Ravinia Festival Seating Chart

Sections at Ravinia Festival

Ravinia Festival's seating bowl is organized into the following main sections. Section layout differs by event — a sports configuration and a concert configuration of the same arena are not the same chart.

• Pavilion — covered seating, premium tier
• Reserved Lawn — closer-in lawn sections, reserved
• GA Lawn — open lawn, bring blankets
• Bennett Gordon Hall — separate indoor recital venue
• Martin Theatre — smaller indoor venue

Best seats at Ravinia Festival

Pavilion rows F-K for the orchestra and major-artist shows. Reserved lawn front-center for the picnic experience without paying pavilion prices.

Tips before you go

Picnic culture at Ravinia is genuinely legendary — full table settings, candelabra, wine, gourmet spreads. Metra train from Chicago has a Ravinia stop directly at the gates; skip driving entirely.

How to read the Ravinia Festival seating chart

Ravinia Festival holds 18,000 across a fan of seating that all faces one stage, so reading the chart comes down to a single axis: distance from the stage. Reserved pavilion or orchestra sections sit closest and are usually covered; numbered rows climb back under the roof, and beyond them the general-admission lawn rises on open grass. The lower the section number, the closer to the stage — and the side you sit on decides whether you face the performers straight on or at an angle.

Three things decide an Ravinia Festival seat: how far back you are, whether you are covered or out on the open lawn, and how centered you are on the stage. For an amphitheater this size, the value sweet spot is usually the last few covered rows at center or the front of the lawn — close enough to see the stage, cheap enough to justify, and shielded from sun or a passing shower. Lawn seating is first-come within its area, so arrive early, and cross-check the official Ravinia Festival map before you buy.

Building a seating chart for an event at Ravinia Festival

Hosting a suite night, a group outing, or a private event in the Highland Park area? A seating chart keeps the group organized before you ever reach the gates. Map your party onto tables that mirror the suite or section layout, assign each guest a spot, and export a PDF so everyone knows where they sit. For a private event in a banquet space near Ravinia Festival, the same tool lays out rounds, banquet tables, and head tables, then prints a chart the venue's event-services team can work from. Capacity at Ravinia Festival runs to 18,000 for its main configuration, but most private events use a fraction of that in a club, suite, or adjacent hospitality space — exactly the scale the maker below is built for.

Frequently asked questions

How many seats does Ravinia Festival hold?

Ravinia Festival has a capacity of 18,000 seats. Capacity varies by event configuration — a concert may use floor seating that a basketball game doesn't, and a private buyout uses a different count than a public event.

What are the best seats at Ravinia Festival?

Pavilion rows F-K for the orchestra and major-artist shows. Reserved lawn front-center for the picnic experience without paying pavilion prices.

What sections does Ravinia Festival have?

Main sections include: Pavilion — covered seating, premium tier; Reserved Lawn — closer-in lawn sections, reserved; GA Lawn — open lawn, bring blankets. Full breakdown in the sections list above.

Where is Ravinia Festival located?

Ravinia Festival is in Highland Park, Illinois. Check the venue's official website for the exact address, parking options, and public transit access closest to your seat section.

How do I plan a private event at Ravinia Festival?

For private events, build a seating chart that maps to the venue's section layout using the Seat Chart App maker below. Drop tables to match your event's footprint within the venue's space, assign guests, and export a PDF to share with the venue's event-services team.

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