Fiesta Ravinia Is Now a Free Event!
A Day-Long Celebration of Mexican Culture
On September 18, Ravinia celebrates Mexican Independence Day with a day-long festival of Mexican culture featuring a variety of activities throughout the park, such as mariachi performances and live lucha libre wrestling!
The headline concert begins with Latin Grammy-winning group Flor de Toloache, known for pushing the limits of traditional Mariachi music with their distinct artistic vision. They are followed by Dos Santos, a Chicago band that honors traditional Latin music with contemporary compositional expressions and production techniques.
While Los Kumbia Kings have canceled their appearance, we feel that with everything that has happened in the Ravinia community this summer, this celebration and tradition should continue. Tickets to Fiesta Ravinia this year are now FREE.
Food, beverages, and chair rentals are sold separately, or bring your own picnic and gear.
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Fiesta Schedule
Times and locations may be updated before the day of the event.
| 1:00 p.m. | Parking Opens |
| 2:00 p.m. | Gates Open |
| 2:00 p.m. | KidsLawn Open (North Lawn) |
| 2:00–7:00 p.m. | Music Box Exhibits Open (North Lawn) |
| 2:00–2:30 p.m. | Mariachi Estrellas de Chicago (Main Entrance) |
| 2:30–4:00 p.m. | Live Wrestling with Galli Lucha Libre (North Lawn) |
| 2:30–2:45 p.m. | Bravo! Waukegan Mariachi (KidsLawn) |
| 3:00–3:30 p.m. | Mariachi Estrellas de Chicago (Carousel Plaza) |
| 3:15–3:30 p.m. | Bravo! Waukegan Mariachi (Main Entrance) |
| 4:00–4:45 p.m. | Reach Teach Play Sistema Ravinia Orchestra (Santa Fe Tent) |
| 5:00–7:15 p.m. | MAIN-STAGE CONCERT (Carousel Stage): Flor de Toloache and Dos Santos |
Performances and Activities
Dos Santos
Carousel Stage, 6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.
Dos Santos is a Chicago-based alt-Latinx band known for their powerful live performance and their progressive compositional layering of various Latin/American musics. The core band consists of drummer Daniel Villarreal, percussionist Peter “Maestro" Vale, bassist Jaime Garza, guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Nathan Karagianis, and multi-instrumentalist/singer/lyricist Alex Chavez.
Flor de Toloache
Carousel Stage, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Flor de Toloache: Having performed at Coachella and an NPR Tiny Desk Concert, this Latin Grammy-winning, New York-based ensemble is one of the finest all-female mariachi groups on the planet. The group began as a trio named for the delirium-inducing Mexican flower used as a love potion for generations. As it has grown in notoriety, the band has expanded to as many as ten members depending on the setting, forming a truly global ensemble with musicians hailing from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Australia, Colombia, Germany, Italy, and the United States.
Galli Lucha Libre
North Lawn, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Chicago’s Galli Lucha Libre brings you the best combination of traditional “Lucha Libre” (Mexican wrestling) and combines it with American wrestling, creating a hybrid style full of impressive acrobatic feats and riveting action.
Featuring Mil Muertes, Drago, Aero Boy, and more!
KidsLawn
North Lawn, 2:00 p.m.
KidsLawn: This family-friendly space on the north lawn is the perfect place to lay out a picnic and let the kids run between interactive exhibits, including large-scale percussion instruments on which they can make their own kind of music.
Mariachi Estrellas De Chicago
Martin Theatre Plaza, 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Carousel Plaza, 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Based in Pilsen, Mariachi Estrellas De Chicago was started at the University of Illinois–Chicago and has quickly grown to be one of the most exciting Mariachi ensembles in Chicago. Fluent in both traditional and contemporary mariachi music, the group has performed all across Illinois and surrounding states for five years and counting. In addition to weddings, quinceañeras, bar mitzvahs, proposals, and parades, Mariachi Estrellas De Chicago has played on VH1’s Black Ink Crew and at the Willis Tower Skydeck and Chicago Lowrider Festival, among many other highlights.
Bravo! Waukegan Mariachi
KidsLawn, 2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Martin Theatre Plaza, 3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Bravo launched the Mariachi program in Waukegan and is involved in expanding it to more and more schools, both elementary and middle. Mariachi encourages music students to deepen their education by taking on an additional music class and for others it is their first time picking up an instrument. The atmosphere in the classroom is fun and lively. Mariachi students are frequently asked to perform in public, thus building confidence and pride in their music and heritage.
Ravinia's Reach Teach Play Sistema Ravinia Orchestra
Santa Fe Tent, 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Ravinia’s vision of an intensive and transformational music education program, Sistema Ravinia fosters social development through exceptional music training for 3rd–8th grade students in Chicago and Lake County public schools. Inspired by the influential El Sistema model, the program provides students daily ensemble and orchestral instruction on their instruments. Sistema Ravinia’s first site was launched at Catalyst Circle Rock School, located in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, and expanded to serve several Waukegan and neighboring Lake County schools in 2015, using Ravinia’s own Bennett Gordon Hall as the program site. Furthering the festival’s connection to Chicago’s Lawndale neighborhood, Sistema Ravinia began a new site in the community in 2020.
Sponsors
Lead Fiesta Ravinia Sponsor: Conagra Brands
Co-Sponsors: Ravinia Festival Trustees Pedro Guerrero, and Rudy Juarez of Grainger
Media Support: Que Buena 105.1
