Arts & Entertainment
Ravinia Gets a Revamp as Historic Outdoor Music Festival Announces Transformation of Entire Campus
A rendering of the renovated Hunter Pavilion at Ravinia Festival, set to be completed in 2026. (Credit: Ravinia Festival)
Ravinia Festival announced Thursday a comprehensive renovation of its 36–acre park and venues in north suburban Highland Park.
The upgrades at North America’s longest-running outdoor music festival will take place in phases over the next few years. Everything is expected to be renewed and enhanced by the 2029 season, when Ravinia celebrates its 125th anniversary.
The project begins with a renovation of the Pavilion, which will be led by Chicago’s Lohan Architecture.
The iconic roof will remain intact while the Pavilion gets fitted with a new stage, seating, lights and enhanced acoustics and production facilities. This phase is to be completed by July 2026.
A rendering of the renovated Hunter Pavilion as seen from the south lawn at Ravinia Festival, set to be completed in 2026. (Credit: Ravinia Festival)
The Pavilion will be renamed the Hunter Pavilion in honor of the Hunter Family Foundation, which provided a $10 million gift to the $75 million campaign.
The renovated and redesigned back-of-house areas serving artists and performers will be renamed the Negaunee Foundation Artist Center, in recognition of a $21 million gift from the Negaunee Foundation.
A rendering of a redesigned Negaunee Foundation Artist Center at Ravinia Festival. (Credit: Ravinia Festival)
Other parts of the campus will also be rejuvenated, including the carousel, the Sandra K. Crown Theater, Bennett Gordon Hall and the historic Martin Theatre, the only original structure, which dates back to the opening in 1904.
“For more than a century, Ravinia has been a cherished destination for generations of artists and audiences from our region and around the world...,” Ravinia President and CEO Jeffrey P. Haydon said in a statement. “Our goal is to make every part of Ravinia more welcoming, comfortable, and exciting, while keeping us at the forefront of artistic presentation and programming for generations to come.”
Ravinia Festival Conductor Marin Alsop added: “When it came to redesigning the Pavilion, a few Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians and I shared ideas to improve acoustics and deepen the connection between performers and the audience, all while preserving the charm and history that make Ravinia unique. It’s exciting to see how these improvements will elevate the experience for everyone.”
Ravinia will announce its 2025 season on March 13.
