General Information
Tickets
1.1 How do I purchase tickets?
Please click here for information on how to buy tickets.
1.2. Are any concerts free of charge?
Steans Institute concerts and master classes are free and open to ticket holders of that day's main-stage show. Additionally, there are free pre-concert talks and lectures on designated days throughout the season.
1.3. Do I need a ticket for an infant?
Everybody needs a ticket, regardless of age. For Chicago Symphony Orchestra concerts children 5 and under and free, children 6-10 are $5. For all other concerts children 10 and under are $5. For Kraft Kids Concerts all lawn tickets are $5.
Children under seven are not permitted in reserved seats in the Pavilion, Martin Theatre or Bennett•Gordon Hall.
1.4. Can I upgrade my lawn ticket for reserved seating?
Yes. Patrons may upgrade their lawn admission ticket to reserved seating (subject to availability) at any concert by paying the difference between the lawn admission and the cost of the reserved-seat ticket. Upgrades may only be made in person at the box office, on the evening of the performance.
1.5. How can I receive a brochure or ticket order form?
Visit the Calendar and Tickets section, How to Buy Tickets, for a printable order form. To request a season brochure, send an email to tickets@ravinia.org or call 847.266.5100.
1.6. How can I exchange my tickets?
Reserved seat tickets may be exchanged up to 24 hours before the date of the concert. Dated lawn tickets may not be exchanged. Ticket exchanges may be done in person at the Box Office, or by mail to Ravinia Festival, PO Box 896, Highland Park, IL 60035.
If you are unable to use your reserved-seat tickets, please consider donating them to the Festival for resale. You will receive a receipt for a tax-deductible donation. Ticket donations may be made in person or by phone up to the time of the performance.
1.7. What are the Ticket Sale Conditions?
Public orders will be filled, subject to ticket availability, after all orders from Ravinia contributors have been filled. All programs and artists are subject to change without notice. No refunds will be given unless a performance is cancelled in its entirety, with no replacement performance scheduled. Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the management. Children under 7 years of age will not be admitted to reserved seats, except for Kraft Kids Concerts. No rain checks. Dated lawn tickets may not be exchanged. Ravinia is a smoke-free environment.
1.8. Does the lawn ever sell out?
To ensure audience comfort for all Ravinia Festival concerts, a sell-out policy for the lawn was instituted in 2001. Pavilion and lawn seats are expected to sell out quickly for many of our more popular shows, so ticket-buyers should order early. Walk-up sales will not be made on sold-out nights. To check the status of a concert, call our hotline at 847.266.5100.
1.9. Are student discounts available?
Free lawn passes are available for college students for Chicago Symphony Orchestra concerts (except the Gala Benefit evening) and Martin Theatre concerts. Simply present a current student ID at the Box Office on the evening of the performance; one lawn pass per valid ID.
Students may also purchase available reserved-seat tickets for these same concerts for only $10 with valid ID; one ticket per ID.
2. General Information
2.1. What are the Festival dates?
Ravinia Festival's 2009 summer season runs June 5 – September 19.
2.2. Is Ravinia a summer-only festival?
No. Ravinia Festival presents its Rising Stars concert series October through May in our indoor venue, Bennett•Gordon Hall. The series features the best young artists in classical music.
2.3. What are the different venues at Ravinia?
The open-air, covered pavilion seats 3,200 and is used for symphony, dance and pop concerts. The Martin Theatre, an indoor venue, seats 850 and is used for chamber music performances and recitals. Bennett•Gordon Hall, another indoor venue, seats 450 and is used for Steans Institute concerts as well as a few select dance recitals and workshops. Click here to see the different venues.
2.4. Is Ravinia wheelchair-accessible?
All facilities at Ravinia are wheelchair-accessible. Each performance venue has designated spaces for patrons in wheelchairs and their companions. Advance reservations are requested to prevent disappointment in the event of a sold-out performance. Please contact the box office at 847.266.5100 for reservations.
Please note that Ravinia does not have wheelchairs available for rent.
2.5. Can you see/hear the stage from the lawn?
The pavilion stage is not within view of the lawn; however, you may see the stage when standing near the back or along the sides of the pavilion. Only reserved-seat ticket holders can see the stages of the Martin Theatre and Bennett•Gordon Hall, as they are indoor venues. All symphony and pop concerts in the pavilion and all concerts in the Martin Theatre are broadcast to the lawn via a state-of-the-art sound system. Preview concerts and most Steans Institute concerts are also broadcast to the lawn.
2.6. Which concerts are not broadcast on the lawn?
Dance performances in the pavilion and postlude concerts in the Martin Theatre are not broadcast to the lawn.
2.7. What time does the park open?
In general, the park opens three hours prior to the concert time of that evening's main event. The daily park opening time is noted on each individual event page. For Kraft Kids Concerts, the park opens one hour prior to the concert.
2.8. Are children allowed at Ravinia?
Out of consideration for our patrons and artists, children under the age of seven are not allowed in the reserved seating areas of the pavilion (except for Kraft Kids Concerts), Martin Theatre or Bennett•Gordon Hall. Children (including infants) are welcome on the lawn, and are required to have a ticket. Children under the age of 5 are admitted free on Chicago Symphony Orchestra days. Ravinia requires parental supervision of all children admitted to the Festival.
2.9. Does Ravinia provide assisted listening devices?
The Pavilion, Martin Theatre and Bennett-Gordon Hall are equipped with assisted listening systems and wireless headsets. While there is no charge for this service, a major credit card or driver's license is required as deposit.
2.10. Is smoking allowed in the park?
Ravinia Festival is proud to have been the nation’s first outdoor festival to create a smoke-free concert environment starting in 1995.
On January 1, 2008, the City of Highland Park, in support of the Smoke Free Illinois Act, expanded their local smoking prohibition to include outdoor parking lots, public parks, and the Green Bay Road Trail that runs in front of our main West Gate entrance.
Ravinia Festival supports the City of Highland Park in their Smoke Free efforts and is pleased to offer patrons two designated smoking areas, one located at the West Gate entrance and one located in the North parking lot.
Please note that these are the only two areas in which smoking will be permitted by law. Smoking is prohibited on all other Festival grounds including our parking lots and in the Park ‘N Ride loading areas.
2.11. Will latecomers be permitted to take their seats as they arrive?
Reserved-seat ticket holders will not be admitted to the pavilion or Martin Theatre after the start of the performance unless there is a suitable break in the program. Late seating is at the discretion of the management.
2.12. What is Ravinia’s Quiet Listening policy?
We request that audience members refrain from talking during concerts, and avoid making other disturbing sounds. Please exercise control over children to prevent disturbance to other patrons. Cellular phones and pagers should be turned off before the start of the concert.
2.13. Are cameras or other recording devices permitted within the park?
Photo, video or recording equipment is strictly prohibited at all Ravinia events. Such equipment may not be taken into any facility or used at any performance.
2.14. Where is the First Aid Station located?
A First Aid Station is located just north of the pavilion, where a nurse and physician are on duty at every performance. Please contact the nearest usher if you need assistance. The First Aid Station can be reached by calling 847-266-9269.
2.15. Can I page someone inside the park?
If you may need to be contacted while you are at Ravinia, please ensure that any caller has the details of your seating location. Ravinia does not have a paging system.
2.16. Does Ravinia have a gift shop?
Yes, Ravinia Gifts has two locations! Visit our walk-in gift shop in the dining pavilion. There you will find an extensive array of clothing, souvenirs, CDs, picnic and gift items to enhance your Ravinia experience. Or fill your more immediate needs at the shop located behind the Martin Theatre.
Purchase your artist CDs and DVDs directly from Ravinia Gifts. All recorded merchandise will be available in the new walk-in gift shop and the shop located behind the Martin Theatre. (Note: No discounts are available for recorded merchandise.)
Ravinia Gifts is managed by the Ravinia Women's Board and is staffed by volunteers. All proceeds directly benefit the Festival. Ravinia Gifts is also available online.
2.17. How do the artists signings work?
Autographs are at the discretion of the artist who may elect to end the signing at any point.
Purchase of official licensed merchandise is highly recommended for artist signings, and in some cases, artists require in-park purchase. Your purchase does not guarantee an autograph.
2.18. Where can I view a map of the park?
Please click here to view a map of Ravinia.
3. Parking and Transportation
3.1. How do you get to Ravinia?
Please click here to visit our Getting To Ravinia page for detailed maps and train schedules.
3.2. How does the Park ‘n Ride bus system work?
Parking on Ravinia’s grounds is limited. The Festival operates a free Park ‘n Ride bus system to take visitors to and from remote lots along the Metra train tracks in Highland Park (and in the Chicago Botanic Garden for certain events). The buses are handicapped-accessible and run before, during and after any Pavilion concert. The money to pay for this bus system is the money collected as parking fees in the Ravinia lots on Pavilion nights.
3.3. What is the cost for parking?
The price for on-site parking is $20 for pop and jazz shows and $10 for Chicago Symphony Orchestra concerts. Ravinia has made the decision to keep the price for CSO concerts artificially low as part of its mission to make classical music accessible to more people.
Parking on the Ravinia grounds for Kraft Kids Concerts and Martin Theatre performances is free.
3.4. Where can I find handicap parking?
Parking for patrons with a valid handicap license plate or other authorized identification is available on the right-of-way south of the Tyler Gate (West Gate) and in our main lot off Green Bay Road on a first-come, first-served basis.
4. Picnicking at the Park
4.1. I know I can bring my own picnic to the park. What can't I bring?
Grills, beer kegs, athletic equipment, rollerblades, bicycles, pets and smoking are not permitted in the park. Please do not bring tents, canopies or umbrellas over 6' in diameter. You cannot bring anything that needs to be staked into the ground. You may bring your own beer, wine, coolers, lawn chairs, blankets, candles, food, et al, into the park. Please note that areas of the park may not be roped off. Also, please note that food, drinks, and cameras are not permitted in the reserved seating areas.
4.2. Can I rent a lawn chair?
Yes. For just $14 you can rent two lawn chairs and a side table, or just the chair for only $7 from the Mark Chair Company, located on the northwest corner of the Martin Theatre. A deposit is required. For more information call 847.405.9410.
4.3. I have reserved-seat tickets. Can I still bring a picnic dinner to Ravinia?
Yes, your reserved-seat ticket does permit use of the lawn area for a pre-concert picnic. However, please note that food and drinks are not allowed in the Pavilion or theatres.
4.4. Does Ravinia have a rain-out policy?
All concerts at Ravinia occur rain or shine. For your convenience, the Ravinia Weatherline is updated daily with the expected forecast for that evening. Call 847.266.5100 or click here for local weather information. Please note that all sales are final and no refunds will be made in the case of inclement weather.
4.5. Can you see/hear the stage from the lawn?
The Pavilion stage is not within view of the lawn; however, you may see the stage when standing near the back or along the sides of the Pavilion. Only reserved-seat ticket holders can see the stages of the Martin Theatre and Bennett•Gordon Hall, as they are indoor venues. All symphony and pop concerts in the Pavilion and all concerts in the Martin Theatre are broadcast to the lawn via a state-of-the-art sound system. Preview concerts and most Steans Institute concerts are also broadcast to the lawn.