Chautauqua celebrates Fourth of July with day of annual traditions

For the finale, an American flag falls from the sky and the crowd goes wild in celebration of this year’s Independence Day Friday, July 4, 2025, the Amphitheater. TALLULAH BROWN VAN ZEE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Chautauquans pile onto the Three Taps dock as Chautauqua Lake lights up during the Fourth of July fireworks show on Friday, July 4, 2025. VON SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

School of Fine Arts resident, Julia Gould, works on a live oil painting of the fireworks at University Beach on Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Friday the corgi, left, soaks up the sun with their owner Brooke Foster at Bestor Plaza on Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Hailey Pucella, left, and Parker Pucella celebrate the 4th of July at Bestor plaza on Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Tristan Cramer, 3, waves two American flags while listening to the community band play at Bestor Plaza on Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Alex Barna-Stern, left, and Ella Maurer listen to the Chautauqua Community Band with their families at Bestor Plaza on Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A group of Chautauquans sit on the Bestor plaza fountain while listening to the community band play on Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Chautauqua Community Band performs at Bestor Plaza, Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Elliott Pry Tye-Dye’s a t-shirt during the July 4th celebration on Bestor Plaza, Friday, July 4, 2025, Bestor Plaza. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Parker Pucella, 11 months, is held up while holding an American Flag at Bestor Plaza on Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Friday the Corgi sports a festive hot dog bow-tie for the days events at Bestor Plaza, Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Chautauquans fill Bestor Plaza Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Chautauqua community band members perform iconic American music pieces on the baritone during the Bestor Plaza Fourth of July Community Band Concert on Friday, July 4, 2025. VON SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Chautauqua Community Band music director Aidan Chamberlain leads the Bestor Plaza Fourth of July Community Band Concert on Friday, July 4, 2025. VON SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Ellen Stackpole of Virginia watches the Fourth of July action from the Smith Memorial Library during the Bestor Plaza Fourth of July Community Band Concert on Friday, July 4, 2025. VON SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Ashley Niro, left, hands her newborn Savannah off to her grandmother Kay Pucella who plays clarinet in the Chautauqua Community Band. VON SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Chautauquans enjoy the community band during the Bestor Plaza Fourth of July Community Band Concert on Friday, July 4, 2025. VON SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Pops Conductor Stuart Chafetz clutches his chest in admiration after Broadway star Capathia Jenkins’ rendition of “At Last” by Ella Fitzgerald Friday, July 4, 2025, in the Amphitheater. TALLULAH BROWN VAN ZEE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Stuart Chafetz conducts with passion at the Pops Concert, featuring songs ranging from jazz to yacht rock Friday, July 4, 2025, the Amphitheater. TALLULAH BROWN VAN ZEE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

During Capathia Jenkins’ rendition of “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” a conga line breaks out in the crowd Friday, July 4, 2025, in the Amphitheater. TALLULAH BROWN VAN ZEE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The annual Pops Concert takes place in the Amphitheater at 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 4, 2025. The concert includes dancing, slow jazz and American classics. TALLULAH BROWN VAN ZEE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Broadway star Capathia Jenkins makes her return to the Amphitheater stage for the 2025 Pops Concert, singing along with old-time friend and conductor Stuart Chafetz Friday, July 4, 2025, the Amphitheater. TALLULAH BROWN VAN ZEE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Those who sit in the choir loft are tasked with the duty of waving their American flags for the rest of the Amphitheater to see after each performance at the Pops Concert Friday, July 4, 2025, the Amphitheater. TALLULAH BROWN VAN ZEE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Chautauquans wait for the Pops Concert to begin at the Amphitheater on Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Chautauqua Visual Arts students set up their canvases before the start of the Fourth of July fireworks show over Chautauqua Lake as part of a class with artist Susanna Coffey on University Beach of Friday, July 4, 2025. VON SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Chautauqua Visual Arts student painter Audry Barnes begins setting up the compositional elements of her canvas before the start of the Fourth of July fireworks show over Chautauqua Lake on University Beach on Friday, July 4, 2025. VON SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Chautauqua Visual Arts student painter Morgan Binkerd begins setting up her canvas before the start of the fireworks show over Chautauqua Lake for a class with professor Susanna Coffey on University Beach on Friday, July 4, 2025. VON SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Tom Farrell, left, and John Haughton work the grills during a neighborhood barbecue Friday, July 4, 2025, Miller Park. JOSEPH CIEMBRONIEWICZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Chautauquans pile onto the Three Taps dock as Chautauqua Lake lights up during the Fourth of July fireworks show on Friday, July 4, 2025. 

Hannah Dickerson, 2, left, and Peyton Pawasarat, 4, play on the fountain Friday, July 4, 2025, Bestor Plaza. JOSEPH CIEMBRONIEWICZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Fireworks explode above Chautauqua Lake as Chautauquans line docks on north lake Friday, July 4, 2025. JOSEPH CIEMBRONIEWICZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A group of Chautauqua Children’s School students sing songs on the steps of the Colonnade after the parade Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A group of Chautauqua Children’s School students sing songs on the steps of the Colonnade after the parade Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A group of Chautauqua Children’s School students sing songs on the steps of the Colonnade after the parade Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A group of Chautauqua Children’s School students sing songs on the steps of the Colonnade after the parade Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A group of Chautauqua Children’s School students hold up their hand painted banner before parading to the steps of the Colonnade on Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Krysta Finet, left, and Lucinda Thomas, hold hands during the Chautauqua Children’s School parade on the way to the front steps of Colonnade Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Parents and other family members of Chautauqua Children’s School students watch and take photos while the children sing songs on the steps of the Colonnade Friday, July 4, 2025. GEORGE KOLOSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER