Ravinia FAQ

Ravinia is thrilled to welcome back Chicagoland and return shared live-music experiences to our summer culture. We have taken numerous steps to prioritize the health of our artists, audiences, staff, and community—following guidance from Northwestern Medicine, state and local government, and industry standards for outdoor activity—while finding practical and optimal ways to fulfill our mission this summer.

The 2021 season will start and end a little later than usual. Concerts will be held in two halves, with the first half running from July 1—Aug. 15. The second half takes place from Aug. 16—Sept. 25. See the “Tickets” section below for ticket sales dates and information.

Ravinia will be closely following public health recommendations from the CDC and local authorities. Masks are recommended for unvaccinated patrons and staff, and for all people in high-traffic areas such as lines to board Metra trains and park and ride buses. All train and shuttle bus riders are required to wear masks while on board, by federal law. 

Ravinia is not requiring patrons to be vaccinated for entry.

The capacity of Ravinia’s venues and buildings is reduced to allow physical distance between guests, and all performance seating areas are open-air spaces. Reserved tickets in the Pavilion are sold in distanced groups of two or four seats, and a section of the South Lawn features reserved socially distanced spaces sold for groups of two, four, or six people. The total capacity of the other areas of the Lawn, which are sold for general admission, is reduced to ensure groups of guests can be physically distanced.

Seating configurations and capacity may be revised as local guidelines evolve. As always, please respect your neighbors’ desire for a healthy Ravinia experience before, during, and after every event. All ticketholders are expected to physically distance from other groups of guests in all seating areas.

Check the "ticketing options" section of our 2021 Policies page for more information on ticketing and seating options.

Commonly touched surfaces, such as Pavilion seats, tables and counters, and door handles, are routinely cleaned and sanitized for the protection of everyone in the park. Every restroom features touchless fixtures, including soap dispensers, for thoroughly washing your hands. Touch-free hand sanitizer dispensers are also available throughout Ravinia’s grounds and buildings.

For more information, visit our 2021 policies page or check the FAQs below. Not everything about Ravinia is different this summer!

We will provide two opportunities to order tickets—one for concert dates in the first half of the season, and the other for the later concert dates. Tickets for July through mid-August will go on sale on June 16. Tickets for mid-August through late September will go on sale on July 21.

As a not-for-profit cultural institution, Ravinia offers its donors early access to tickets, in addition to a variety of other benefits, for as little as $100. View all of Ravinia’s donation levels and corresponding benefits here.

Charitable contributions to Ravinia are not refundable and do not guarantee any benefits or specific concert seating at any level.

The easiest way to purchase tickets is online at Ravinia.org. Ravinia does not do business with third-party resellers and cannot honor tickets that did not originate from its own ticketing system.

Please call the box office if you have questions or need assistance.
 
For a contactless experience, guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance at Ravinia.org. The box office will open for in-person sales on July 1.
 
Ticket sales by phone will open at a date to be determined.

Yes. In order to be able to purchase tickets online, you will need to create a myRavinia account here.

Updated limits on the number of tickets per event that may be purchased online in one transaction, as well as the total number of tickets per event, will be provided at a later date.

Ticket prices for reserved seats often vary depending on the seat location in the venue. Typically, higher-priced tickets are located closer to the stage or the center of the venue. The premium-priced box seats in the Pavilion provide more flexible and comfortable seating as well as easier access.

For parties of 6 or more, plan your Ravinia outing with the Private Events team and leave the heavy lifting to us. Our team will help you lock in your concert tickets, help you plan your catering menu, and reserve your space in the park, all before you arrive. All you’ll need to do is show up, enjoy your favorite music, and enjoy the delicious food and beverage spread that you choose. Contact our team or get more information here.

Almost all of the concerts at Ravinia are all-ages shows. Check individual event webpages for any suggested age restrictions, such as R movie ratings.

Ravinia does not censor or control the content created by guest artists. Patrons with sensitivities to adult language or socio-political commentary are advised to be aware of the artists’ work before purchasing tickets to and/or attending their performances.

Concerts take place rain or shine. Refunds due to severe weather will not be considered unless a performance is canceled in its entirety, with no replacement performance scheduled.

Ravinia is an open-air venue that cannot guarantee refuge for all guests should severe weather occur.

You can find an audio weather forecast from our friends at Accuweather here every concert day.

Tickets may be upgraded for the difference in face value in person at the box office or by phone (847-266-5100).

Wheelchair accessible seating may be purchased online, by phone, and in person. For personal assistance selecting accessible seats or for more information about accessibility, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at access@ravinia.org.

If you received tickets from Ravinia and they are lost or damaged, call the box office (847-266-5100) for replacement.

Follow us on social media! Ravinia gives away tickets via retweet contests, themed photo contests, caption contests, and more. Follow Ravinia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and keep your eyes open all summer long.

The Pavilion seats up to 3,350 guests, the Martin Theatre seats 850, and the Bennett Gordon Hall seats 450. The capacity of Ravinia’s Lawn varies by event to ensure the comfort of all guests.

For the 2021 summer season, the capacities of the Pavilion and Lawn are reduced in accordance with Restore Illinois guidelines. Capacity and seating configurations may be revised for the second half of the season as local guidelines evolve. The section of the South Lawn sold as reserved spaces will remain the same capacity to offer socially distanced seating all summer. The Martin Theatre and Bennett Gordon Hall are not open to the public.

You can find more information about the various Ravinia venues on their respective pages here.

Though its stage is not visible from most areas of the Lawn, the Pavilion is an open-sided venue, so Lawn ticketholders may be able to see the stage or the video screens flanking it from certain seating areas.

For the 2021 season, brought to you by RBC Wealth Management, a video screen facing the reserved spaces on the Discover Premium South Lawn provides a view of all performances in the Pavilion or Bennett Gordon Hall.

Ravinia’s late seating policy is established on a nightly basis in collaboration with the onsite artist management. In general, late seating is only permitted between pieces on the program or songs on the setlist in order to minimize the disturbance to guests who are currently enjoying the performance.

Onsite parking at Ravinia opens one hour before the public gate time posted on each concert’s webpage. Vehicles are prohibited from lining up on local streets to wait for parking; this ordinance will be enforced by Highland Park Police.

For Pavilion events (except dance programs and Kids Concerts), Park and Ride shuttles begin service 30 minutes before the public gate time. Park and Ride does not operate for all events; check individual event webpages on the day of the performance for details.

Firearms and explosives are prohibited; no exceptions.

For your safety and the safety of all our guests, all items brought into the park (including, without limitation, coolers, picnic baskets, bags, backpacks and purses) are subject to search upon entry or reentry into the park and may also be inspected again upon entering the Pavilion. A metal-detection wand or walk-through magnetometer will be used to scan patrons. Patrons who choose not to subject themselves to wanding or their personal belongings to a security search will not be permitted to enter the park or Pavilion.

Security measures may slow down park entry lines, so please plan accordingly.

State law prohibits public use of cannabis. Guests will be asked to return marijuana products to their cars or surrender them to onsite police for destruction.

Gate opening times are posted on each event’s webpage. One of the benefits of being a donor to the not-for-profit Ravinia is entry to the park 30 minutes before the public for most events. Learn more about Ravinia donor benefits here.

Of course! That is part of what makes Ravinia a unique concert venue. We welcome you to plan a full night out at Ravinia, complete with your own picnic dinner (including alcohol, if you are over age 21).

Don’t want to lug around chairs or a table in addition to your picnic? You can rent both for a night at the Wintrust Chair and Table Rental tent north of the Martin Theatre. Chair and table rentals may also be reserved online when purchasing tickets or as an add-on until 24 hours before your concert. Reservations are recommended for popular concerts, as walk-up rentals are not guaranteed to be available.

Worried you might forget something or get hungry for more? Check out our The Festival Shop for a range of picnic accessories, from chairs and blankets to cheese boards and drinkware. You can also supplement or build your picnic at the Ravinia Market, offering hot and chilled main and side dishes, or grab a drink or a sweet treat from carts around the park on Pavilion concert nights.

Any item deemed harmful or unsafe by Ravinia Festival is prohibited.

Ravinia prohibits smoking or vaping except in designated areas outside the gates. State law prohibits public use of cannabis. Guests will be asked to return marijuana products to their cars or surrender them to onsite police for destruction.


While your comfort and enjoyment of a night out at Ravinia are our top priorities, we prohibit guests from bringing the following items into the park: Call the box office (847-266-5100) with any questions.

Absolutely! Make a vacation of your Ravinia visit at one of our nearby hotel partners. You can find directions and listings on our website here.

Arrive Early!

Be considerate!

Ravinia is located just 25 miles north of downtown Chicago, in Highland Park, IL. Click here for directions to the main onsite parking lot. Ravinia is bordered by single-lane residential streets, so please allow extra time for traffic delays on highly attended concert nights. It is highly recommended to take the train to Ravinia, if possible.

The West Parking Lot is Ravinia’s main lot onsite and is open for all summer events.

• Parking costs $25 for most non-classical events in the Pavilion.
• Parking costs $10 for Chicago Symphony and guest orchestra concerts and Carousel Concerts.
• Parking is free for classical chamber music concerts as well as Kids Concerts and dance performances.
• When filled, cars will be directed to a free Park and Ride lot for shuttle service to and from Ravinia. Park and Ride will not operate when onsite parking is expected to easily accommodate all ticketholders; check individual event webpages on the day of the performance for availability.

When our parking lots fill up, Ravinia offers free accessible shuttle service from its Park and Ride lots starting 30 minutes before the opening of the park. Buses accommodate all picnic gear and operate throughout the evening until the park is cleared. Park and Ride will not operate when onsite parking is expected to easily accommodate all ticketholders; check individual event webpages on the day of the performance for availability. Click here for more information about the Park and Ride service.

Metra’s Union Pacific North Line, with service from Chicago (Ogilvie Transportation Center) to Kenosha, WI, stops right at Ravinia’s main (west) entrance—the “Ravinia Park” stop—during the summer on select trains. Riders may also take the train to the “Braeside” or “Ravinia” stops for a wider selection of arrival times. Both stations are a short walk from the park. Click here for more information about summer train schedules.

On most nights Ravinia guests can be dropped off at the following three locations:



Vehicles displaying a Ravinia donor Priority Parking Pass or a valid disability parking placard may also drop guests off at the following two locations:


• Highland Park Police and Ravinia staff may need to redirect vehicles for various reasons.

• Drop-offs are not allowed on public streets, and the driver will be subject to a $100 ticket by the Highland Park Police Department.

Onsite parking for vehicles bearing a valid state-issued disability parking placard or license plate is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Accessible parking is available at the following locations:


The number of handicap-accessible parking spots is limited, so plan to arrive early. Regular parking rates apply.

Ravinia’s free Park and Ride shuttle service is accessible. Click here for more information about the Park and Ride service.

For patrons with mobility disabilities, Ravinia offers assistance at all concerts in the Martin Theatre and Pavilion. Service staff is available at all entrances to assist guests on a first-come, first-served basis. For the safety of staff and patrons, wheelchair service does not extend into the parking lots. Ravinia does not have wheelchairs available for rent.

Ravinia provides a motorized cart service for in-park transportation assistance at classical concerts in the Pavilion and Martin Theatre. Click here for more information about these services.

Ravinia provides services for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing as well as guests who have vision impairments. Visit our accessibility page for information on additional services Ravinia offers.

Ravinia offers free Wi-Fi throughout the park. Connect to the network named “Ravinia” (no password required) and share your Ravinia experience with the world!

The Wintrust Chair and Table Rental tent is just north of the Martin Theatre, near the main (west) entrance. You can find it on the Ravinia park map.

The Ravinia Festival Shop, located inside the Dining Pavilion, is stocked with common picnic items such as bottle openers and corkscrews, drink glasses, cheese boards, blankets, wagons, chairs, and much more. You can find it on the Ravinia park map.

Ravinia’s Dining Pavilion offers indoor and outdoor dining options all summer between the Park View and Tree Top restaurants and full-service Lawn Bar, and signature drink options can also be found at the BMO Rooftop on many nights. A range of hot and chilled mains, sides, snacks, and drinks can be ordered for pickup at the Ravinia Market from your mobile device. There are also numerous drink, snack, and ice cream carts throughout the park. Click here for more information about these in-park food and drink options.

Ravinia apparel—including jackets and sweatshirts for those surprisingly chilly summer nights—and other branded merchandise can be found in The Festival Shop inside the Dining Pavilion. You can find it on the Ravinia Park Map.

At the artist’s discretion for non-classical concerts, artist-branded merchandise may be found in front of the entrance to the Martin Theatre or outside the Dining Pavilion.

At the artist’s discretion for classical concerts, artist merchandise may be found inside The Festival Shop or in the lobby outside Bennett Gordon Hall. You can find each of these buildings on the Ravinia park map.