Over Memorial Day weekend, join us in Lakeside Chautauqua as we remember U.S. military men and women who lost their lives while serving our country and honor those retired and in active duty.

We will also kick off the summer season and offer guests a glimpse of the Chautauqua experience through the many religious, educational, cultural and recreational programs offered.

The Lakeside Chautauqua gates are in operation starting at 7 a.m. Friday, May 22 until 7 p.m. Monday, May 25. A Daily Chautauqua Pass, which is a reduced price for Memorial Day weekend, is required to enter the grounds; $12.25 for adults and $8.75 for youth (ages 12-18) per day.

Season Chautauqua Passes are available for adults and youth. Children under the age of 12 and guests over the age of 90 are always free, but require complimentary passes, which are available upon entering Lakeside Chautauqua. A Partial Day Chautauqua Pass (valid 3 hours) is also available for $6.75.

A Daily Auto Pass is required for Memorial Day weekend. To park on the grounds, the cost is $10 per day (complimentary shuttle service is available at select locations). Parking is also available at the South Gate Parking Lot for $5 per day (complimentary shuttle service is available from the parking lot).

The Danbury School Parking Lot will not be available for parking over Memorial Day weekend, as school is still in session.

A Season Auto Pass is $145 (purchased by May 31) and $165 (purchased after June 1). Purchasing a Season Auto Pass grants access to park inside the games.  

To drop off, unload or load vehicles, a complimentary, short-term, 30-Minute Drop-Off Pass may be obtained. Guests will then be asked to return their vehicle to the designated parking lot after they are finished.  

For details about admission to Lakeside Chautauqua, visit www.lakesideohio.com/passes or contact (419) 798-4461, ext. 265.

A schedule of events is listed below. The holiday weekend will include full service hotels, complimentary shuttle service, shops, restaurants, tennis, shuffleboard, miniature golf, children's pool and splash park and waterfront activities. All businesses will be open for the weekend.

The Sounds of Sousa will kick off the Memorial Day weekend entertainment in Lakeside. The band will take the audience back to an era when concert bands were kings of the entertainment scene.

Formed by Marcus Neiman in 1992, The Sounds of Sousa was created to celebrate the centennial of the formation of John Phillip Sousa's original non-military professional band.

According to Neiman, "Sousa's concert style is characterized by its fast pace, spirited encores, use of out�standing soloists and the rousing fi�nale of his most famous composition, 'The Stars and Stripes Forever.'"

The Sounds of Sousa is composed of some of the finest musicians in Ohio. All members are appointed based on their musical skill level, dedication to performance, professionalism and a shared belief in their founding goals.

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 23 &  

12-4 p.m. Sunday, May 24

Pedestrian Walkway on Walnut Avenue, between Second & Third Streets

The Lakeside Plant Sale will feature a variety of annuals, perennials, herbs, ground covers and small nursery stock for purchase. All proceeds from the sale will help keep the Lakeside Chautauqua grounds beautiful throughout the summer.

  In addition to the Lakeside Plant Sale, there will be four gardening demonstrations provided by Corso's Flower & Garden Center.

Annette and Tom Mercer, landscape designers at Corso's, will lead the gardening demonstrations. Both are alumni of Ohio State University. Corso's will also host a question and answer tent at the event.

Demonstrations held throughout the day on Saturday, May 23, include:

10 a.m. Impressive Container Gardens
Participants in this demonstration will learn about different types of plants and design techniques to fill a variety of garden containers.

11 a.m. Landscaping Ideas to Create Your Own "Outdoor Oasis"
This demonstration will share information about the types of plants and layouts that help create a unique, outdoor oasis.

1 p.m. Light Up Your Night with Outdoor Lighting & Drip Irrigation
Participants in this demonstration will learn how drip irrigation and lighting can brighten up their landscapes at night.

2 p.m. Perfect Patios, Wandering Walks & Wonderful Walls
The final demonstration of the day will teach participants how to make the most of their home's outdoor spaces.

If interested in volunteering for the Lakeside Plant Sale, email [email protected] or call (419) 798-5396 by Wednesday, May 20. In addition, please download and return the Volunteer Application. Visit the  Volunteer page to learn about other volunteer opportunities.

10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23

Chautauqua Hall & Archives Center

$5/session per family or $10 for all Family History Day events

The Lakeside Heritage Society's Family History Day events scheduled include "Genealogy 101," a presentation from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. in Chautauqua Hall. Rebecca B. Hill, head librarian at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, will discuss basic information and techniques on genealogy research.

From 12:30-1:45 p.m., two hands-on activities will take place at the Archives Center, located behind Heritage Hall. For the first activity, children and adults will create their own family trees. The second activity is for adults to discover what information is available on their own Lakeside cottage history. Participants can select one activity or the other.

"Unearthing My Family Roots,"

She will discuss her genealogical research, the sometimes unexpected stories about family members uncovered through this journey, and the interesting people and places she has encountered through her research.

Because there is limited space at the Archives Center, pre-register for the two hands-on activities at the Archives Center by contacting Gretchen Curtis at (419) 798-5519 or return the Family History Day Registration Form with payment to: Lakeside Heritage Archives, 324 W. Third St., Lakeside OH 43440.

Rhein Center & Outdoor Tents 

The Rhein Center  staff will host two open houses during May - one over Memorial Day weekend and one during the 2015 Bonus Weekend - to introduce new and exciting projects taking place this summer.

Discover the Rhein Center: Garden Art for Everyone will take place from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, May 23 at the C. Kirk Rhein, Jr., Center for the Living Arts.

This family event will include tours of the facility, demonstrations by artists, free art activities for the entire family and refreshments. Guests will also learn how to make garden art.

Staff will also be on hand to assist families in creating accounts for the online class registration program. Only one account is needed per household.

This online system is a convenient and efficient way to browse, register and pay for art classes at the Rhein Center.

3 p.m. & 4 p.m. Saturday, May 23

Chautauqua Park

Pre-registration required

Cheryl Harner, master gardener and Flora-Quest co-founder, will lead two walking tours at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, May 23 in Chautauqua Park, located at the corner of Sixth Street and Poplar Avenue. The walking tours will identify Native Plants of Ohio at Lakeside.

Each tour has a limited number of participants, therefore, pre-registration is required. Participants may register from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 23 during the Lakeside Plant Sale or until the tours are full. The registration table will be located near the Legacy House (217 Walnut Ave.) under a tent.

Harner is interested in all forms of flora and fauna and fascinated by the connections between botany and wildlife. She is an avid gardener and lifelong wildflower and butterfly enthusiast.

She is co-founder of Flora-Quest, a botanical eco-tourism adventure. Harner also writes a native plant, bird and butterfly blog for its website, entitled "Weedpicker's Journal." Visit  www.cherylharner.blogspot.com for more information.

In case of inclement weather, Harner will provide a PowerPoint presentation on Native Plants of Ohio at Lakeside at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the Fountain Inn Aigler Room. No reservations required to attend either presentation.  

10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 24

Hoover Auditorium

U.S. Senate Chaplain Dr. Barry C. Black will serve as guest preacher at the Hoover Community Worship Service over Memorial Day weekend. The service will be accompanied by the Terra Choral Society. Dr. Black's sermon, titled "Do What You Can," is based on Mark 14:1-9. Children's Church will be offered during the service.

The names of those buried in The Memorial Garden at Chautauqua Park, and those who have died during 2014-2015, will be read aloud during this service.

In addition to the Hoover Community Worship Service, Lakeside Chautauqua will host a Dockside Worship Service, led by the Rev. Dr. Irwin Jennings, at 8:30 a.m. at the East Pavilion Deck. The Lakeside United Methodist Church will also host a service, led by the Rev. Vernon Shepherd, at 9 a.m.

A Dessert Reception with the U.S. Senate Chaplain Dr. Barry C. Black will take place from 12:45-1:45 p.m. on the East Pavilion Deck with light refreshments.

For those who wish to attend worship, a complimentary Church Pass may be obtained 7:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday; valid until 3 p.m. The pass includes admittance for guests and auto.

10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, May 24

Hotel Lakeside Dining Room & Caf�

All are invited to attend the Memorial Day Weekend Brunch at the Hotel Lakeside Dining Room & Caf�.

Scott and Josie Kluding of Avery's Caf� & Catering will prepare a buffet-style menu, including pancakes, bacon, sausage, hash brown casserole, sausage gravy and biscuits, pastries, muffins, croissants, chef carved ham, smoke gouda scallop potato, green beans almondine, tossed salad and dinner rolls. Assorted cakes, pies and brownies and fresh fruit will be available for dessert.

One third of the proceeds from the brunch will be donated
to the preservation of the Hotel Lakeside in celebration of its
140th anniversary this year. Visit www.lakesideohio.com for
more information about this event.

2-3 p.m. Sunday, May 24

Chautauqua Hall

The Lakeside Heritage Society will present a brief history of Memorial Day and the documentary, "Hallowed Grounds: America's Overseas Military Cemeteries," a 2009 PBS special.

Many people are aware of the famous American military cemetery at Omaha Beach, Normandy, but few know there are 21 other U.S. military cemeteries in eight different countries.

These cemeteries, created and maintained by the U.S. government through the American Battle Monuments Commission, are permanent memorial sites. Collectively they contain the remains of 125,000 Americans. There are 94,000 more names commemorated on the Walls of the Missing.

"Hallowed Grounds" is the first major documentary made about these shrines, and brings them all to life with powerful storytelling.

6 p.m. Sunday May 24 (Jack Hanna Meet & Greet)

7 p.m. Sunday, May 24 ("Into the Wild - Live" Show)

Hoover Auditorium

Jack Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, will travel to Lakeside with his favorite zoo friends for a special event in Hoover Auditorium over Memorial Day weekend.

Prior to the "Into the Wild - Live" show, Hanna will sign autographs from 6-6:45 p.m. in Hoover Auditorium Lobby. Guests are invited to form a line on the Hoover Auditorium Porch at 5:45 p.m., and the doors will open promptly at 6 p.m. Autographs will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hanna's "Into the Wild - Live" show not only examines the importance of wildlife conservation, but features some of his favorite animal ambassadors onstage for an educational and entertaining experience the entire family is sure to enjoy.

"I have loved animals since I was a young boy growing up in Tennessee," said Hanna. "I could never have imagined where my life would take me - and it's only getting wilder."

10:30 a.m. Monday, May 25

Second Street & Pavilion Circle (Central Park)

This year, Lakeside Chautauqua will host the peninsula's Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony.

The parade will begin at Central Avenue and Fifth Street, travel north on Central Avenue, west on Second Street and proceed to Pavilion Circle, located in Central Park, where the Memorial Day Ceremony will take place. The rain location for the ceremony is Orchestra Hall.

There is no charge for admission to enter Lakeside Chautauqua or for parking for the Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony. Guests may enter the gates from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.