Lakeside Chautauqua is a family destination, and the safety and well-being of every guest are the highest priorities. Please review the policies below and the Know Before You Go section of the website prior to your visit.
Guests and residents must purchase a Chautauqua Pass and Auto Pass to enter the grounds of Lakeside during the Chautauqua programming season, from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Guests and residents must purchase a Chautauqua Pass and Auto Pass to enter the grounds of Lakeside during the Chautauqua programming season, from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Purchasing a Chautauqua Pass includes admittance to Lakeside’s grounds and access to Hoover Auditorium entertainment/concerts, the Pool, Wellness Center and a variety of religious, educational, cultural and recreational opportunities. Please carry your Chautauqua Pass with you at all times as it required to enter and exit the gates of Lakeside, Hoover Auditorium and the Pool.
A Daily Chautauqua Pass is valid from the date of entry until 7 p.m. the following day, which means you get to experience almost two days of summertime fun for the price of one.
Purchasing passes online prior to your arrival saves you time and money. When you arrive, jump in the fast pass lane at the Fifth Street Gate to enter.
A Preservation Fee is applied to all Adult Daily and Weekly Chautauqua Passes. If purchased online, the cost is $2/adult pass transaction. If purchased at the gate, the cost is $3/adult pass transaction. Please note that the Preservation Fee does not apply to Season Chautauqua Passes or Youth and Child Passes.
Our Lakeside facilities and grounds play a significant role in the annual Chautauqua experience. Across the grounds, there are more than 50 historic structures and facilities, nine miles of roads and sidewalks, and extensive parks and grounds to maintain. As the operating costs increase, we must invest in the maintenance and repair of our grounds, buildings and infrastructure and continue this reinvestment year after year.
If the allotted time for a 4-Hour/Partial Day Pass, 2-Hour Shopping & Dining Pass or any complimentary or special event pass is exceeded, guests will be required to purchase a Daily Chautauqua Pass – with the difference.
A Partial Day Pass, valid for 4 hours, is available to purchase for $15. A Partial Day Pass does not include an Auto Pass or access to Hoover Auditorium entertainment or the Grindley Aquatic Wellness Campus Pool and Wellness Center.
This pass is available for purchase at the Fifth Street Gate and South Gate upon entry (not online) and must be purchased before 5 p.m. If the time allotted is exceeded, the guest(s) will be charged a Daily Chautauqua Pass. An Auto Pass needs to be purchased if parking.
This complimentary pass is valid for 2 hours and must be validated/stamped by the manager of the business establishment upon checkout. If this is not completed, or if the time allotted is exceeded, the guest(s) will be charged a Daily Chautauqua Pass. A Shopping/Dining Pass does not include an Auto Pass or access to Hoover Auditorium entertainment or the Grindley Aquatic Wellness Campus Pool and Wellness Center. This pass is available to pick up at any gate upon entry, but not available online. An Auto Pass needs to be purchased for parking.
Please present your Chautauqua Pass to be scanned by the gate attendant when entering and exiting the gates of Lakeside. Passes are required for entry to Hoover Auditorium entertainment and the Grindley Aquatic & Wellness Campus Pool. Present your Chautauqua Passes and Auto Passes from a mobile device or a printed pass.
Lakeside will scan barcodes printed on Daily and Weekly Chautauqua Passes upon entering and exiting the gates of Lakeside. Season Chautauqua Passes will not be scanned.
To help with congestion and continue our high safety standards, Lakeside offers three different parking options and fees. Park at the nearby Danbury School Parking Lot, South Gate Parking Lot or on the grounds of Lakeside.
We encourage you to purchase your Auto Passes online before your arrival or you can purchase at any gate upon entry. Please note that Danbury School Parking Lot Passes are purchased at the Lakeside gates only; there is no online option. Upon receiving your Auto Pass from a gate attendant, place it in the lower left corner of your windshield. The Safety Services Department will check Auto Passes as part of their daily routine. Please review the Auto Pass Rates.
Will Call for prepaid Chautauqua Passes and Auto Passes is located inside the Welcome Center (near the Route 163/South Gate Parking Lot) on weekends, the South Gate on weekdays and the Fifth Street Gate when the South Gate is closed. Please note: there is no drive-thru window at the Welcome Center. Short-term parking is located outside the building. Please use the stairs or ramp from the South Gate Parking Lot to pick up passes from the desk attendant.
Lakeside Chautauqua accepts Mastercard, Visa, Discover and American Express.
Please note that some shops and restaurants only accept cash. A Huntington Bank ATM is located inside the Third Street entrance of the Fountain Inn, located at 225 Maple Ave., or near Sypherd’s Cycles on Second Street.
Lakeside will charge a processing fee of 2.75% to credit card transactions. Please note that you can pay with check by mail or visit the front desk of the Administration Office, 236 Walnut Avenue, Lakeside, Ohio 43440.
No, Lakeside does not provide refunds for any passes. Implemented in 2024, guests can purchase Trip Insurance through the online ticketing system, which provides a refund should something happen, or you can transfer your passes to a later date before Labor Day of the current season, at an equal or lesser value. The difference can be paid by the guest. Guests can transfer the pass to a later date by seeing a Lakeside Gate Ambassador at the Fifth Street Gate, South Gate and Hoover Ticket Office or contact the Gate Supervisor at [email protected] for assistance.
Auto Passes are non-refundable. Auto Passes may be exchanged for another Auto Pass of equal or lesser value if requested before the arrival date. Exchanges must be completed before the pass start date to be deemed valid. To exchange, contact the Gate Supervisor at [email protected] for assistance. No refunds will be given for early departures.
Complimentary golf cart shuttles run 7 a.m.-11 p.m. daily during the summer, with the last pick up at 10:30 p.m.
For those with limited mobility, the Mack Mobile is available by calling (419) 341-8247.
Shuttles run on a continuous route between the following stops: Welcome Center (near the South Gate parking lot), Campground, Pool (Sixth Street), Shuffleboard (Second Street & Central Avenue), Hotel Lakeside, the Fountain Inn, Hoover Auditorium, Fifth Street Gate (as needed), the Rhein Center (Sixth Street & Walnut Avenue) and the Lakeside Schoolhouse parking area (Seventh Street). Please note that the shuttle service does not run to the Danbury School Parking Lot. Guests can pick up a shuttle from the South Gate entrance.
Complimentary golf cart shuttles run 7 a.m.-11 p.m. daily during the summer, with the last pick up at 10:30 p.m.
For those with limited mobility, the Mack Mobile is available by calling (419) 341-8247.
Shuttles run on a continuous route between the following stops: Welcome Center (near the South Gate parking lot), Campground, Pool (Sixth Street), Shuffleboard (Second Street & Central Avenue), Hotel Lakeside, the Fountain Inn, Hoover Auditorium, Fifth Street Gate (as needed), the Rhein Center (Sixth Street & Walnut Avenue) and the Lakeside Schoolhouse parking area (Seventh Street). Please note that the shuttle service does not run to the Danbury School Parking Lot. Guests can pick up a shuttle from the South Gate entrance.
The speed limit in Lakeside is 15 mph. Only licensed drivers who carry liability insurance may drive golf carts. All golf carts on the grounds must pass an inspection. One safety belt per person is required.
Evening concerts are held at Hoover Auditorium (115 W. Third St.), located between Walnut and Central Avenues in Lakeside. The auditorium is a short walk from all available parking locations. A complimentary golf cart shuttle service is available on a continuous route during the summer season. The historic auditorium seats more than 2,400 guests.
For select shows in Hoover Auditorium, a queue line will begin in front Hoover Auditorium (northside) to Walnut Avenue (westside) no earlier than 5:30 p.m. on the day of the show.
Each person in the queue line may hold a queue place for one other person. The queue line enters through the Hoover Auditorium lobby (northside) doors only. Once the queue line is empty, the Hoover side doors will open for guests.
For queue line shows, the doors to Hoover Auditorium open around 6:45 p.m. ADA access for those with canes, walkers and wheelchairs begins at 6:30 p.m. through the center doors on the west side of the building along Walnut Avenue. Please only one additional guest for ADA assistance. Check concert start times at lakesideohio.com/calendar.
For all regular shows, the doors to Hoover Auditorium open a half-hour prior to the concert start time. Check concert start times at lakesideohio.com/calendar. ADA access for those with canes, walkers and wheelchairs begins at the same time through the center doors on the west side of the building along Walnut Ave.
Seats in Hoover Auditorium are general admission and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each guest may hold only one seat in addition to their own.
At some Hoover Auditorium performances, bags will be checked upon admission. Backpacks and large purses are prohibited inside Hoover Auditorium.
Food and beverages are not permitted in Hoover Auditorium during live performances, shows, worship or entertainment. Bottle water is permitted.
In the event of severe weather, shelters are located at the Fountain Inn, Hoover Auditorium restrooms, Orchestra Hall, Hotel Lakeside, Bettinger Park restrooms, Wo-Ho-Mis Lodge and Wesley Lodge restrooms.
Emergency medical care and urgent care facilities are available at Magruder Hospital (615 Fulton St. in Port Clinton), a 15-minute drive west of Lakeside. Call (419) 734-3131 for the hospital and (419) 732-0417 for urgent care.
Also available for medical care is Firelands Hospital (1111 Hayes Ave. in Sandusky), a half-hour drive from Lakeside. Call (419) 557-7400.
FASTrack Urgent Care is available (135 W. Perry St. in Port Clinton); walk-ins are accepted and there’s no facility fee. Call (419) 732-7800.
Urgent Care is also available at NOMS Urgent Care (2500 W. Strub Rd. in Sandusky). Call (419) 502-5932.
Some areas around Lakeside are pedestrian-only, for example, Walnut Plaza, the lakefront path, the Dock and Bettinger Park. Wheelchairs, baby strollers and kids’ wagons are welcome.
AEDs can be found in the Fountain Inn lobby near the office, Tennis Center Office, Wellness Center hallway, Pool office, Shuffleboard, Sailing Club, Security office and Lakeside Security trucks.
Lakeside Chautauqua as both a private land owner and an employer, prohibits the presence of firearms within Lakeside except those carried by law enforcement personnel or otherwise allowed by law. Notice signs have been posted.
No motorcycles are permitted on the Lakeside grounds. Motorcycles must be parked in the South Gate Parking Lot from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
The discharge, ignition or explosion of fireworks in Lakeside is banned and never authorized.
View Lakeside’s Rules & Regulations at lakesideohio.com/rules.
Lakeside Chautauqua is a tobacco-free community. Smoking of cigarettes, cigars, pipes or other tobacco products, and use of alternative nicotine products like e-cigarettes/vaping products are prohibited in Lakeside except within a structure owned/permitted in a Lakeside homeowner’s structure. The illegal use or possession of drugs or controlled substances on the Lakeside grounds is prohibited.
There shall be no consumption of alcoholic beverages on the Lakeside grounds except within a homeowners’ property. Alcoholic beverages are not sold or served on the grounds. There are no alcoholic beverages and glass containers permitted in the Grindley Aquatic & Wellness Campus Pool area.
Public restrooms are located at the Pavilion, Bettinger Park near the Shuffleboard courts, the Welcome Center, Hoover Auditorium, Grindley Aquatic & Wellness Campus Pool, Wellness Center, the Fountain Inn lobby, Hotel Lakeside lobby and Perry Park.
To view the hours of operation for facilities and recreation activities, visit lakesideohio.com/hours.
Quiet hours are from 11 p.m. (11:30 p.m. on Saturday) to 8 a.m. (noon on Sunday).
The weather on the lake is unpredictable. To view event changes, visit Lakeside’s homepage at lakesideohio.com and click on the ‘Event Changes & Updates’ section.
No animals other than pets may be brought or kept on the Lakeside grounds. All pets shall at all times be under leash or confined to the property of the property owner, renter or guest who owns the animal. Walkers of pets shall clean up after their pets at all times and in all locations. Service dogs are welcome.
A few days a week during the summer, between 10 a.m.-3 p.m., LaFarge Quarry in Marblehead blasts the rock. These blasts cause a loud boom and an earthquake like rumble in Lakeside.
The nearest post office is located at 1306 W. Main St., Marblehead, Ohio 43440. Individual postage stamps are also available at the Lakeside Chautauqua Administration Office, located at 236 Walnut Ave.
Hammocks are welcome south of Fifth Street. They’re not permitted along the lakefront path or in Bettinger Park or Perry Park.
Glass is not permitted on the Lakeside Dock, Beach, Splash Park, Kiddie Pool, Grindley Aquatic & Wellness Campus Pool.
If your group needs to cancel an event, the full security deposit may be refunded if cancellation takes place 90 days (3 months) prior to the scheduled event start date. If an event is cancelled within 90 days of the scheduled event date, no deposit will be refunded. If your group books within 30 days of your event and cancels prior to three weeks (21 days) of the scheduled event date, then the full security deposit may be refunded. If your event is cancelled within three weeks of the scheduled event date, no deposit will be refunded.
Your group can check-in any time after 3 p.m. in the hotel lobby of the Fountain Inn. Your group will need to check-out prior to 11 a.m. in the hotel lobby of the Fountain Inn.
A deposit is required at the time of booking if your event is in 30 days or less. All other deposits will vary based on the date of the event at the time of booking. The deposit date will be determined the day of booking in addition to receiving an Event Contract with the deposit date.
Summer Parking: During the Chautauqua summer season, from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, parking is available in the following locations. View parking rates.
- Danbury School Parking Lot
- South Gate Parking Lot
- Inside the Gates: There’s limited parking within the gates of Lakeside, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Possible parking locations are near Lakeside Schoolhouse, Wesley Lodge and south of Hoover Auditorium. Parking is also available around Hilltop House, the Fountain Inn and Hotel Lakeside if you’re an overnight guest of those facilities.
Fall, Winter & Spring Parking: From Labor Day through the Thursday before Memorial Day, all parking is free and has much more availability, especially inside the gates at the venues.
We accept cash, checks made out to the “Lakeside Association” and the following credit cards: Discover, Mastercard and Visa.
Yes, Lakeside has a contract with Eric Foltz, owner of Cold Creek Catering. Those who use or rent Lakeside facilities are only permitted to use this catering service for their event. For details about catering your event, visit the Catering page.
The deadline is two weeks prior to the date of your event or three weeks prior if you’re having a catered meal.
Yes, there are several restaurants and shops open during the summer and a more limited list during the fall, winter and spring. Visit the Business District page.
Yes. The Lakeside Salon & Spa is located within the gates on Walnut Avenue. For details and to book your service, visit lakesidesalonandspa.com.
Yes, your group will be given the login information prior to your arrival for your event.
No, groups are required to bring their own linens or rent through Lakeside Linen Supply at lakesidelinensupply.com.
Rental fees can vary depending on the venue rental, but most include the following:
- Tables & chairs
- Table & chair setup
- AV/projection
- Sound
- Podium
*Please ask your event representative what your rental fee includes based on your venue.
Each group is expected to clean up after themselves and leave the venue and group housing as they found it. However, Lakeside Chautauqua also reserves the right to charge for excessive cleaning needs following an event in a venue or group housing facility.
Yes, we do offer Group Rate Passes for groups of 25 or more that are renting a venue or group housing. Check with the Conference & Event Planning office at (419) 798-4461, ext. 279.
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USCG Approved Life Jacket must be worn at all times.
You must have an adult, ages 18+, present to sign a waiver.
All sailors must pass a sailing test with a score of at least 80% at the Lakeside Sailing Center and be cleared by the staff to rent a sailboat.
No person under age 12 shall operate any vessel unless under the direct visual and audible supervision of a person who is ages 18+.
Children ages 8 and younger must have an adult, ages 18+, on board.
No more than two people at a time are permitted on a paddleboard.
Guests may switch kayak and paddleboard users during their rental time. However, rules and regulations apply to all watercraft passengers.
- Swim in buoyed areas only.
- No diving or flipping off the Dock.
- Swim during daylight hours only.
- Use the buddy system.
- Look-out chairs are for authorized personnel only.
- Parents & guardians watch your children.
- Do no climb on stone breakwalls.
- Inflatables only allowed between L & I Dock swim area.
- No pets on Dock.
- Lifeguards are not on duty; swim at your own risk.
- Stay within the swim lines at the beach and between the I and L Docks.
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