Get ready, Chicago, because summer is about to get a lot hotter with Ravinia‘s announcement of their exciting new season, highlighted with a season-long tribute for Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday. This summer, concert-goers can expect 140 events from June 1 – September 16 at the Highland Park festival destination.
Making their Ravinia debut…
Everyone’s favorite pop concert debuts include 50 Cent, Bryan Adams, Snarky Puppy with Damien Escobar and Jacob Collier, Jason Mraz, David Foster, Sugarland, Cake, Evanescence and Lindsey Stirling, Culture Club featuring Boy George, Kristin Chenoweth with Michael Feinstein and Roger Daltrey performing Tommy.
Returning to the Ravinia stage
Popular artists returning to Ravinia include Diana Ross, Matisyahu with Steven Marley, Jackson Browne, Alison Krauss, Buddy Guy and Jonny Lang, O.A.R. and Matt Nathanson, the Righteous Brothers with the Beach Boys, Ben Folds, The B-52s, Seal, Earth Wind & Fire, John Fogerty and ZZ Top, Bonnie Koloc and Howard Levy, Los Tigres del Norte and Mariachi Flor de Toloache, Lyle Lovett & His Large Band, Jethro Tull, Anita Baker, and Tony Bennett, now 92 years old.
LOL
New for Ravinia is a focus on comedy, with Alan Cumming, Whoopi Goldberg, plus Steve Martin and Martin Short together. Film showings, accompanied by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, attract viewers with E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Vertigo, and The Red Violin with Joshua Bell.
Celebrating the 300th anniversary of New Orleans on Aug. 26, “Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown” features an electric and eclectic collection of Big Easy artists.
Bernstein Centennial Celebration
Winding throughout the season in each of the festival’s three performance spaces will be a multi-genre celebration of the most towering figure in American music, Leonard Bernstein.
New Dining Options
New restaurant venues offer expanded dining opportunities. The new Lawn Bar, with both indoor and outdoor seating, is destined to draw big crowds. The Ravinia Market will expand their offering with burgers, pressed paninis, pizza and smoked brisket, chicken and ribs. The second floor of the Dining Pavilion has the Tree Top House with self-serving chef’s table and Park View overlooking the lawn.
Get Your Tickets
For the first time, initial public ticket sales will be split over two days: June and July concerts will go on sale May 8; August and September concerts will go on sale May 10 exclusively at Ravinia.org; donor pre-sale begins March 20.
The season closes on September 16 with the third annual Fiesta Ravinia, a day-long family festival of Mexican culture and arts in celebration of Mexican Independence Day.
