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Events

Arbor Evenings

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

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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 27
R-Gang (R&B and Motown)

Wednesday, June 3
ARRA (Classic rock)

Wednesday, June 10
Hollyy (Retro rock, indie, soul)

Wednesday, June 17
Queensville (All-female soul, R&B, funk)

See the full 2026 performance schedule.

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

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

Highlights

Purchase food and beverages from food trucks and frozen yogurt served in a souvenir Vivid Creatures cup.

Add a charcuterie box or vegetarian snack box to your ticket purchase for an additional $28. Each box serves 1–2 people. Charcuterie and snack box orders must be purchased by noon on the Monday preceding your concert date.

Tickets

Purchase Arbor Evenings event tickets and member tickets online.

Cost
Adult (18 and older): $15
Child (4 through 17): $5
Infant (3 and younger): Free

Member Cost
Adult (18 and older): $10
Child (4 through 17): Free
Infant (3 and younger): Free

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 and Chicagoland Auto Group.

Tickets

Purchase Arbor Evenings event tickets and member tickets online.

Cost
Adult (18 and older): $15
Child (4 through 17): $5
Infant (3 and younger): Free

Member Cost
Adult (18 and older): $10
Child (4 through 17): Free
Infant (3 and younger): Free

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 are 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 may be rescheduled for a rain date of Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Ticket purchasers will be notified of the cancellation by email and given the option to rebook tickets to another date, free of charge.

2026 Performance Schedule

Arbor Evenings take place on Wednesdays, May 27, through August 19, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. If a concert date is canceled due to weather conditions, it may be rescheduled for a rain date of Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

Wednesday, May 27
R-Gang (R&B and motown)

Wednesday, June 3
ARRA (Classic rock)

Wednesday, June 10
Hollyy (Retro rock, indie, soul)

Wednesday, June 17
Queensville (All-female soul, R&B, funk)

Wednesday, June 24
Whiskey Road (Country rock)

Wednesday, July 1
Trabuco Salsa Band (Salsa)

Wednesday, July 8
Johnny Russler and the Beach Bum Band (Jimmy Buffet)

Wednesday, July 15
Semple (80s and 90s)

Wednesday, July 22
No Limit (Classic rock)

Wednesday, July 29
The PriSSillas (All-female classic rock, country, 80s, and 90s)

Wednesday, August 5
Valius (Rock, pop, grunge, rap, and country)

Wednesday, August 12
The Flat Cats (Chicago swing, jazz, and blues)

Wednesday, August 19
The Throwbacks (Pop-punk classic oldies)

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 (Rain date)

Food and Drinks

Food, beverages, and frozen yogurt will be available to purchase near the performance location.

Frozen Yogurt

Frozen yogurt will be available to purchase on all Arbor Evenings dates! Choose from three topping options for vanilla frozen yogurt served in a souvenir Vivid Creatures cup.

Food Trucks

Food truck vendors will be on-site for the following performance dates:

John’s Barbecue
All performance dates

Maria’s Tacos
May 27–July 8

Tacos Marios
July 15–August 19

Charcuterie Boxes and Snack Boxes

Add a charcuterie box or vegetarian snack box to your ticket purchase for an additional $28. Each box serves 1–2 people.

Charcuterie and snack boxes are available for pre-purchase only until noon on the Monday preceding the concert. Boxes will not be sold on the night of the event. To reserve yours, select the charcuterie box or vegetarian snack box option when purchasing Arbor Evenings tickets online.

Orders may be picked up at the Ginkgo Café in the Visitor Center until 6:00 p.m. on the day of the performance and throughout the following day. If a performance date is canceled due to inclement weather, purchased charcuterie and snack boxes will be available to pick up at the Ginkgo Café until 6:00 p.m. on the originally scheduled performance date or during regular café hours the following day. Charcuterie and snack boxes are non-refundable.

Charcuterie Box
Salami, capicola, prosciutto
Artisan bread, assorted cheeses, artichoke salad, olives, seedless grapes, cold-pressed small-batch mustard

Vegetarian Snack Box
Naan, pita bread
Garlic hummus, spinach and artichoke spread, assorted cheeses, olives, seedless grapes, crudités

What to Bring

Seating is on grass. Bring a blanket or chair. No chairs will be provided.

Sealed, unopened, nonalcoholic beverages are permitted, as well as reusable bottles that are empty upon arrival.

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

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 and emotional support animals are not allowed at the Arboretum or at Arbor Evenings performances. Trained service animals are always welcome at the Arboretum.

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 rebooked for another available date in the 2026 Arbor Evenings concert season, based on availability, at no charge.

Concerts may be canceled in the event of extreme or severe weather. If a concert is canceled due to a weather threat, an announcement will be released by 3:00 p.m. via The Morton Arboretum website. You will be notified of the cancellation via the email address you provide during your online ticket purchase. Tickets may be rebooked for another date free of charge.

Canceled concerts may be rescheduled for a rain date of Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

Rebooking

To rebook tickets for another date, 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 P-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 P-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 stage 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.

See Accessibility at The Morton Arboretum for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

  • The nearest parking lot with space to accommodate guests attending Arbor Evenings is parking lot P-1. The walk from parking lot P-1 to Arbor Evenings performances on Frost Hill is approximately one-third to one-quarter of a mile.

  • 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.

  • We do not offer chair rentals for this event. All seating is general admission on the lawn and attendees must 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, ticket purchasers will be notified via email. Performances may be rescheduled for a rain date of Wednesday, August 28.

    If you would like to change your concert date, tickets can be rebooked for another date in the 2026 Arbor Evening concert season based on availability, at no charge.

    Charcuterie/snack box orders are nonrefundable. If a performance date is canceled, purchased charcuterie and snack boxes will be available to pick up at the Ginkgo Café until 6:00 p.m. on the originally scheduled performance date or during regular café hours the following day.

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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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