NORA SMITH
Staff Writer
The scent of hot dogs, freshly cut watermelon, brownies and perhaps most importantly, beloved baked beans will satisfy what may be Chautauquans’ greatest craving — not ideas, but lunch.
From noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Chautauquans will make their way toward the grove outside Alumni Hall to feast at the Alumni Association of Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle’s Great American Picnic.
Chautauquans can line up along the sidewalk to purchase tickets from the ticket table, which they can then put toward food, games like cornhole or mini golf and other activities like face painting.
Ellen Chamberlin, the AACLSC member heading the picnic this year, and Pat McDonald, president of the AACLSC, said the board concluded not to raise prices this year to keep costs accessible to Chautauquans. If one were to purchase the whole menu, it would cost around $14.
“It is our gift to the community,” McDonald said. “We don’t make money on it; we try to break even.”
All proceeds from the event fund the AACLSC’s scholarship program for local librarians and teachers, providing each recipient with a gate pass, a CLSC membership and a spot in a literary arts class for one week.
In addition to the picnic supporting local educational opportunities, it is also a chance for community members to experience the historic grounds.
“We want them to see this beautiful building; the buildings are open, come and have lunch and get an idea of all the cool history stuff,” Chamberlin said.
In addition to Chamberlin heading the picnic this year, she has also taken on the responsibility of preserving the secrecy of the recently recovered recipe for the baked beans, which she will be making and serving.
“The recipe is supposed to be secret,” Chamberlin said. “So, you can’t just pass it on to a bunch of people and say, ‘Make these beans’ — you have to preserve the secrecy of it.”
According to both Chamberlin and McDonald, the beans were a massive hit last year, and this year there will be vegetarian options as well, in addition to the vegan hot dogs.
“It feels like America,” McDonald said. “There’s something about it; it feels like it should be the Fourth of July because everybody’s there . . . that doesn’t always happen.”
