Events

Arbor Evenings

Unwind this summer with great music, family, and friends at Arbor Evenings.

Content Detail

This summer, make your Wednesday nights special by enjoying live music with friends and family at The Morton Arboretum.

Dance, enjoy food and drinks, play lawn games, and watch amazing sunsets over Meadow Lake from the view on Frost Hill. There’s no better way to celebrate the summer than at Arbor Evenings!

Upcoming Performance Schedule

Wednesday, May 28, 2025
R-Gang (R&B and motown)

Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Valius (Rock, pop, grunge, rap, and country)

Wednesday, June 11, 2025
The Jolly Ringwalds (80s)

Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Totally Taylor (Taylor Swift)

Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Classical Blast (Classical rock)

See the full 2025 performance schedule.

Event Details

Performances take place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. each Wednesday.

Food, beverages, and ice cream will be available to purchase from food trucks during the event.

Accessible seating is available near the concert area. See Accessibility at The Morton Arboretum for more information.

Ticket Details

Cost
Infant (3 and younger): $0
Child (4 through 12): $5
Adult (13 and older): $15

Member Cost
Infant (3 and younger): $0
Child (4 through 12): $0
Adult (13 and older): $10

Tickets must be purchased online and in advance.

Admission to the Arboretum for Arbor Evenings begins 15 minutes prior to the time on your event ticket.

Your ticket purchase helps support the Arboretum’s mission to plant and protect trees for a greener, healthier, more beautiful world where people and trees thrive together.

 

The Morton Arboretum acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Ticket Details

Cost
Infant (3 and younger): $0
Child (4 through 12): $5
Adult (13 and older): $15

Member Cost
Infant (3 and younger): $0
Child (4 through 12): $0
Adult (13 and older): $10

Tickets must be purchased online and in advance.

Please select one of three Arbor Evenings time slots while making your purchase: 5:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m., or 5:45 p.m. Admission to the Arboretum for Arbor Evenings begins 15 minutes prior to the time on your event ticket.

Please include children who were admitted free in the number of people in your group, as capacity for Arbor Evenings performances is limited.

If a concert date is canceled due to weather conditions, it will be rescheduled for Wednesday, August 27, 2025. You will be notified of the cancellation by email and given the option to rebook your tickets to another date, free of charge.

2025 Performance Schedule

Arbor Evenings take place on Wednesdays, May 28, through August 20, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. If a concert date is canceled due to weather conditions, it will be rescheduled for Wednesday, August 27, 2025.

Wednesday, May 28, 2025
R-Gang (R&B and motown)

Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Valius (Rock, pop, grunge, rap, and country)

Wednesday, June 11, 2025
The Jolly Ringwalds (80s)

Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Totally Taylor (Taylor Swift)

Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Classical Blast (Classical rock)

Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Trabuco Salsa Band (Salsa)

Wednesday, July 9, 2025
The Flat Cats (Chicago swing, jazz, and blues)

Wednesday, July 16, 2025
ARRA (Classic rock)

Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Strung Out (70s rock, soul, and funk)

Wednesday, July 30. 2025
Color Me Amused (90s and 2000s alternative)

Wednesday, August 6. 2025
The Simple Remedy (Country and Americana)

Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Semple (80s and 90s)

Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Beyond the Blonde (Gwen Stefani, Pink!, and Lady Gaga)

Wednesday, August 27, 2025 (Rain date)

Food Options

Food, beverages, and ice cream will be available to purchase from a variety of food trucks each week.

A list of food trucks that will be present at Arbor Evenings performances will be available closer to the start of the 2025 season.

What to Bring

Seating is on the grass, bring a blanket or chair. No chairs will be provided.

Outside food is permitted. Food and beverages will also be available to purchase.

Sealed nonalcoholic beverages are permitted.

Reusable bottles must be empty upon arrival.

Attendees may bring low portable tables and wagons.

We suggest using a wagon or cooler on wheels to bring your chairs, food, and other materials.

What Not to Bring

Alcoholic beverages may not be brought into the Arboretum. All outside alcohol will be confiscated. Cocktails, wine, beer, water, and other beverages will be available to purchase at the event.

Unsealed beverages of any kind may not be brought to the event.

Pets, excluding service animals, are not allowed at the Arboretum or at Arbor Evenings performances.

Large umbrellas that block the view of others are not permitted; small rain umbrellas are permitted.

Open-flame candles are not permitted.

No illegal drugs, smoking, electronic cigarettes, cannabis products, tobacco products, or outside alcohol is allowed at The Morton Arboretum. Large tables (four feet or longer) are not permitted.

Cancellation Policy

Tickets to Arbor Evenings are nonrefundable. However, tickets can be exchanged for another available date in the 2025 Arbor Evenings concert season for a transaction fee of $5.

Concerts may be canceled in the event of extreme or severe weather. If a concert is cancelled due to a weather threat, an announcement will be released by 3:00 p.m. via The Morton Arboretum website.

Cancelled concerts will be rescheduled for a rain date of Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Ticket purchasers will be notified of the cancellation by email and given the option to rebook their tickets to another date, free of charge.

Rebooking

To rebook tickets for a canceled performance, please contact tickets@mortonarb.org with the following information:

  • Your original order number
  • Your requested new Arbor Evenings concert date and start time
  • Your name and phone number

Please allow at least 24 hours for us to update your order and provide new tickets. Rebooking is based on availability. If a concert date is sold out, we are not able to move your tickets to that date. Sending your request by email helps us to process your request more quickly.

Accessibility

The nearest parking lot with space to accommodate guests attending Arbor Evenings is Parking Lot 1, which has accessible parking spaces. The circle in front of the Visitor Center may be used for drop-off and pick-up.

The quickest paved route from the accessible parking spaces in Parking Lot 1 to the event location is via Meadow Lake Trail, a distance of approximately one-third to one-quarter of a mile.

Limited accessible seating near the concert area can be found along the paved Tram Road.

Accessible restrooms in the Children’s Garden are open from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Accessible restrooms are also available in the West Pavilion of the Visitor Center until the Arboretum grounds close at sunset.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The East Side roads are closed beginning at 5:00 p.m. each Wednesday due to Arbor Evenings. The entire West Side is available for driving until sundown.

  • The nearest parking lot with space to accommodate guests attending Arbor Evenings is Parking Lot 1. The walk from Parking Lot 1 to Arbor Evenings performances on Frost Hill is approximately one-third to one-quarter of a mile. Please follow the map for the easiest and shortest route.

  • You are permitted to enter the grounds 15 minutes prior to the time on your ticket. Music will begin at 6:00 p.m.

  • There is no outside alcohol permitted at Arbor Evenings. Our security personnel will be checking bags to ensure that alcohol is not brought into the event.

  • Yes, you may bring in outside food and sealed nonalcoholic beverages. Food, wine, beer, spirits, and nonalcoholic beverages are sold inside the event. Security personnel will be checking bags to ensure that alcohol is not brought into the event.

  • No, any chairs and blankets on the lawn prior to 5:00 p.m. will be removed and placed in the Lost and Found area. You may collect any lost items at this location throughout the event. The Morton Arboretum is not responsible for any items lost or left unattended during, or prior to, this event.

  • Accessible restrooms are located in the Children’s Garden. Signs will be present to guide you to the restroom facilities.

  • No, we do not offer any chair rentals for this event. All seating is general admission on the lawn and attendees will need to bring their own blankets or chairs.

  • The Arboretum will do its best to hold this event rain or shine. However, there may be times when a potentially dangerous weather forecast or unsafe ground conditions prevent us from moving forward with the event. The event will not move indoors. Should the event be canceled by the Arboretum, the ticket purchaser will be notified via email. Wednesday, August 28 is reserved as a rain date.

    For all other cancellations, tickets are nonrefundable. Tickets can be changed for another date in the 2025 Arbor Evening concert season for a $5 transaction fee. All weather-related event updates will be communicated through The Morton Arboretum website and the special event weather hotline at 630-719-2400. These channels will be updated at approximately 3:00 p.m. on the day of the performance.

  • All weather-related event updates will be communicated through The Morton Arboretum website and the weather hotline at 630-719-2400. All of these will be updated at approximately 3:00 p.m. each Wednesday.

  • No, the Visitor Center (Ginkgo Café, Visitor Information Desk, The Arboretum Store, and Membership Sales Desk) will close at 6:00 p.m.

  • We are not able to offer group catering and sales for Arbor Evenings this year.

  • Yes, any items found will be held near the entrance of Arbor Evenings. If items are not collected during or immediately following the event, they will be brought to the Visitor Information Desk in the Visitor Center. Please call 630-968-0074, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily, to inquire about lost items.

  • For specific questions about concerts, please contact specialevents@mortonarb.org or call the ticket line at 630-725-2066, daily between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

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