About

What is “Make Music Chequamegon Bay”?

The MAKE MUSIC CHEQUAMEGON BAY will be a free, Chequamegon Bay area-wide celebration of neighbors going outside and making music as part of National Make Music Day. Featuring music makers of all ages and abilities, MAKE MUSIC CHEQUAMEGON BAY happens June 21st from 6-7 pm. This event is sponsored by CBAC, Big Top Chautauqua, and Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau.

Beginning in 1982 in France as a national holiday known as “Le Féte de la Musique,” this event has grown to over 1000 cities and towns in over 120 countries and is now known worldwide as MAKE MUSIC DAY. MAKE MUSIC CHEQUAMEGON BAY is the newest chapter in this worldwide phenomenon. Big Top Chautauqua is providing the platform to get up on stage or just grab a seat and listen. Join us for open mic night Wednesday, June 21 at Big Top’s new year-round venue The Backstage! We will be joined by special guest hosts, including some of your favorite Blue Canvas Orchestra musicians! Enjoy live entertainment, drinks, and lite fare during a unique night out.

For more info and/or to participate: Go to makemusicday.org/chequamegonbay

Who is involved?

Well, besides YOU – a special event like this takes a dedicated team of volunteers to bring it all together. CBAC, Big Top Chautauqua, Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau have come together in 2023 to bring music to you!

For more information, contact us at: chequamegonbay@makemusicday.org

SPONSORSHIP NEEDED! Big Top Chautauqua is so grateful for the love & support shown to the Big Top over our entire 36 years so far. Because of our amazing Big Top family, we continue to be a strong organization. Still, each year approximately 30% of our annual budget comes from contributors and sponsors just like you. We need each one of you to keep the magic happening. Will you renew your contribution to the Annual Fund today?

Donors of $125 or more join our Blue Canvas Club. In recognition, donors receive advance ticket ordering privileges. Benefits are valid for 12 months. Online donations can take up to 3 days to process; for an immediate donation to order tickets early, call (715) 373-5552. Thank you!

Now… June 21st will be here before we know it, so let’s get ready to get make some music!

Participate

Since 1982, June 21st has been designated MAKE MUSIC DAY around the world. Locally,we are celebrating with our own Make Music chapter: MAKE MUSIC CHEQUAMEGON BAY!

Below is information and a list of just some of the possibilities of SAFELY experiencing MAKE MUSIC DAY in the Chequamegon Bay area. If you want to make music yourself, just go to a local park or sidewalk storefront, or the beach, or your own front porch or back yard – and play! See a list below of some of this year’s offerings. MAKE MUSIC CHEQUAMEGON BAY is a free, open-air event that invites people of all ages and abilities to participate SAFELY either as music makers or listeners. The entire world will be making music on Sunday – let’s join them by sending our music across the waves of the largest freshwater lake in the world!

We are strongly encouraging listeners to maintain a safe distance from other listeners and music makers. The essence of MAKE MUSIC DAY is to simply go outside and make music and go out side and enjoy hearing music. So with that in mind, we are encouraging individuals and smaller ensembles to take advantage of our local public parks, beaches, sidewalks, porches or any other place you can safely gather – and MAKE MUSIC!

“SO, WHERE CAN MUSIC BE MADE?”:

LOOK FOR THE “MAKE MUSIC HERE” SIGNS THAT WILL BE PLACED IN PUBLIC PARKS around our community in Washburn, Ashland, Bayfield, and Cornucopia. If someone is playing, just wait your turn or come back later.

Here are some locations where music can be made:

WASHBURN:

Wikdal Park (on Hwy 13 across from The Snug)

Legion Park (on Hwy 13 next to the Washburn Cultural Center)

ASHLAND:

Ashland Bandshell(on Hwy 2 next to the Chequamegon Hotel

Co-op Park (on Main Street across from Cheq. Food Co-op)

BAYFIELD:

Memorial Park Gazebo(at the bottom of Rittenhouse Ave on the lake)

ANOTHER WAY TO CELEBRATE:

WINDOW SERENADES – Another opportunity to make music is to go to the home of someone who is house-bound or to an ELDER CARE FACILITY and play outside their windows. Simply call and let them know you’re coming.

We also ask that you please take a photo of your music making on JUNE 21st and send it to us for our website, and so that we can also get an idea of how many people participated this year. Photos can be sent to: chequamegonbay@makemusic.org

Let’s fill the air with music and send it out across the waves! Cheers and stay safe!

Gallery

Support

SPONSORSHIP NEEDED! Big Top Chautauqua is so grateful for the love & support shown to the Big Top over our entire 36 years so far. Because of our amazing Big Top family, we continue to be a strong organization. Still, each year approximately 30% of our annual budget comes from contributors and sponsors just like you. We need each one of you to keep the magic happening. Will you renew your contribution to the Annual Fund today?

Donors of $125 or more join our Blue Canvas Club. In recognition, donors receive advance ticket ordering privileges. Benefits are valid for 12 months. Online donations can take up to 3 days to process; for an immediate donation to order tickets early, call (715) 373-5552. Thank you!

June 21st will be here before we know it, so let’s get ready to get make some music!

Contact

Get in touch with us at chequamegonbay@makemusicday.org