Ravinia Festival’s Hunter Pavilion near Chicago reopens after $70 million gut renovation
Summary
The Ravinia Festival’s Hunter Pavilion near Chicago reopened after a $70 million renovation that improved comfort and sound quality. The pavilion, home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s summer season, now has wider seats, better acoustics, and new cooling features.Key Facts
- The Hunter Pavilion in Highland Park, Illinois, underwent a $70 million renovation.
- The pavilion reopened in July 2026, ahead of the summer concert season.
- Its seating capacity decreased from 3,350 to 2,840 due to wider, accessible seats.
- Renovations included improved sound design to make music clearer and softer for musicians.
- New LED lights and nine ventilation fans were added to lower stage temperatures.
- The pavilion originally opened in 1905, with a major rebuild in 1950 after a fire.
- The Chicago Symphony Orchestra uses the pavilion as its summer home.
- Over 335,000 tickets were sold for the 2025 season, with 94 programs planned for summer 2026.
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