bake sale where they can mingle with fellow Chautauquans in this (hopefully) sunny summer picnic. There will also be auctions, face painting and games like cornhole and ladder golf for kids of all ages.
“It’s always just so much fun, and all the money goes to support the Alumni Association,” said Pat McDonald, Alumni Association president.
The proceeds gathered from the picnic, and last week’s Silent Auction and Sale, all go to scholarship funds for teachers and librarians from Chautauqua County. With those scholarships, they receive a gate pass, a seat in a Writers’ Center class, and a membership to the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle.
Kathy Hurst, director of operations for the Alumni Association and Great American Picnic chair, said it wouldn’t be possible if not for the help of Ellen Chamberlin, member-at-large of the Alumni Association and former chair of the picnic — as well as all of the Chautauquans who volunteer for the event.
“I couldn’t do this by myself; last night I sent out an email and I said, I need people to put up tents and cover tables at about 10 a.m., and they said, ‘I’ll be there,’ ” said Hurst. “I heard from our alumni and graduates of the CLSC, so thank goodness for them. I’m so grateful.”
