CHAUTAUQUA – From beachside frolicking to strolls along Bestor Plaza, Chautauqua Institution was abuzz for opening day on Saturday.

Families played at the beach or gathered at the Brick Walk Cafe for refreshment, while other visitors met up with one another at the amphitheater.

Each person had different reasons for being there, and some were willing to share their thoughts on the first day of the season.

Brad and Shae Anderson of Pittsburgh, Pa., had their three children with them at Children’s Beach for a day of sun and fun.

Brad Anderson said the family has been coming to visit for a weekend each year for approximately five years now.

“We have an aunt and uncle that own a house here,” he said. “The kids just love it up here.”

He said the family enjoys the tranquillity and the fun activities available to them at the institution.

“It’s relaxing and we don’t have to leave the institution to do something,” Brad Anderson said. “We’ve got the parks, beaches and bike riding on the grounds.”

When asked how he felt about the upcoming amphitheater project, he said it was a shame to hear of the amphitheater ahead.

The $41.5 million project, funded entirely through private and foundation donations, was approved in December 2015 and includes an expanded bowl and roof structure, enlarged seating area and a new, 21,000-square-foot back-of-house facility, among other features. The contract was awarded to LPCiminelli Inc., of Buffalo, who will serve as the project’s construction manager.

Brad Anderson said if there are safety issues with the building, they should be taken care of despite the historic nature of the building.

“If there was nothing wrong with it, I’d say leave it alone,” he said. “But, if it’s a safety issue, they should rehab it.”

Nancy, his mother-in-law, said she felt it was sad to see such a historic building go.

“We love the old look of it,” she said, adding it goes with the ambiance of the institution. “It just has character.”

Shae Anderson agreed.

“I think it’s nice,” she said. “All the houses here have a lot of character, so it kind of adds to it.”

The project had begun earlier this year with tree and bleacher removal, and a portion of the back-of-house was removed. However, the project has been paused for the 2016 season and will pick back up after the season is over.

Laura and Rob James of Cleveland, OH, said they were taking a weekend trip and decided to explore Western New York.

“We heard about Chautauqua Institution and the area before, so we figured we’d stop and check out what it’s about,” Laura James said. “We expected to see more people with all the houses, but it’s also peaceful in that respect.”

The couple was investigating the beach and the famous Miller Bell Tower overlooking Lake Chautauqua, she said.

Rob James said he believes the couple will come back to visit the area.

“It’s very quaint and peaceful here,” he said. “And, it’s surprisingly close to Cleveland.”

The couple said they weren’t familiar with much about the Institution, but had enjoyed their visit nonetheless.

Walking across Bestor Plaza, Natalie Redmond, marketing associate for the Chautauqua Theatre Company, said she is glad to be back for her second summer at Chautauqua.

Last year, Redmond interned with the theater company and liked it so well that she came back to work with the company this year.

“I really liked the people at the theater this year,” she said, adding the opportunity allowed her to live with her coworkers during the season which made for an eventful time. “There’s not really a dull moment.”

Redmond is originally from Michigan, so the institution is a bit of a location change for her.

She said she came across the internship after a Google search for interning opportunities, and the rest was history.

Another point of excitement for Redmond is the theatre productions, she said.

“We’ve got three main stage productions this season,” Redmond said, adding there are also two New Play Workshops during the season.

The company will be performing “In The Next Room” also called “The Vibrator Play” by Sarah Ruhl from July 1-10, “The Profane” by Zayd Dohrn from July 22-31 and “The Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare from August 12-19.

The first New Play Workshop featuring the play “Tiny Houses” will run on July 14-16, and the second featuring the play “The Glow Overhead” will be held Aug. 3-5.

Redmond said tickets for the theatre offer a special perk for visitors because they act as gate passes for four hours before and after the performance begins.

“You get a window of time to walk around,” she said.

For more information on the Chautauqua Theater Company, Chautauqua Institution and upcoming events, visit ciweb.org.