Continuing a tradition launched in 2017, Chautauqua Institution will host the annual Winter Village at Chautauqua on two holiday weekends in 2019: Nov. 29–Dec. 1, following Thanksgiving, and Dec. 21–22, just before Christmas. The festivities will highlight on-grounds shopping and dining, and include special events such as wine and food pairing dinners, classes in holiday decoration-making, Breakfast with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides, and other seasonal activities.

The 2019 Winter Village kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23, when the holiday lights and displays on Bestor Plaza will be illuminated for the first time of the season. On-ground shops and restaurants will be invited to stay open late that night, and holiday music will fill the plaza. Santa will arrive on a horse-drawn carriage to signal the launch of Chautauqua’s Winter Village and the holiday season. Highlights of opening weekend include the popular Wine Tastes and Small Plates event in collaboration with Bag & String Wine Merchants, Holiday Story Time at the Smith Memorial Library, and visits with Santa in the lobby of the St. Elmo.

The lineup for the two Winter Village weekends will include some favorite events and elements of its first two years — horse-drawn carriage rides by Crackerjack Farms and treat decorating in the Afterwords Café will run all through both weekends; the Wreaths and Wine event and Holiday Centerpiece class will ensure your home is properly dressed for the holidays; and the popular Breakfast with Santa hosted by La Familia on Dec. 21.  Some events require advance tickets or registration; see winter.chq.org for details.

Shopping experiences each weekend include: Christmas trees on Bestor Plaza; books and gifts at the Chautauqua Bookstore; clothing and gifts at the Chautauqua Wearhouse, Pat’s at Chautauqua, GG My Love, Gretchen’s Gallery and the Plaza Market; services by appointment at the St. Elmo Spa and Vincenza Salon & Spa. Open food venues during the Winter Village include the Plaza Market, La Familia (for Breakfast with Santa) and Afterwords Café, all on Bestor Plaza.

Admission and parking are free, and overnight accommodations are available. Visitors can sign up to receive email updates about Winter Village 2019 at winter.chq.org. The Chautauqua Institution grounds are open to the public with no entry or parking fees until our 2020 summer season begins on June 22. Some shops and restaurants, including the Chautauqua Bookstore, will keep regular hours throughout the winter and spring.Visit our Year-Round Dining and Shopping page for more details.