Ravinia Pavilion

Don’t be daunted by the suburban address—Ravinia is easy to get to via Metra (it has its own train stop). The lawn is beautiful, perfect for basking in the sun and picnicking (there’s also plenty of gourmet food available for purchase). You won’t be able to see the stage too well if you’re not in the seating area, though. The shows skew on the older side: Blues, jazz and cabaret are popular here, and the rock acts tend to be aging crowd-pleasers, but it’s impossible not to have a fun time. Also see Classical & Opera listings.