Events

Arbor Evenings

Unwind with great music, family, and friends at Arbor Evenings this summer, starting on Wednesday, May 29, and running through August.

Content Detail

Come with friends and family to enjoy great music while relaxing outdoors at the Arboretum this summer. You’ll hear from a variety of bands, enjoy food and drinks, dance, play lawn games, and watch amazing sunsets on Frost Hill. There’s no better way to celebrate the leisurely evenings of summer than this!

Event Details

Admission into the Arboretum and Arbor Evenings will begin at 5:15 p.m. Music is from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Attendees can enjoy the variety of food trucks that will be in attendance each week. Sealed, nonalcoholic beverages will be allowed into the event. Reusable bottles need to be empty upon arrival.

Accessible parking is available 0.3 to 0.4 miles from the event venue, and there is limited accessible seating near the concert area.

Ticket Details

Guest and member tickets will be available Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Tickets include admission to the Arboretum, activities, and live music. Tickets are required for all attendees. Families are welcome and children under two years of age will be admitted for free.

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

 

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

2024 Performance Schedule

Arbor Evenings take place on Wednesdays, May 29 through August 28, 2024, 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 28, 2024.

Musical artists will be available closer to the 2024 concert season.

2024 Performance Dates

Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 (Rain Date)

Food and Beverage

Arbor Evenings guests can enjoy a variety of food trucks each week, along with ice cream novelties and bar service.

Food Truck Lineup

A food truck lineup will be available closer to the 2024 Arbor Evenings concert season.

What to Bring

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

Guests may bring outside food. Concessions will also be available to purchase.

Guests may bring sealed non-alcoholic beverages.

Guests may bring low portable tables and wagons.

What Not to Bring

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

Unsealed beverages (of any kind) are not allowed into the event.

Pets, excluding service animals, are not allowed at the Arboretum or the event.

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.

No large tables (4 feet or larger) will be permitted at the event.

Accessibility

Accessible parking is available in Parking Lot 1. Guests may also use the circle in front of the Visitor Center for drop-off and pick-up.

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

The event area is approximately 0.3 to 0.4 miles from parking locations.

The quickest walking route to the event location is on the trail around Meadow Lake. Refer to the map below.

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

Bathrooms are located in the Children’s Garden from 5:00 p.m. until  8:00 p.m. Additional bathrooms are open in the West Pavilion, near the Visitor Center, until the grounds close.

Event Policies

Advanced ticket purchase is required for all guests, including members’ children, as the event capacity is limited.

Guests should be prepared to have their bags checked by Security before accessing the concert grounds.

Guests are required to present their ID at each bar to purchase alcoholic beverages.

All shows are outdoors.

Tickets are nonrefundable; however, tickets can be changed for another date in the 2024 concert season for a $5 transaction fee.

In the event of extreme or severe weather, concerts may be canceled for the safety of guests. If there is a weather threat, an announcement will be released by 3:00 p.m. via The Morton Arboretum website. Those with tickets will receive an email with further information and instructions.

Alcoholic beverages are not permitted to be brought in and all outside alcohol will be confiscated.

Cancellation Policy

Tickets to Arbor Evenings are nonrefundable. However, tickets can be exchanged for another date in the 2024 concert season for a $5 transaction fee.

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

  • Order number
  • New requested booking date for 2024 Arbor Evenings
  • New booking time
  • Phone number and your name in case we need to contact you

We recommend at least 24 hours notice to allow us time to update your order and send new tickets. Rebooking is based on availability. If an event date is sold out, we are not able to move your tickets to that date. Sending your request by email helps us process requests in a timely manner.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Due to changes in the event format and location, we are unable to offer Fast Passes for the 2024 season.

  • 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.

  • Frost Hill is an approximate 0.3 – 0.4 mile walk from Parking Lot 1.  Please follow the map for the easiest and shortest route.

  • Timed tickets for Arbor Evenings will begin at 5:15 p.m. Music will begin at 6:00 p.m. You are permitted onto the grounds 15 minutes prior to your scheduled ticketing start time.

  • 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 outside, sealed, nonalcoholic beverages. Food, wine, beer, spirits, and nonalcoholic beverages are sold inside 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.

  • Restrooms will be located inside of the Children’s Garden. Directional signage 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 guests 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 of cancellation via the email used at time of purchase. Additionally, the ticket rebooking fee would be waived and the tickets may be moved to a new date in the Arbor Evening 2024 series. Wednesday, August 28 is reserved as a rain date.

    Tickets are non-refundable. All weather-related event updates will be communicated through The Morton Arboretum website, and the weather hotline at 630-719-2400. If needed, these channels will be updated at approximately 3:00 p.m. Wednesday with weather information.

  • 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 at 3:00 p.m. each Wednesday.

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

  • Unfortunately this year, we are not able to offer group catering and sales for this event. Check back again next 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 turned into the Visitor Services Desk inside the Visitor Center. Please call 630-968-0074, between 9:00 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily, to inquire about any 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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