Ravinia Guide | How To Turn Lawn Tickets Into A VIP Experience
If you’re not in the know — Ravinia is one of Chicagoland’s favorite summertime venues for enjoying an afternoon or evening on lawn, listening to music, and socializing with friends. The ticket to having a good time at this open-air concert venue, in our opinion, places as much importance on the picnic-fare on the lawn, as choosing the date or prioritizing which headliners are playing the concert! Meaning, we’re not necessarily here for the music, but for the entire experience that the lawn offers.
Don’t worry- we’ve rounded up the very best recommendations for you to ensure your Lawn Tickets feel as VIP as possible- from accessories to recipes. Read on to become the envy of every event-goer with our curated guide to what you need for Ravinia (or any open air music concert this summer!).
The Picnic Basket
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The Picnic Basket •
What’s a picnic without a basket?
Unless you’re good at juggling, not much! The Ravinia pros know that you do have to carry-in all your food and drinks, and all your comfort-enhancing accoutrements (chairs, tables, blankets). Which is why we recommend starting with a sturdy basket like these:
If you really want to ensure your concert experience is schlep-free…
We recommend investing in a fold-up cart.
It’s not as picturesque as a classic wicker basket, but it helps you tow your picnic provisions to your preferred spot on the grass. And this one even converts to a cooler and table!
Blankets + Chairs
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Blankets + Chairs •
Blankets and chairs are like your base-layer for picnics.
Blankets help secure your space and delineate your area on the lawn, so no one accidentally tramples your drinks or walks on your artful cheese board. Chairs are for your comfort. Depending on your age, you may be perfectly fine sitting on the ground on a blanket. The rest of us know that if we’re perching somewhere for hours, we want chairs! With backs, please. Peruse our picks here:
Ravinia is nothing, if not a little extra, so why not bring your own bench!
So if you and your pals like to share a seat or loathe the idea of wrangling many chairs, a bench is a perfect solution. You may even get some oohs and ahhs from your neighbors on the lawn!
Perfect for cozying up next to your love, or snuggling with your kiddos.
Picnic Provisions
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Picnic Provisions •
Is it a party without snacks?
You’ve picked your basket, but what to fill it up with?? You can always pick up quick pre-cut items to go for no-fail snacks- like crudités of fresh veggies and fresh fruits, but if you really want to wow, we’ve rounded up an assortment of picnic perfect recipes to indulge your inner gourmet.
Tables + Settings
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Tables + Settings •
The food is ready, now where to eat?
If you are truly Ravinia ready– you are essentially having a mini party on the lawn! Here are our top picks for taking it from picnic to professional:
The Ravinia Calendar
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The Ravinia Calendar •
Inspired to go to Ravinia this year?
Click through to download our printable and social media assets to share!
Ravinia does have some rules for what’s allowed in (or not), so if it’s your first time, or if you just need a refresher on what all you can bring– see the whole list here: