To celebrate America’s 250th Birthday, the theme for this year’s Chautauqua is Founding Figures: People Who Helped Create our Nation. A Chautauqua is a free public event where storytellers, historians, and musicians perform first-person portrayals of famous historical figures. This free festival will take place in Bishop Hill IL behind the Steeple Building Museum on Saturday August 22, 2026.
After lunch at 1:30 p.m., enjoy 1619: The Journey of a People a dynamic theatrical and lecture experience featuring playwright, professor, and performer Ted Williams III. On August 20, 1619, 20 enslaved Africans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia. The 400-year journey that followed would change a nation and the world. This one-man show packs generations of history into an abridged performance. 1619: The Journey of a People commemorates the struggles, recognizes the heroes, and critically analyzes the American journey towards freedom and equality. From the beginning of American slavery to the Reconstruction, the Great Migration, the Civil Rights Era, and modern movements for justice, Williams uses history to explain America’s current reality.
All of the Chautauqua programs will be held behind the Steeple Building Museum at 103 North Bishop Hill Rd. in Bishop Hill, IL. Folks are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and to bring a friend. This free public event is sponsored by the Bishop Hill Heritage Association, Community State Bank, Fox Tales International, and the Illinois Arts Council. Regional Media is our major media sponsor. For more information, call 309-927-3899, visit ww.bishophillheritage.org, or email bhha@mymctc.net .
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