Although Ravinia has been best known for more than a century as a destination for live music bathed in summer’s warm weather and leisure time, the Highland Park venue also offers visitors entertainment for the holiday season as well as in fall and spring.
During its Dec. 6–8 Winter Weekend, Ravinia is presenting three musical lineups, including two directly centered on the yuletide; a specially curated menu and seasonal goodies in two of its onsite eateries; and a pop-up shop with holiday gifts.
Here’s a quick look at the weekend’s trio of concerts, which take place in Ravinia’s intimate and historic 850-seat Martin Theatre:
7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, WASSAIL! An Irish-American Christmas, Apollo’s Fire. This internationally known, Cleveland-based ensemble has made Chicago its second home with an annual series of period-instrument concerts across the metropolitan area. Irish singer Fiona Gillespie joins Jeannette Sorrell’s band of fiddlers, hammered dulcimer, medieval harp, and pipes for this festive program that both looks back at a Christmas night in Old Ireland and pays tribute to the American immigrant experience.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Sunday Morning Put-On, Andrew Bird. This Grammy Award–winning singer and multi-instrumentalist ranges across indie rock, swing, folk, and jazz. The Lake Forest native, who worked at Ravinia as a ticket-taker in his teens, returns for a program of music that is featured on and gave inspiration for his recent album Sunday Morning Put-On. Bird will be joined by bassist/guitarist Alan Hampton and percussionist Ted Poor for jazzy takes on classic songs by the likes of Duke Ellington, Lerner and Loewe, and Cole Porter.
1:30 p.m. Dec. 8, A Very Brassy Christmas, The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass. Rodney’s last name provides a big clue about what to expect at this concert. A New Orleans–born trumpeter who began taking lessons with his famed cousin, Wynton, when he was 11, he has achieved success both as a soloist and head of this 9-member brass ensemble that bears his name. The program of popular tunes and sing-alongs features a Nutcracker Suite and distinctive takes on holiday favorites like Silent Night and Sleigh Ride.
Whether attending any of the concerts or not, visitors are welcome to enjoy all the other elements of Winter Weekend—including dining, shopping, and family fun—from Ravinia’s opening at 4 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 7 and 11 a.m. on Dec. 8 until each concert starts.
The Park View restaurant, decked out with festive décor around its panoramic setting on the second floor of Ravinia’s Dining Pavilion, offers a three-course prix fixe menu each day. Reservations are filling quickly for seatings until about an hour before the concerts. And the walk-up Ravinia Café will have plenty of hot chocolate, cider, and cookies available to take the edge off the early-winter chill.
Ravinia’s iconic entrance arch will be glowing with winter trimmings as a holiday photo opportunity, and kids can enjoy coloring festive-themed pages to take home.
In addition to the Ravinia Festival Shop’s own stock of holiday gifts and other items, four guest vendors are showcasing their artisan gifts: Toffee Traditions, Fresh Jewelry Co., Spiffy & Splendid, and Sea Lily.
During the weekend, Ravinia will collect donations for the Moraine Township Food Pantry, and visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishable food staples to support local families in need across Highland Park, Highwood, southeast Lake Forest, and east Deerfield.
For more information, visit Ravinia.org/Online/Article/WinterWeekend.