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Highland Park, IL
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Ravinia Festival

A historic wooded festival campus with multiple stages, ambitious picnicking, and a rare Metra stop at the gate… Read more

Event-day essentials

Plan in 60 seconds

Reviewed 10.11.26

Bags & entry
Official bag & entry policy (opens in a new tab)Inside the Pavilion, bags larger than 18 × 12 × 12 inches and bulky items are prohibited. This Pavilion rule does not establish the same limit for lawn picnics; check your ticket area.
Seat maps (opens in a new tab)
Parking
Official parking & directions (opens in a new tab)Use the exact event's parking notice: onsite price, lot, and Park & Ride availability vary, and the West Lot can fill quickly.
Arrive
Match your Ravinia ticket to Hunter Pavilion, Martin Theatre, Bennett Gordon Hall, Carousel Stage or the Lawn. Hunter Pavilion seating opens 30 minutes before the concert; late seating waits for a suitable break. Lawn locations do not guarantee a direct stage or screen view, and Bennett Gordon Hall performances are not broadcast to the Lawn. Save digital tickets from the Ravinia app to your wallet before arrival.
Exact location
201 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park, IL 60035Open directions (opens in a new tab)
Getting there
Metra's Union Pacific North Line stops at Ravinia's main entrance for most summer performances. Check the event page and current Metra schedule before travel.
NearbyDining near Ravinia Festival (opens in a new tab)Drinks near Ravinia Festival (opens in a new tab)Stay near Ravinia Festival (opens in a new tab)
Real fan takeEspecially if you are doing lawn and have your BYOB picnic gear, but shuttle bus parking is the way unless you are arriving early enough for sound check.One fan's perspective. Verify variable details with official venue guidance.
Exterior of Ravinia’s Martin Theatre, identified by the festival’s current official venue guide. This arrival reference covers the indoor theater, not Hunter Pavilion; the photograph’s capture date is not confirmed.
Photo credits
Source: Ravinia FestivalPhoto source (opens in a new tab)
Swipe to explore
1 / 4

Exterior of Ravinia’s Martin Theatre, identified by the festival’s current official venue guide. This arrival reference covers the indoor theater, not Hunter Pavilion; the photograph’s capture date is not confirmed.

Showing image 1 of 4.

Venue details
Venue typeMusic Venue
CapacityUp to 13,0002,850 reserved Pavilion seats plus lawn
Upcoming Shows
No verified events are available in this preview.Check official venue information ↗
Your visit checklist Save, copy or print

Get ready for Ravinia Festival

201 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park, IL 60035

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Visit preparation checklist

Open your ticket and confirm the event date, door time, seat or standing area, and ticket delivery instructions.

Official venue event information (opens in a new tab)

Inside the Pavilion, bags larger than 18 × 12 × 12 inches and bulky items are prohibited. This Pavilion rule does not establish the same limit for lawn picnics; check your ticket area.

Official Ravinia Pavilion and park FAQ (opens in a new tab)

Destination: Ravinia Festival, 201 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park, IL 60035. Match your Ravinia ticket to Hunter Pavilion, Martin Theatre, Bennett Gordon Hall, Carousel Stage or the Lawn. Hunter Pavilion seating opens 30 minutes before the concert; late seating waits for a suitable break. Lawn locations do not guarantee a direct stage or screen view, and Bennett Gordon Hall performances are not broadcast to the Lawn. Save digital tickets from the Ravinia app to your wallet before arrival. Metra's Union Pacific North Line stops at Ravinia's main entrance for most summer performances. Check the event page and current Metra schedule before travel. Use the exact event's parking notice: onsite price, lot, and Park & Ride availability vary, and the West Lot can fill quickly.

Directions to this venue (opens in a new tab)Official parking / arrival information (opens in a new tab)

This guide does not yet establish Ravinia Festival’s accessible seating or step-free entrance. Ask the venue about the exact seat, entrance and route before buying.

Official venue accessibility guide (opens in a new tab)Seat maps (opens in a new tab)

Inside the Pavilion, drinks must be in plastic cups or plastic bottles of 24oz or less; metal/glass containers, including metal water bottles, are prohibited. Other park areas have separate picnic rules, so match your seating area.

Still to check

  • Accepted payment methods, including any difference between parking, box office and concessions.
Official Ravinia Pavilion and park FAQ (opens in a new tab)

Metra's Union Pacific North Line stops at Ravinia's main entrance for most summer performances. Check the event page and current Metra schedule before travel. Confirm return service and last departures for your event’s finish time.

Plan your route home from this venue (opens in a new tab)

Checking an item records your preparation. It does not confirm a ticket, reserve a seat or guarantee admission. Saved plans do not sync between devices.

Find your section

Seating maps & views

Match the layout to your event before choosing seats. Stage position, floor seating, standing areas, and available sections can change.

Real photos from the seats

Browse Ravinia Festival photos by section and compare the sightlines, railings, and stage views. Check the event and photo date; zoom can make the stage look closer.

View seat photos on A View From My Seat (opens in a new tab)
Ravinia — Hunter Pavilion reserved seats and boxes

Seating chart

Ravinia — Hunter Pavilion reserved seats and boxes

Ravinia Festival: Seating chart, Ravinia — Hunter Pavilion reserved seats and boxes. Use the source chart for section and row details.

The current official venue guide links this Hunter Pavilion chart with numbered seats, lettered rows, boxes, accessible locations, structural pillars and Gates 1–7. It is distinct from older Pavilion charts and from the Lawn. Open the original PDF for fine seat labels and match your ticket’s section, row and box; confirm accessible allocations with Ravinia.

Open original chart (opens in a new tab)Source: Ravinia Festival (opens in a new tab)Source checked 2026-10-11
Ravinia — Martin Theatre

Seating chart

Ravinia — Martin Theatre

Ravinia Festival: Seating chart, Ravinia — Martin Theatre. Use the source chart for section and row details.

Official Martin Theatre chart with left, center and right seating, side loges, lettered rows, numbered seats and accessible locations. This indoor theater is separate from Hunter Pavilion, Bennett Gordon Hall and the Lawn. Match the hall on your ticket and confirm wheelchair and companion seating with the box office.

Open original chart (opens in a new tab)Source: Ravinia Festival (opens in a new tab)Source checked 2026-10-11
Ravinia — Bennett Gordon Hall

Seating chart

Ravinia — Bennett Gordon Hall

Ravinia Festival: Seating chart, Ravinia — Bennett Gordon Hall. Use the source chart for section and row details.

Official Bennett Gordon Hall chart with numbered seats in rows A–K and AA–EE, plus accessible locations. This hall is separate from Hunter Pavilion and Martin Theatre. The venue says its performances are not broadcast to the Lawn. Check the hall on your ticket and confirm accessible allocations before purchase.

Open original chart (opens in a new tab)Source: Ravinia Festival (opens in a new tab)Source checked 2026-10-11
Ravinia — general-admission and reserved Lawn areas

Venue layout

Ravinia — general-admission and reserved Lawn areas

Ravinia Festival: Venue layout, Ravinia — general-admission and reserved Lawn areas. Use the original map for routes and visitor facilities.

The current official guide links this Lawn-area diagram from its 2023 asset collection, showing general-admission areas, the reserved Lawn, Carousel Stage and the Pavilion’s video-screen side. It does not assign individual lawn seats or guarantee a stage or screen view. Verify current branding, temporary screens, event access and any changes since the diagram was created.

Open original map (opens in a new tab)Source: Ravinia Festival (opens in a new tab)Source checked 2026-10-11

Plan your visit

Arrival and logisticsBefore you goTransit, parking, timing and entry details

Need to Know

Best for
Picnics, park atmosphere, Metra access, and a setup matched to the specific stage
Watch out for
Hunter Pavilion permits drinks in plastic cups or bottles of 24 ounces or less, with no metal or glass containers and no food at reserved seats. Bags larger than 18 × 12 × 12 inches, coolers, wagons and other large items cannot enter pavilion seating; the FAQ describes unsupervised perimeter storage. Park and pavilion searches apply. These pavilion restrictions differ from lawn picnicking: check your exact event and space.
Good arrival window
Match your Ravinia ticket to Hunter Pavilion, Martin Theatre, Bennett Gordon Hall, Carousel Stage or the Lawn. Hunter Pavilion seating opens 30 minutes before the concert; late seating waits for a suitable break. Lawn locations do not guarantee a direct stage or screen view, and Bennett Gordon Hall performances are not broadcast to the Lawn. Save digital tickets from the Ravinia app to your wallet before arrival.
Main transit note
Metra's Union Pacific North Line stops at Ravinia's main entrance for most summer performances. Check the event page and current Metra schedule before travel.
Sources1 fan · 6 officialReviewed 10.11.26Sources for Need to Know

Fan discussions are anecdotal, not a consensus.

Parking At A Glance

Parking difficulty

Parking options (opens in a new tab)

Moderate

What to do
Use the exact event's parking notice: onsite price, lot, and Park & Ride availability vary, and the West Lot can fill quickly.
Best option
Metra to the Ravinia stop, or the event's official West Lot or Park & Ride plan
Avoid
Parking, dropping off, or arranging pickup on surrounding residential streets, where those activities are prohibited
Sources1 fan · 6 officialReviewed 10.11.26Sources for Parking At A Glance

Fan discussions are anecdotal, not a consensus.

Seats and atmosphereChoose your experienceSightlines, supporter sections, crowd flow and event-day character

Inside the Venue At A Glance

01

Positive

Picnic tradition

An elaborate lawn picnic can become part of the evening. The tradeoff is carrying gear through screening and managing the return trip after dark.

02

Positive

Train-at-the-gate access

The summer Metra stop is an unusually convenient regional transit option. Riders still need to coordinate the current schedule with the performance's end time.

03

Mixed

Venue-specific listening

Ravinia is a campus, not one room. Lawn sound, screens, reserved seating, and sightlines depend on whether the show uses the main pavilion or a smaller stage.

Sources3 officialReviewed 10.11.26Sources for Inside the Venue At A Glance

FanProof editorial synthesis; no fan consensus is claimed.

Fit and tradeoffsWhat to expectThe practical strengths and the details that could change your choice

Why it works

  • ✓The wooded grounds and picnic culture make the evening feel like a destination.
  • ✓Metra service to the front gate can eliminate the need to drive.
  • ✓Programming ranges from major popular artists to classical and chamber performances.
Sources3 officialReviewed 10.11.26Sources for Why it works

FanProof editorial synthesis; no fan consensus is claimed.

Know before you book

  • ×The lawn may not have a direct stage view, and audio varies by setup.
  • ×Onsite lots and Park & Ride shuttles can involve waits on busy nights.
  • ×Carrying elaborate picnic gear in and out can be cumbersome.
Sources3 officialReviewed 10.11.26Sources for Know before you book

FanProof editorial synthesis; no fan consensus is claimed.

Editorial verdict

FanProof Takeaway

Reviewed 10.11.26

Read the individual event page first, then build the night around the correct stage, a realistic lawn or seat plan, and either the Ravinia Metra stop or the event-specific parking instructions.

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