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Art Festivals, Fireworks and Memorial Day ceremonies this weekend

Posted in Entertainment, The Greatest Generation, Topics Of Interest on May 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Memorial Day

Friday, May 26

Boomers Post Game Fireworks: Friday and Sunday, May 26 and 28, at Schaumburg Boomers Park, 1999 Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg. Firework shows after the Schaumburg Boomers games. boomersbaseball.com.

Saturday, May 27

Barrington Art Festival: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 27-28, at Cook and Station streets in downtown Barrington. The 14th annual festival features 120 artists showing and selling art in all media, including paintings, sculptures, jewelry, wearables, photography, ceramics and more. Plus, kids’ activities, live music festival, food and more. Free admission. amdurproductions.com/event/2023-barrington-art-festival.

Prairie Arts Festival: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 27-28, at the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center, 101 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. The 34th annual festival features approximately 100 painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelers, potters and more. Entertainment on three stages, food truck court, kids’ art activities and more. Free admission. prairiecenter.org/programs/prairie-arts-festival.

St. Charles Fine Art Show: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 27, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 28, on Riverside Drive, Main Street and Illinois Avenue, St. Charles. The 25th annual fine arts show features over 100 artists exhibiting and showcasing original, juried art in a variety of mediums, including ceramics, painting, sculpture, photography, jewelry, mixed media, glass and more. Free. stcharlesfineartshow.com.

James McCulla Jr. Memorial Fireworks: Dusk Saturday, May 27, near the Fox River footbridge in East Dundee. dundeestpats.org/fireworks.

Sunday, May 28

Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores Memorial 5K: 8-10 a.m. Sunday, May 28, at the Market Place Shopping Center, 5035-5075 Market Place Road, Lake Barrington. Proceeds benefit Gold Star Survivors Network and Paths to Hope. (847) 638-1638 or veteransoflbs.com.

Monday, May 29

Barrington Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony Monday, May 29 from 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM. The parade will begin at Veterans Memorial on Park Ave., proceed west on Main Street, left on Dundee Avenue, and right into Evergreen Cemetery. The service at Evergreen Cemetery will begin following the parade.

Cary Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony: 10-11:15 a.m. Monday, May 29, on First Street and Veteran’s Park in Cary. The Cary-Grove AMVETS Post 245 are hosting the parade, running south on First Street from Three Oaks Road to Park Avenue followed by a ceremony. CaryIllinois.com.

Dundee Memorial Day ceremony: 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 29, at River Valley Memorial Gardens, 14N689 Route 31, West Dundee. rivervalleymemorialgardens.com.

For more, click here.

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Restaurants serving up Memorial Day specials

Posted in Entertainment on May 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Hampton

Memorial Day brunch at The Hampton Social

With the unofficial start of summer happening Memorial Day weekend, it’s time to gather some friends for a get-together. Now that life is mostly back to normal, some suburban restaurants are extending their weekend brunches to Monday this weekend, while others are offering grill and shrimp boil packs or special catering deals to make an at-home barbecue or party easier.

Here’s what we found:

Broken Oar

614 Rawson Bridge Road, Port Barrington, (847) 639-9468, brokenoar.com/events. Broken Oar is planning a huge party all weekend featuring seven bands. The fun starts with My Metal Heart at 8 p.m. Friday, May 26. Come back for Nick Bell Band at 2 p.m. and Rumor Hazit at 8 p.m. Saturday; LP Vinyl at 2 p.m. and Buckle Band and Tennessee Whiskey at 7 p.m. Sunday; and Rok Brigade at 2 p.m. Monday.

The Hampton Social

100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington, (224) 633-5414; 4999 Old Orchard Center, Skokie, (847) 307-5207; 705 Village Center Drive, Burr Ridge, (630) 219-0009; thehamptonsocial.com/events/memorial-day-brunch. The Hampton Social will be serving Memorial Day brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring Grandma Swan’s Pancakes ($14), Sunrise Beach Bowl ($18), crab cake Benedict ($28), bananas Foster French toast ($16), lobster roll, smash burger ($19) and more. Reservations are requested.

Shaw’s Crab House

1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-2722, shawscrabhouse.com/schaumburg/. Stop by Shaw’s from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday to take advantage of Shaw’s Sip & Slurp, when select oysters and bottles of wine will be half price. It’s only available for dine-in in the Oyster Bar. Reservations requested.

Tap House Grills

Locations in Algonquin, Lemont, Oswego, Palatine, Plainfield, St. Charles and Wheeling; taphousegrills.com/. Tap House is kicking off its Patio Party — Friday through Monday, May 26-29 — with all-American double cheeseburgers for $10.99, pretzels for $9.99, buckets of four beers (Miller/Coors) or four seltzers for $15 and shots of Fireball, Green Tea and Jameson for $4. Plus, there will be live music at all locations.

More here.

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‘Back to the roots’: Durty Nellie’s owner hopeful about downsizing to a little Irish pub again

Posted in Entertainment, Nostalgia, Topics Of Interest on May 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Durty

Durty Nellie’s owner Jim Dolezal talks about the future of the Palatine bar, which he said is going back to its roots with plans for a smaller location inside a proposed six-story apartment building. (John Starks | Staff Photographer)

Durty Nellie’s isn’t quite ready to go gentle into that good night.

Plans to tear down the downtown Palatine nightspot’s longtime home to make way for a new, six-story building is a chance to bring the establishment back to its Irish pub roots, said Jim Dolezal, who co-owns the business with brother Mark.

“We’ve been here so long,” he said. “I’m not ready to call it a day yet.”

Last month, the Dolezals announced a proposal to raze the venue at 180 N. Smith St. — Durty Nellie’s home since 2003 — and replace it with a six-story, 85-unit apartment building.

The new building would include ground-floor space for businesses, including 3,500 square feet for a new Durty Nellie’s. That’s far less than a quarter of the 18,000 square feet it currently occupies. Plans also are in the works for a rooftop element to the new pub.

The project is awaiting final approval from the village of Palatine, but Jim Dolezal sees it as an opportunity to “get back to the roots, kind of where Nellie’s got its start in the old place right down the street.”

That old place is the original Nellie’s, which opened on St. Patrick’s Day 1972 at 55 N. Bothwell St., a site that previously was home to a stable, a speak-easy, a bowling alley and an ice cream parlor.

Read more here.

Related: “Durty Nellie’s owners plan to tear down iconic nightspot in downtown Palatine”

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Chicago’s best pastrami isn’t always where you’d think. Here are 13 favorites.

Posted in Entertainment on May 23, 2023| Leave a Comment »

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Pastrami from Chicago Culinary Kitchen. (Nick Kindelsperger/Chicago Tribune)

The best pastrami in Chicago is not where I thought it’d be. Sure, the brined, spice-rubbed and smoked beef is still a mainstay at plenty of Jewish delis, and a few of those versions are genuinely worth your time.

But stunning pastrami is now popping up somewhere I never expected ― barbecue joints. Our local favorite is:

Chicago Culinary Kitchen

This suburban smoked meat destination offers all the barbecue standards you’d expect on its regular menu. But the lengthy specials are where the owners Kristina and Greg Gaardbo let their creativity run wild. One staple there is pastrami, which you can order sliced or on a sandwich.

The pastrami has an intensely bright pink color from the brine and is liberally covered in a rub heavy with black pepper. I initially worried that would destroy my taste buds, but the cure is light enough not to get in the way of the meat, while the smoke lingers mostly in the background. Next time I would ask for slices from the fattier end, but even the lean pieces were supple. (To make sure the pastrami is available before you go, check the restaurant’s website.)

2391 N. Hicks Road, Palatine; 847-701-8243; chicagoculinarykitchen.com

Read about the other 12 Chicago Tribune favorites here.

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Long Grove’s Chocolate Fest begins tomorrow

Posted in Entertainment on May 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

chocolate-fest-imgChocolate lovers are invited to three days of indulgence when Chocolate Fest returns to the historic streets of downtown Long Grove.

Chocolate Fest offers three days of chocolate-infused cuisine and themed experiences plus live music, games, artists, and carnival rides. Hours are noon to 11 p.m. Friday, May 19, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 20, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 21. Tickets, $5 per day or $10 for a three-day pass, are available through www.longgrove.org/festivals/chocolatefest. Children younger than 12 are admitted free with a paid adult.

The address is 145 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove, and free parking is available in the village, as well as a shuttle from Golf Dome, 801 McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove.

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Why Mother’s Day is the most hated day in the restaurant industry

Posted in Entertainment, Topics Of Interest on May 14, 2023| Leave a Comment »

md

Mother’s Day is one of the busiest days for the American restaurant industry, presenting a massive operational challenge to restaurants. That’s why it gained a reputation among waiters and restaurant staff as one of the most grueling days on the calendar.

“Every server knows that working on Mother’s Day is hell. In fact, if I die and go to hell, I completely expect it to be Mother’s Day. 365 days a year,” wrote Darron Cardosa, in his book “The Bitchy Waiter: I’m Really Good at Pretending to Care.”

What’s so bad about it? From big groups that show up in waves (“most of us are here!”), to food-fussy kids to splitting the check dramas and coffee-cup lingerers, restaurants hate this holiday. This year is expected to be particularly challenging as high inflation and rising menu prices give some restaurant-goers an extra sense of entitlement.

“The anticipation alone can make you anxious,” said Joe Haley, an abstract artist who works as a server at a Quincy, Massachusetts, Italian-American restaurant. It gets “jam-packed. People are calling at the last minute for a reservation, there are other people who made multiple reservations so Mom could have her pick and they never cancel… people who take out their mother once a year tell you ‘Nothing can go wrong!’” he said.

But it does. With big tables, a few late arrivals can kick a kitchen into chaos. “And every family has at least one black sheep or in-law who can’t be relied upon to save their lives. Mother’s Day: I dread it,” Haley added.

Chefs, servers and owners said that this year guests have set their expectations high: Special occasion meals in a time of rising food prices. In a post-pandemic world, luxury – or rather the appearance of luxury and excess – is “in.” Across the country, customers will get aggravated if their $30 eggs Benedict isn’t dolloped with caviar on Sunday.

Tastes have changed, literally, since Covid, said Chef Art Smith, who has been personal chef to Oprah Winfrey and Jeb Bush. He will be serving hundreds of Mother’s Day meals at his four restaurants including his Homecomin’ at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World.

The people who visit? “They’re drinking more. They want more carbs – If it’s mac and cheese, it has to be the cheesiest. But they want salads, and they want more veg sides, too. They just want more.”

Learn more here, and HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

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Things to do this Mother’s Day Weekend

Posted in Crabtree Nature Center, Entertainment, Topics Of Interest on May 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Sully Pond

American White Pelicans resting on Sulky Pond at Crabtree Nature Center. Photo taken by Jeff Rapp May 1st.

Friday, May 12

Spring Bird Migration Walk: 8 a.m. Friday, May 12, at Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, Barrington Hills. Track spring bird migration with naturalists on a guided walk. Bring binoculars and insect repellent and dress for the weather. Free. To register, contact susan.baert@citizensforconservation.org or (847) 532-5764.

Maifest: Noon to 11 p.m. Friday, May 12, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Buffalo Creek Brewing, 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove. The brewery hosts its first Maifest with live music, German games, new beer releases and a special small batch tent, food trucks and more. buffalocreekbrewing.com.

Gallery Open House: 4 p.m. Friday, May 12, at Mainstreet Gallery, 16 E. Main St., Lake Zurich. See original art, jewelry, glass, greeting cards and pottery while enjoying wine and cheese. Features new works including from land conservation-inspired oil painter Jan Elbert. (847) 550-0016 or mainstreetartcenter.com.

Art Clash: 7 p.m. Friday, May 12, at Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin. Annual painting competition series where the audience votes for each clash’s winner. The eight finalists will come together in the City Final in June. After the event, the artwork created will be available to bid on. There are three rounds for each event, with the first round beginning at 7:10 p.m. $12. sidestreetstudioarts.org/artclash.

Saturday, May 13

Dundee Depot Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, May 13, through Oct. 28, at The Depot, 319 N. River St., East Dundee. Vendors selling veggies, honey, flowers, plants, soaps, antiques, collectibles and more. dundeedepot.com.

Morning Bird Walk for World Migratory Bird Day: 8-10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, Barrington Hills. See how many migrating birds you can spot on a guided bird hike. Birders of all levels are welcome; binoculars available to borrow. Free. (847) 381-6592 or Crabtree.NatureCenter@cookcountyil.gov.

Spring Plant, Craft & Bake Sale: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at St. Hugh of Lincoln Episcopal Church, 36W957 Highland Ave., Elgin. Spring vendor boutique, homegrown indoor and outdoor plants, pre-owned garden tools, patio items, lawn accessories, pet products, baked goods and more. sthugh.net.

Fire Up! Food Truck Festival: 11 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at Rylko Park, 1000 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove. Benefits Project Fire Buddies. (847) 409-5012.

Night of Percussion: 6 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Buffalo Grove High School Theater, 1100 W. Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove. The Buffalo Grove High School Percussion Ensemble will perform solo and ensemble performances on marimba, xylophone, drum set and more. $5. (847) 398-7705 or BGBAND.org.

Sunday, May 14

Mother’s Day with Birds of Prey: 1-3 p.m. Sunday, May 14, at Stillman Nature Center, 33 W. Penny Road, South Barrington. See great horned, barn, barred and screech owls, plus a peregrine falcon and red-shouldered and broad-winged hawks, and the star of the show: a snowy owl. Kids will have a chance to dissect owl pellets. $20 per car. stillmannc.org.

More entertainment opportunities can be found here.

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122 suburban restaurants ready to celebrate mom for Mother’s Day 2023

Posted in Entertainment on May 11, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Cap Grille

Treat mom to The Capital Grille’s lobster frittata with butter poached lobster tails on May 14.

Bonefish Grill

1604 Randall Road, Algonquin, (847) 658-9268; 180 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, (847) 534-0679; 9310 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, (847) 674-4634, bonefishgrill.com/. The seafood restaurant will be serving up Mother’s Day specials such as the scallop and shrimp scampi filet, Old Fashioned cedar plank salmon, Rockefeller butterfish, carrot lava cake, Wild Flower Martini (Ketel One vodka, passion fruit, vanilla and citrus juices topped with wildflowers and sparkling wine) and the Crushed Pineapple Martini. Reservations requested.

Broken Oar

614 Rawson Bridge Road, Port Barrington, (847) 639-9468, brokenoar.com/events. At Broken Oar, Mom can enjoy the Mother’s Day brunch buffet on the skydeck or in the upper level dining area from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14. Nosh on made-to-order omelets, honey-glazed ham, breakfast potatoes, scrambled eggs, French toast, fruit, pastries and more. It’s $24.95 for adults and $10.95 for kids younger than 10. Reservations required.

The Capital Grille

87 Yorktown Center, Lombard, (630) 627-9800; 5340 N. River Road, Rosemont, (847) 671-8125; 2000 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, (847) 969-0290; 4999 Old Orchard Center, Skokie, (847) 423-1488; thecapitalgrille.com/. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mother’s Day, nosh on the $45 specials such as lobster frittata with butter poached lobster tails, 14-ounce bone-in, dry-aged New York strip and eggs, the 8-ounce center-cut filet mignon, or the new smoked salmon and caviar. Don’t forget the special mimosas, too. Reservations required.

Concorde Banquets

20922 N. Rand Road, Kildeer, (847) 438-0025, concordebanquets.com/. Indulge in the Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch Sunday, May 14. Dine from the salad bar, stations (omelet, seafood, carving), sides, pastries, fruit, desserts and more. A complimentary glass of champagne is included in the $62 price for adults. It’s $26 for kids 4-12 and free for kids 3 and younger. Reservations required.

The Continental

788 S. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove, (847) 459-4095, continental-restaurant.net/special-events-menu.php. The $35 per person brunch menu available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 14 includes roast prime rib, leg of lamb or Greek chicken and other breakfast options.

Emmett’s Brewing Company

5200 Main St., Downers Grove, (630) 434-8500; 110 N. Brockway St., Palatine, (847) 359-1533; 128 W. Main St., West Dundee, (847) 428-4500; emmettsbrewingco.com/. Make reservations for Mother’s Day Brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 14. It’s $40 for adults, $22 for kids 5-12, and free for kids 4 and younger. Add on champagne for an extra $10. Reservations encouraged.

Francesca’s

The Mother’s Day buffet menu will be available at Francesca’s Famiglia in Barrington. The brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. features porcini rubbed prime rib, made-to-order omelets, mini waffles, breakfast sausage, pastries, fruit, shrimp cocktail, chopped salad, rigatoni melanzane and more. It’s $55 for adults and $15 for kids. The dinner menu will be available from 4-9 p.m. Reservations required. For details, see miafrancesca.com/mothersday/. All other Francesca’s will be offering Mother’s Day specials such as grilled calamari insalata ($15), spicy lobster pasta ($38), glazed arctic char ($29), porcini rib-eye ($49) and limoncello tiramisu ($12).

The Hampton Social

100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington, (224) 633-5414; 4999 Old Orchard Center, Skokie, (847) 307-5207; 705 Village Center Drive, Burr Ridge, (630) 219-0009; thehamptonsocial.com/events/mothers-day. All moms can enjoy a complimentary sparkling glass of rosé on Mother’s Day. Reservations required.

Pinstripes

1150 Willow Road, Northbrook, (847) 480-2323; 7 Oakbrook Center Mall, Oak Brook, (630) 575-8700; and 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington, (847) 844-9300; pinstripes.com/. Make Mom’s day with the Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 14 that includes bottomless mimosas and aperol spritzes, a waffle station and more. Each mom will be treated to a fresh flower. It’s $35 for adults, $15 for kids 6-12, and free for kids 5 and younger. Reservations required.

Port Edward

20 W. Algonquin Road, Algonquin, (847) 658-5441, portedward.com/. Fete Mom with Port Edward’s Champagne Brunch Buffet from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 14. Nosh on seafood, paella, made-to-order omelets, prime rib and turkey from the carving station, breakfast items, sides, salads, fruit, cheeses, desserts and sip on unlimited champagne. It’s $55 for adults, $19.95 for kids 5-11, and free for kids 4 and younger. Reservations required.

Ruth’s Chris

933 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, (847) 498-6889, and 100 W. Higgins Road, Suite U-1, South Barrington, (847) 551-3730, ruthschris.com/. Ruth’s Chris is opening early on May 13-14 for Mother’s Day. Brunch features the 6-ounce filet and spicy crab, blackened chicken Caesar salad, brunch burger, crab stack and garlic-crusted sea bass. The three-course, prix fixe menu includes a salad or lobster bisque, entree (steak and shrimp, steak and lobster, fish and shrimp), sides and dessert. Reservations required.

Shaw’s Crab House

1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-2722, shawscrabhouse.com/schaumburg/. Shaw’s is taking reservations for Mother’s Day dining, which is available from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 14. Specials include oysters on the half shell, surf and turf combos and more.

Many more options can be found here.

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Nearby restaurants honoring Cinco de Mayo with specials

Posted in Entertainment on May 4, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Cinco

Sip on the hibiscus margarita at Tacos Guanajuato in Kildeer.

On The Border

1512 S. Randall Road, Algonquin, (847) 960-3915; 1915 Glacier Park Ave., Naperville, (331) 472-8740; and 535 N. Lakeview Pkwy., Vernon Hills, (224) 433-5450; ontheborder.com/. On Friday, May 5, the Cinco ‘Rita will be on special for $6.

Pinstripes

1150 Willow Road, Northbrook, (847) 480-2323; 7 Oakbrook Center Mall, Oak Brook, (630) 575-8700; 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington, (847) 844-9300; pinstripes.com/event/cinco-de-mayo/. How does $5 Margarita Italianos, palomas and bottled Mexican beer sound? Pinstripes is offering those all day on May 5.

Tacos Guanajuato

20771 N. Rand Road, Kildeer, (847) 847-1056, tacosg.com/. Spring specials in time for Cinco de Mayo include ceviche campechano ($17.95), taco campechano ($8), red beets salad ($14.95), pork belly taco ($7), duck taco ($8), octopus taco ($8) and crispy duck enchiladas ($19.95). Wash it down with a variety of margaritas (hibiscus, dragon fruit, blueberry basil, prickly pear, tamarindo and cilantro avocado for $14-$15), sangria ($12), Mexican beers and wines and spirits.

The Hampton Social

100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington, (224) 633-5414, thehamptonsocial.com/events/cinco-de-mayo. On May 5, order shrimp tacos and receive a free margarita shot.

Village Squire

125 Washington St., West Dundee, (847) 428-4483, and 480 Randall Road, South Elgin, (847) 931-0400, thevillagesquire.com/. Cinco de Mayo specials include Southwest egg rolls, carne asada, baaab-a-ritos, tacos, quesadillas, tres leches dessert and specialty drinks such as La Paloma, The Cantina Sunset and Despina’s Margarita for $10, and Corona, Corona Light, Corona Premier and Modelo for $4.

Click here for more.

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Ravinia tickets go on sale tomorrow morning

Posted in Entertainment on April 30, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Ravinia

Public tickets go on sale for the 2023 Ravinia Festival tomorrow morning:

“The following dates have been selling quickly in presales and may have limited availability when public sales open at 8:00 a.m. CT on Monday. Be sure to have your account set up with current information so you are ready on May 1!

JUN 18—Chicago
JUN 30—Santana
JUL 1—Santana
AUG 2—Jason Mraz
AUG 13—John Legend
AUG 19—Kenny Loggins
AUG 27—Encanto in Concert
AUG 30—Train
AUG 31—Brandi Carlile
SEPT 1—Carrie Underwood
SEPT 2—Carrie Underwood

If you miss out, don’t fret! Many people donate tickets they can’t use back to Ravinia. Check back in periodically for tickets that have been returned and put back on sale.”

View the 2023 Season Schedule here.

Note: Make Sure You Are Buying At Ravinia.org. Be wary of other websites claiming to have our tickets for sale. Ravinia has no affiliation ticket reseller sites and cannot honor tickets that did not originate from its own ticketing system. Learn more about ticketing here.

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