In appreciation of your contribution, we present you with the valuable donor benefits outlined here, all designed to make your visits to the park as convenient and enjoyable as possible.
Ravinia inspires curiosity and a love of classical music, enables talented young professional musicians to advance their careers, and serves thousands of people across Chicagoland with access to the positive impact of music. Your generosity sustains programs that provide children and families with music education programs and live music experiences in their schools and communities, as well as at Ravinia.
Present your digital benefits barcode and concert tickets (or Season Lawn Pass) with the Ravinia App to use a specially designated entrance, up to 30 minutes before gates open to the public! Early Gate Entry is available when a “Donor Gates” time is listed on a performance information page. Early Gate Entry is not available for parking.
Early Gate Entry is for two people at the Encore ($200) level and for four beginning at the Friend ($400) level.
At the Opus ($5,000) level and higher, an additional “Priority” Early Gate Entry line is available for most Hunter Pavilion performances. Look for signage near the entrances.
Each Season Lawn Pass barcode provides complimentary gate entry for one person to the general admission areas of the Lawn for most performances—even sold out ones!—during the summer season.
Season Lawn Passes are valid for Early Gate Entry and replace Early Gate Entry Passes in the Ravinia App for eligible donors.
Two Season Lawn Passes are provided at the Opus ($5,000) level, and four beginning at the Guarantor ($7,500) level.
Donor Early Gate Entry and Season Lawn Pass Terms and Conditions
Early Gate Entry Passes, combined with performance tickets, or Season Lawn Passes admit the number of people specified on the pass (varies by donor benefit level) into the park 30 minutes before gates are opened to the public, except when no donor gate time is published. Other restrictions may apply to Early Gate Entry Passes. Season Lawn Passes are valid for Lawn general admission (GA) at summer season performances, except the Gala Benefit and when Lawn GA is not offered. Additional ID may be required to enter. Early Gate Entry Passes are not valid for parking and not transferable. Season Lawn Passes may not be exchanged for dated Lawn GA tickets, have no cash or resale value, and are not transferable. Early Gate Entry Passes and Season Lawn Passes are revocable licenses, and admission is subject to the terms, conditions, and policies established by the Ravinia Festival Association.
The Season Priority Parking Pass provides Ravinia’s most generous donors with access to exclusive parking lots, just steps from the music! Priority Parking Passes are valid at all performances except the annual Gala Benefit Evening.
Priority Parking is for one car at the Opus ($5,000) level and two cars beginning at the Guarantor ($7,500) level.
A Priority Parking Pass is required for access to the North Lot or the South Lot, unless otherwise noted in parking instructions for a performance. For the Gala Benefit Evening and when parking in the North or South Lots is limited to eligible donors, a special section of the West Lot (entrance from Blackstone Pl.) is held exclusively for Priority Parking Pass holders.
At the Consortium Circle or Corporate Shareholder level and above, one space may be reserved on each night you have Hunter Pavilion or Discover Reserved Lawn tickets, assuring you a spot when the lots are otherwise full.
Parking reservations can be made beginning in the spring.
Log in to your account to reserve this separate parking ticket in advance; parking attendants must be shown this ticket in addition to the hang-tag.
Priority Parking Passes are valid only with your purchased tickets or Season Lawn Pass. Donor benefits are intended for household use. To ensure fairness for all donors, Parking Passes and Season Lawn Passes are separately barcoded and will be scanned upon entry. Parking Passes are not valid for concert admission and may not be used for Donor Early Entry at the gates.
Benefits such as Early Entry and Season Lawn Passes are delivered digitally and must be accessed the same way as tickets—on the Ravinia app!
Learn More About the Ravinia App
Download the app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
Hang-tags are mailed to Opus and higher-level donors for Priority Parking. Place on your rear-view mirror so that attendants may efficiently provide access to the Priority Parking Lots.
Ravinia donors are invited to two Chicago Symphony Orchestra rehearsals during the summer season. Invitations are emailed during the spring. RSVP is required for up to four people to attend; there is no cost to attend an Open Rehearsal.
Fri., July 31, 2:30–5:00 p.m.
Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony
CSO + Marin Alsop, conductor
Fri., Aug. 7, 2:30–5:00 p.m.
Stravinsky’s The Firebird and Debussy
CSO + Klaus Mäkelä, conductor
Be recognized in association with a Ravinia performance.
This benefit begins at the Chairman’s Circle ($25,000) level.
Receive a 10% discount on most merchandise at The Festival Shop. Show your digital benefits barcode with the Ravinia App to receive the discount in-store, or use the promo code DONOR during checkout online.
Present your digital benefits barcode at the Wintrust Chair & Table Rental tent to receive $5 off chairs when walking up to rent on the day of a performance.
Walk-up chair rentals are subject to availability. Discount on walk-up rentals does not combine with online advance rental discount.
Access to summer concert tickets before public sales! Location and number of tickets available vary by level of support.
Donors at the Friend ($400) level and higher also receive 10% off reserved seats in the Hunter Pavilion and Martin Theatre, on tickets priced $36 and higher.
Special pricing is offered only during the donor early access period in March and April.
Donor Ticketing Terms and Conditions
Tickets purchased by Ravinia donors are intended for personal or household use. In the event that Ravinia has reason to believe that tickets are being purchased for resale, or if purchased tickets appear on third-party resale sites, we reserve the right to take any or all of the following three actions: (1) not fulfill any request; (2) withdraw donor privileges; (3) cancel tickets without refund. Published per-performance ticket limits will be enforced. Charitable contributions to Ravinia are not refundable and do not guarantee any specific concert tickets at any level.
All donors receive complimentary general admission tickets to the Lawn for select classical concerts during the summer season. Total number varies by donor benefit level:
An April 24 email titled “Select Your Ravinia Complimentary Classical Lawn Tickets!” included an online form for selecting tickets. Please contact donors@ravinia.org with any questions.
Ravinia donors are invited to meet our team and mingle together before a select concert during the summer season. Invitations are emailed a few weeks before each event. RSVP is required.
New Donors Welcome Reception Sun., July 26, 4:30–7:00 p.m. @ Emmylou Harris & Graham Nash
Annual Fund Contributors’ Reception (Marquee and higher) Fri., July 31, 4:30–7:00 p.m. @ Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony
CSO + Marin Alsop, conductor
Donor Appreciation Reception (Bravo–Patron) Sun., Aug. 16, 2:30–5:00 p.m. @ Tchaikovsky Spectacular
CSO + Earl Lee, conductor / Stella Chen, violin
Ravinia donors become part of the Silver Circle when they have been contributors for 25 or more years.
For the dedicated supporters ensuring that the positive impacts of music have been reaching across generations, this special recognition carries unique donor benefits to enhance your Ravinia connections and experience.
Silver Circle Recognition Dinner Thu., Sept. 3, 5:30–7:00 p.m. @ Music of the Baroque
Invitations will be emailed in August. RSVP is required to attend.
Concerts eligible* for complimentary tickets:
* Some CSO concerts are not eligible due to contractual restrictions.
Advance ticketing for Silver Circle donors at the Guarantor ($7,500) level and above includes higher-priority fulfillment of ticket requests at your giving level during the donor early access period in March. From the Opus ($5,000) level to the Encore ($200) level, Silver Circle donors receive earlier access to your giving level’s ticket presale in mid-April.
All donors receive a complimentary print of the latest Ravinia season poster. Show your digital benefits barcode with the Ravinia App at The Festival Shop inside the park to collect your poster.
Ravinia donors at the Patron ($1,250) level and above are listed in Ravinia publications, available for free throughout the park all season long.
The VIP Ticketing Service—available starting at the Opus ($5,000) level and higher—offers personal assistance with dining reservations and ticketing needs, including a waitlist for upgrades and additional tickets, as well as information about special offers and events.
The critically acclaimed restaurateurs of J&L Catering run the historically detailed Freehling Room, conveniently located steps from the South Parking Lot in the Harza Building, away from the busy paths near the Dining Pavilion.
Pre-concert reservations are open to donors at the Opus ($5,000) level and above. Check the reservations portal or performance information pages for availability. For more information, please email freehlingroom@ravinia.org or call 847‑266‑1594.
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How do I become a donor?
Supporters receive early access to tickets and other benefits. Learn more about becoming a donor.
You may also donate now, or call our Development Department at 847-266-5461 or email donors@ravinia.org
How do I access my donor benefits for use at the park?
Benefits such as Early Entry and Season Lawn Passes are delivered digitally and must be accessed the same way as tickets—on the Ravinia app! Watch a step-by-step video about how to access your tickets and benefits.
Download the app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
Opus ($5,000) and higher-level donors are mailed hang-tags for Priority Parking. Place on your rear-view mirror so that attendants may efficiently provide access to the Priority Parking Lots.
I forgot what giving level I am at for donor benefits. How do I find this out?
Log in to your account and open the “Memberships and Benefits” screen to see your giving level for the current Ravinia season.
