FAQs and Tips for First-Timers

Ravinia is primarily known as an outdoor venue with a gorgeous, sprawling Lawn. We encourage our guests to bring chairs, tables, blankets, and as much food and beverages as you want, including alcohol for those 21+.

The Pavilion stage is not within view of the Lawn (well, most areas anyways). However, with your Lawn ticket you may stand near the back or along the sides of the Pavilion. Never fear, you can still hear! All concerts in the Pavilion and Martin Theatre are broadcast to the Lawn via a state-of-the-art sound system.

For those who like a large-scale concert experience, the Pavilion is where it’s at. Seating begins a half-hour before the concert start time (or before the opening act). Food is not permitted inside the Pavilion; however, drinks are permitted only in paper or plastic containers 24oz or smaller. Many visitors choose to enjoy food and drink on the Lawn before the concert.

Late arrivals can be a disturbance for fellow concertgoers. Guests will not be admitted to Pavilion, Martin Theatre, or Bennett Gordon Hall reserved seats after the start of the performance until there is a suitable break in the program. Late seating is at the discretion of the management. This does not apply to the Lawn.

Be aware that some performances may include haze, aromatics, strobe lights and/or other special effects.

Ravinia does not censor or control the content created by guest artists. If you have sensitivities to adult language or socio-political commentary, please be aware of the artists’ work before purchasing tickets to and/or attending their performances.

Complete ticket policies may be read here.

• Your ticket is a revocable license. Admission is subject to terms, conditions, and policies established by the Ravinia Festival Association.
• All programs and artists are subject to cancellation or 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.
• No children under 7 years of age will be admitted to reserved seats except designated family shows.
• No rain checks. Dated tickets may not be exchanged.
• Admission serves as consent for Ravinia to capture and use your photo, image and/or voice in Ravinia’s promotional materials.

Ravinia is becoming a cashless venue and encourages all guests to bring credit/debit cards or other cashless forms of payment. Cash will not be accepted at The Festival Shop, Wintrust Chair & Table Rental, Dining Pavilion restaurants, and concessions and bars.

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. All patrons will be subject to a metal detection screening. Those who choose not to subject themselves or their personal belongings to the screening will not be permitted to enter the park or Pavilion. Be aware that added security measures may slow down an entry line, so please plan accordingly.

On Metra’s Union Pacific North Line, show your dated Ravinia ticket for this performance to ride the train to and from the park for free. More info

Which stop do I get off at? For most performances, debark the train at the “Ravinia Park” station, which drops you off at our front gate. For performances at Bennett Gordon Hall, debark the train at the “Braeside” station and walk north on St. Johns Ave. to Ravinia’s South Gate.

Ravinia welcomes guests to feel at home in the park, but you may not bring:

• Firearms or explosives (including those possessed by off-duty officers or concealed carry license holders)
• Signs or banners displaying obscene, derogatory, inappropriate, or political messages
• Professional photographic and video or audio recording equipment
• Grills, firepits, or large open flames
• Chafing fuel or other canned heating products (e.g., Sterno)
• Beer kegs
• Athletic equipment (e.g., balls and flying discs)
• Bicycles, scooters, or skates (bike racks can be found outside the west and south entrances)
• Pets (service animals are permitted)
• Tents or canopies
• Umbrellas over six feet in diameter
• Anything that needs to be staked into the ground
• Drones or other flying apparatus

Contact the box office at 847-266-5100 with any questions.

Arrive early! Ravinia is located in a residential neighborhood. We recommend arriving as early as possible for highly attended performances to allow for traffic and parking before the performance begins.

Be considerate. Please do not spread out over more space on the Lawn than you or your guests are using, allowing room for your fellow concertgoers to enjoy the evening. Ravinia staff reserves the right to condense parties and re-seat guests. If you have trouble finding a spot, please find a security guard for assistance.

Have your tickets ready. Download the Ravinia app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to access your tickets, send or receive tickets from friends, save them to your phone wallet, and more. Learn more about the new app in our tutorial video. Please have your phone sufficiently charged and your tickets ready for scanning when you approach the gate, as well as to show ushers for reserved seating.

Service Animals: Though pets are prohibited at Ravinia, we welcome service animals as defined by federal law. Comfort/emotional support animals will not be allowed to enter the park or Pavilion. For the safety of all in the park, a guest whose service animal poses a threat to the safety of other Ravinia guests or employees, or is not housebroken, may be asked to escort the animal off the premises.

Free Wi-Fi: For our guests in the park, we provide free Wi-Fi service under the network name “Ravinia”—no password required.

Come prepared, as all concerts occur rain or shine. During the season we have an up-to-dateweather forecast so you can plan ahead. Please note that all sales are final and no refunds will be made in the case of inclement weather.

Guests 21 and older may bring alcoholic beverages for adult consumption.

Drinks may be purchased from the variety of restaurants, bars, and specialty carts throughout the park.

BYOB is always permitted on the Lawn. In the Pavilion, drinks are permitted only in paper or plastic containers 24oz or smaller.

Alcohol sales end approximately one hour before the end of the concert or following intermission.

Ravinia strictly adheres to all local and state laws regarding alcohol consumption. Guests must be expected to be “carded” for appropriate ID when purchasing liquor at Ravinia or during park entry screening. Ravinia reserves the right to refuse service or admission to anyone.

Ravinia 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, which runs in front of our main entrance.

Ravinia has designated two smoking areas: one located outisde the West Gate entrance and one in the North Parking Lot. These are the only two areas where smoking will be permitted. Smoking is prohibited throughout the other areas of the park and in the Park and Ride loading areas.

E-Cigarettes

Ravinia’s smoking policy extends to e-cigarettes and vapor devices, with their use restricted to the designated smoking areas.

Cannabis

Though Illinois has legalized recreational marijuana, state law prohibits public use of cannabis. Guests will be asked to return all forms of marijuana products to their vehicles or surrender them to onsite police for destruction.

There are several food and beverage options in the park, from seated restaurants to the grab-and-go Ravinia Market and concession carts.

Looking for the latest in creating your perfect picnic? Visit The Festival Shop for a variety of accessories and other cool finds.

While at the park, visit our retail shops in the Dining Pavilion and at the back of the Martin Theatre to find an extensive array of apparel, souvenirs, CDs, picnic, and gift items to enhance or remember your Ravinia experience. The Festival Shop is also open online year-round!

Questions? Contact the Ravinia Festival Shop staff at 847-266-5060 or [email protected].

The Festival Shop is managed by the Ravinia Women’s Board. All proceeds directly benefit Ravinia and our Reach Teach Play music education programs.