Ravinia announces major renovation of Highland Park campus
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (WLS) -- Ravinia Fest announced Thursday a major makeover for its campus in Highland Park.
It's North America's longest-running outdoor music festival and it's making renovations ahead of the upcoming festival season - in just a few short months.
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Even after a frigid snowfall, Highland Park's Ravinia is still beautiful.
But come July 2026, the very face of this sprawling, 36 acre venue will have an updated and upgraded new look.
Some rather snowy and chilly conditions aren't putting a halt to constructing the future of Ravinia Festival setting the stage for a sweeping $75 million, multi-year renovation that's already underway.
"You walk into a coffee shop and you say the name Ravinia, people will talk about their first dates, they'll talk about going with their family," Jeff Haydon, president and CEO of Ravinia, said. "Ravinia is community in the summer."
Haydon says it's time for Ravinia's aging infrastructure to get some much-needed TLC.
"With the pavilion first being built in 1950, a lot of stuff is old. It's time to renovate. The seats are old and we're looking forward to having comfortable places to actually have a drink holder for your drink."
For the *400 thousand guests that attend each year, along with the scores of performers, expect to see state-of-the-art upgrades to venues and amenities while iconic features like the lawn and Prairie School architecture will be preserved.
The pavilion will receive a new stage, along with enhanced lighting and fresh seating...along with an upgraded acoustic shell for orchestral performances and so much more.
"To stand on the stage at Ravinia is pretty awe inspiring," Haydon said. "It's the place where the Chicago Symphony plays, Yo Yo Ma, Tony Bennett, Sting, John Legend. It's legendary."
As Ravinia looks to the future, the venue paying homage to the past and the timeless memories and masterpieces performed right here.
"As we're looking at the renovation of the pavilion, we're actually going to save parts of the stage and have those as mementos going forward," Haydon said.
And don't worry, renovations won't hinder the upcoming 2025 season starting in June.
In fact Ravinia will announce who's coming on March 13.
The venue will then be renamed the Hunter Pavilion, honoring Maxine and Thomas B. Hunter III for a $10 million donation from the Hunter Family Foundation.
"Ravinia has always been a cherished part of my family's story," said Bill Hunter of the Hunter Family Foundation. "Growing up, we often went there with my parents, Maxine and Thomas, my grandmother, and our extended family, sharing picnics under the canopy of trees, surrounded by beautiful music and nature. For us,
Ravinia represents the perfect intersection of music, art, and nature-a place to relax, be inspired, and build community. This gift is about ensuring that future generations can enjoy that same magic."
