Ravinia Festival is a primarily outdoor music venue set on 36 acres in Highland Park, Illinois, about 25 miles north of Chicago. Founded in 1904 as an amusement park by the A.C. Frost Company to boost ridership on the Chicago and Milwaukee Electric Railroad, it quickly evolved into a celebrated concert destination — making it North America’s longest-running outdoor music festival.
Each summer, from June through September, Ravinia draws around 400,000 listeners to 100 to 120 events spanning classical, opera, jazz, blues, folk, rock, and pop. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has called Ravinia its summer home since 1936, and a long roster of legendary performers — from Aretha Franklin to Sting — has graced its stages over the decades. Beyond the history, this guide covers everything you need to actually plan a visit: how tickets and pricing work, what parking costs, the bag policy, and how to choose between lawn and pavilion seating.
Quick Answer
Ravinia Festival is an outdoor amphitheater and concert park in Highland Park, Illinois, that opened on August 15, 1904, making it North America’s longest-running outdoor music festival. It runs roughly June through September each year, hosts 100–120 concerts, and has been the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s summer residence since 1936. Guests choose between reserved seats in the covered Hunter Pavilion or general-admission picnic seating on the surrounding Lawn.
Stats at a Glance
Location: Highland Park, Illinois. Type: Outdoor music festival & amphitheater. Opened: August 15, 1904. Grounds: 36 acres (Ravinia Park). Pavilion capacity: approximately 2,850 seats (Hunter Pavilion). Lawn capacity: roughly 15,000 (picnic-style). Annual events: 100–120 per season. Famous for: summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1936.
A Legacy Rooted in Chicago’s Cultural Life
The New York Philharmonic under conductor Walter Damrosch gave the first orchestral performance at Ravinia on June 17, 1905, setting the tone for the venue’s classical ambitions. Through the 1920s, Ravinia became known as the “summer opera capital of the world,” drawing celebrated European singers to Highland Park at a time when few American venues could claim that kind of international pull.
The Great Depression forced Ravinia to close for four seasons, but it reopened in 1936 with a new focus on symphonic programming — and with it, the first formal summer residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a partnership that has now lasted nearly 90 years. Beyond the CSO, Ravinia has built a reputation for bold, genre-spanning programming, bringing world-renowned soloists, jazz ensembles, and pop headliners to its stages season after season. Metra’s Union Pacific North Line still stops at the historic Ravinia station entrance during the summer, a direct nod to the railroad roots that created the festival in the first place.
Planning Your Visit: Tickets, Prices & Hours
Ravinia sells tickets in two broad tiers: reserved seating inside the Hunter Pavilion and general-admission Lawn tickets, with Lawn passes typically priced far below reserved seats and pavilion prices varying widely by artist and genre. Ravinia uses “all-in” pricing, meaning the price shown includes fees, and Lawn general-admission prices for many non-classical shows step up roughly a week before the event, so booking early is usually the cheaper option. Discounted pricing is also available for seniors, students, children, and active military.
Tickets can be bought online through a Ravinia account, by phone, or in person at the box office windows near the Main Entrance and the Harza Building. Box office hours follow the concert calendar rather than a fixed daily schedule — phone and in-person windows generally open in the early afternoon on performance days and close near intermission or the end of the show, with shorter hours (or closures) on days without a concert. Because pricing, showtimes, and box office windows change by event and season, always confirm current details on the official Ravinia Festival site before you go.
Parking & Getting to Ravinia
Ravinia is reachable by car or train. The on-site West Parking Lot charges a fee that varies by performance type — pricing for pop and jazz shows generally runs higher than for classical concerts in the pavilion, while parking is typically free for smaller Martin Theatre, family, and dance programs. The lot opens about an hour before park opening and fills quickly on popular nights; once it’s full, cars are redirected to a Park ‘n Ride lot with shuttle service. Street parking in the surrounding residential neighborhood is prohibited and enforced with fines, so plan to use official lots or transit.
Metra’s Union Pacific North Line stops directly at the Ravinia station during the festival season, making the train one of the easiest ways to arrive without worrying about parking. Rideshare and drop-off vehicles are directed to designated pickup areas rather than the main gates. Exact parking rates and shuttle schedules change by concert, so check Ravinia’s official site for the current-season rates before your visit.
Lawn vs. Pavilion: Choosing Your Seat
Concert-goers have two main ways to experience Ravinia. Reserved seats inside the covered Hunter Pavilion hold about 2,850 people and offer a traditional concert-hall view with protection from weather. The Lawn, by contrast, is a sprawling general-admission area where families and friends spread blankets, set up low chairs or rented tables, and picnic under the stars while watching the performance on video screens with distributed sound — a relaxed tradition that’s as old as the festival itself and remains central to its charm.
Lawn tickets are general admission and not exchangeable, so arriving early to claim a good spot matters for popular shows. Chair and table rentals are available on-site for guests who don’t want to carry their own gear.
What to Bring (and What to Leave at Home)
Lawn ticket holders are encouraged to bring a picnic: baskets, blankets, low chairs, and outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are all permitted, and wine and other drinks are also sold on the grounds. Ravinia does enforce a bag-size limit at the gates, and all bags are subject to search, so pack light and check the official policy if you’re bringing more than a small bag or cooler.
Items generally not allowed on the grounds include large tents, umbrellas over a few feet tall, grills, firepits, kegs, glass containers in some areas, drones, bicycles and scooters, professional cameras or recording gear, and pets other than service animals. Because prohibited-item lists and the exact bag-size limit can be updated season to season, confirm the current rules on Ravinia’s official visitor FAQ before you pack.
Beyond the Main Stage: The Martin Theatre
The only structure on the grounds dating to the original 1904 construction is the Martin Theatre, an intimate 850-seat indoor hall built in the prairie architectural style. It hosts chamber music, recitals, family programs, and smaller-scale productions throughout the season, offering an up-close alternative to the main pavilion and lawn for visitors who want a quieter, more intimate evening.
Ravinia Festival Highland Park FAQs
Is Ravinia Festival really the oldest outdoor music venue in North America?
Ravinia opened on August 15, 1904, making it North America’s longest-running outdoor music festival — though it wasn’t continuously open the entire time. The festival shuttered for four seasons during the Great Depression before reopening in 1936 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as its resident summer orchestra.
When does the Ravinia Festival season run?
The Ravinia season typically runs from June through September, with 100 to 120 events scheduled across the summer months.
How much do Ravinia Festival tickets cost?
Pricing varies widely by artist and seating type: Lawn general-admission tickets are generally the most affordable option, while reserved seats in the Hunter Pavilion cost more and scale with the performer. Prices for many non-classical shows also rise about a week before the event, so buying early tends to save money. Check the official Ravinia site for current per-show pricing.
How much does parking cost at Ravinia?
On-site parking rates vary by performance type, with pop and jazz concerts typically costing more to park for than classical pavilion shows, and parking often free for smaller Martin Theatre and family programs. The main lot can fill up on busy nights, after which cars are directed to a Park ‘n Ride shuttle lot.
Can you bring food and drinks to Ravinia?
Yes. Lawn ticket holders are encouraged to bring picnic baskets, blankets, chairs, and outside food and non-alcoholic beverages. Wine and other drinks are also available for purchase on the grounds, and a bag-size limit applies at the gates.
How do you get to Ravinia Festival?
Ravinia is accessible by car, with on-site parking (rates vary by show), or by Metra’s Union Pacific North Line, which stops at the dedicated Ravinia station adjacent to the park entrance during the festival season.
What’s the difference between lawn and pavilion seating at Ravinia?
The Hunter Pavilion offers about 2,850 covered, reserved seats with a traditional concert-hall view. The Lawn is a general-admission picnic area where guests spread blankets or set up chairs and watch via video screens with distributed sound — a more casual, social way to experience a show.
Does the Chicago Symphony Orchestra still perform at Ravinia?
Yes. The CSO has been Ravinia’s resident orchestra every summer since 1936, one of the longest continuous orchestra residencies at any outdoor venue in the country.
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