Ravinia
Ravinia Festival
Ravinia makes a night of live music feel like a picnic in the park, with performances ranging from classical concerts to big-name pop acts.
About
Ravinia opened in 1904 and is now the longest-running outdoor music festival in North America. A summer lineup can jump from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and chamber music to rock, pop, jazz, R&B, indie and country, so the experience can feel completely different from one visit to the next. Bigger concerts take place in the covered Hunter Pavilion, while the historic Martin Theatre, relaxed Carousel Stage and smaller indoor halls offer more intimate performances. The lawn is its own Ravinia tradition: bring a picnic, blanket, chairs and drinks, settle in under the trees and listen through the speaker system.
Transit
- Metra’s Union Pacific North Line from Ogilvie Transportation Center toward Kenosha. During the summer concert season, select trains stop at Ravinia Park, directly outside the Tyler Gate.
- During the 2026 season, your dated Ravinia concert ticket also serves as your Metra fare on the Union Pacific North Line for travel to and from the park that day.
- Not every train stops at Ravinia Park, so check the schedule before leaving. The accessible Braeside station is another option and is about a quarter-mile walk from Ravinia’s South Gate along the Green Bay Trail.
Parking
- During the summer, use Ravinia West Parking Lot, 201 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park as your GPS destination. Searching only for “Ravinia Festival” may direct you to an area that cannot be reached by car.
- Parking generally costs $35 for non-classical performances, $15 for most Chicago Symphony Orchestra, guest-orchestra and Carousel Stage concerts, and is free for classical chamber music, Kids Concerts and dance performances. Check your event page beginning two weeks beforehand for the confirmed rate and lot.
- The West Lot can fill within an hour of opening. Free Park and Ride buses operate from the Highland Park Metra lots for select Hunter Pavilion concerts, but waits may be long before and after popular shows.
- For most Bennett Gordon Hall performances, use the South Parking Lot at 201 St. Johns Avenue instead.
- Do not park on the residential streets surrounding Ravinia. Street parking is prohibited and carries a $100 fine.
♿ Accessibility
- Ravinia has paved accessible paths throughout the park, and the Lawn can be reached from these paths. Most restrooms are accessible.
- The Hunter Pavilion, Martin Theatre, Bennett Gordon Hall and Sandra K. Crown Theater have wheelchair- and scooter-accessible seating where guests may remain in their mobility devices or transfer to a seat. Select an accessible location when purchasing tickets.
- Designated accessible parking spaces are available in the paid lot near the beach house. Paved paths connect the lot with the beach house and surrounding lakefront areas.
- Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis for vehicles with a valid disability placard or plate. These spaces are located along St. Johns Avenue, south of the Tyler Gate, approximately 0.2 miles from the Hunter Pavilion. Arrive early for popular performances.
- Guests who need mobility assistance should use the West Parking Lot drop-off area. Staff assistance is available at Hunter Pavilion and Martin Theatre performances, but it does not extend into the parking lots. Ravinia does not rent wheelchairs.
- Assistive-listening headsets are available free of charge with an ID or credit card deposit. Guests needing sensory accommodations can contact the box office beforehand or visit the information booth after arriving.
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