Ravinia Festival is back for their 2022 season with more than 100 concerts featuring 50 artists, including Pitbull and Dispatch, from May 20 through Sept. 18.
Ravinia President and CEO Jeffrey P. Haydon announced Ravinia Festival’s complete summer lineup which includes a six-week residency by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra curated by Chief Conductor Marin Alsop. Alsop’s contract was extended with Ravinia through 2025.
The first annual Breaking Barriers festival, from July 29 through July 31, aims to celebrate women conductors. The festival will feature three main-stage concerts as well as roundtable discussions, master classes, symposia, and a screening of The Conductor, a documentary chronicling Alsop achieving her dream.
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In addition to Breaking Barriers, Alsop’s first two weeks with the CSO at Ravinia include Ravinia’s annual gala fundraising evening starring Tony Award–winning singer Leslie Odom Jr. on July 24.
“Ravinia is the premier music destination each summer for listeners of all generations,” said Haydon.
“We have a robust lineup of more than 100 events ranging from global music, jazz, country, and hip-hop, to indie rock, pop, family shows, and of course, classical, featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in residence. We also have chamber music and recitals, films with live scores, our annual celebration of Mexican music and culture, reggae, and American Songbook—truly something for everyone!”
Internationally acclaimed Mexican singer Ana Bárbara and Chicano band Las Cafeteras will headline Fiesta Ravinia, Ravinia’s fifth annual celebration of Mexican independence, on Sept. 12. This event will include lucha libre, live music, Latin cuisine, children’s performances, and family activities.
Additionally, on Aug. 7, the Ravinia Festival will open the Ravinia Music Box (RMB) to the public, along with its immersive theater experience Bernstein’s Answer.
Other highlights of the summer schedule include:
- Common with special guest Black Violin, June 18
- Why Don’t We, June 25
- Sheryl Crow with special guest Keb’ Mo’ and Southern Avenue, July 7
- The Black Crowes, July 12
- Little Big Town, July 20
- Ziggy Marley with special guest Kazayah, Aug. 14
- Sting with special guest Joe Sumner, Aug. 27 and Aug. 28
- Pitbull with special guest Iggy Azalea, Aug. 25
- Diana Ross with special guest Naturally 7, Sept. 4
- Stevie Nicks, Sept. 8 and Sept. 10
Check out the full schedule on Ravinia’s website.
After a successful pilot partnership in 2021, Ravinia Festival extends its collaboration with Metra through the 2022 summer season. Under this partnership, Metra will offer free rides on the Union Pacific North Line to all Ravinia ticket holders. Remote parking will continue to be consolidated in downtown Highland Park with operations listed on each event’s webpage with at least two weeks in advance of the performances.
If the current federal mask mandate for public transportation is extended beyond April 18, this mandate will apply to guests arriving by Metra train or the Pace park-and-ride bus program.
However, there are no current mandates in place for outdoor venues and proof of vaccination will not be required for entry. Guests are encouraged to mask and distance to their own comfort level.
Tickets will go on sale to the public on May 4.
Ravinia has two different box office locations for walk-up ticket sales or Will Call ticket pickup. The Main Box Office is only open during the summer season while the BGH Box Office is only open on BGH series event dates.
Box office hours may vary. Call the box office at 847-266-5100 for more information, or to order tickets.
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Alyssa Asaro lives in downtown Chicago with her fiancé. She is a published poet and writer who graduated from the University of Central Florida.
