The City of Highland Park offers many cultural opportunities for its residents and visitors. During the summer months, free concerts are held in the Central Business District on Thursday and Saturday evenings. The City boasts two movie theatres containing eight separate screens, and a thriving network of performing arts theatres that host universally known as well as locally originated plays and performances. Highland Park is also home to the nationally recognized Ravinia Festival. Highland Park also has a centrally located Public Library within walking distance of the Metra Train Station and the inviting and pedestrian friendly Central Business District.

Restaurants

Highland Park Restaurants - 2008

Movies

Highland Park Theatre
445 Central Avenue
Highland Park, IL 60035
(847) 432-3300
Movie Schedules from CitySearch

Landmark Renaissance Place Cinema
1850 2nd St.
Highland Park, IL 60035
(847) 432-9999
Movie Schedules from CitySearch

Annual Port Clinton Film Festival
The Port Clinton Film Fest is Highland Park's official annual film festival held in conjunction with the Port Clinton Art Festival in downtown Highland Park in late August.  Updated information (including submission requirements, screening venues, and a schedule of past, current, and future events) can be found on the festival website or by calling the festival hotline at (847) 433-8662.

Music

Highland Park Pops
A 17-piece big band that plays swing tunes, jazz favorites, dance music and big band standards, the Highland Park Pops has resided in Highland Park for over two decades. Sponsored by the Park District of Highland Park, they perform frequently throughout the community.

Highland Park Strings
A family-friendly orchestra that has been entertaining the people of Highland Park since 1979. To date, the Strings have a repertoire of more than 240 works spanning three centuries!

Midwest Young Artists
Midwest Young Artists is the leading youth-music ensemble program in the Midwest. Presently, MYA has five youth orchestras, more than 50 chamber music ensembles, three vocal ensembles, an all-inclusive jazz program, as well as classes in music theory and history.

Music Arts School
Music Institute of Chicago is a nationally-renowned community music school with 5 Chicago-area campuses, including downtown Highland Park.  MIC serves all ages, interests, and levels of ability.  The school offers private instruction in all instruments and voice, as well as a wide range of group classes and ensembles, including Early Childhood, Adult Studies, and Musical Theater.  Programs also include outstanding cultural events, a comprehensive creative arts therapy program for individuals with special needs, and an academy program for advanced students aspiring to careers in music.

Ravinia Festival
Lake Cook & Green Bay Road
Highland Park, IL 60035
(847) 266-5000 (Administration)
(847) 266-5100 (Box Office)
A popular concert venue featuring an open-air, covered Pavilion which seats 3,200 and is used for symphony concerts, dance and pop concerts, and two indoor venues for chamber music and other performances. The summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1936!

Theater

Apple Tree Theatre
1850 Green Bay Road, Suite 100
Highland Park, IL 60035
(847) 432-4335
"An award-winning theater company which produces plays and musicals of the highest artistic caliber. Apple Tree also produces an educational outreach program, Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA), for middle and junior high school age groups."

Attic Playhouse
410 Sheridan Road
Highwood, IL 60040
(847) 433-2660
"The Attic Playhouse strives to showcase a broad spectrum of theatre as an art form by producing: classic straight plays, small musicals, one-acts, improvisational and skit comedies and theatre for young audiences. Special attention is given to producing original scripts and encouraging new talent."

The Comic Thread: Original Live Sketch Comedy
Bitter Jester Creative, ATTN: TCT
P.O. Box 1824
Highland Park, IL 60035-8824
(847) 433-8660 (x2)
"Highland Park's only resident comedy troupe! The Comic Threat (TCT) blends all-original written sketches to creative cohesive, full-length, narrative stories.Bitter Jester Creative, an award-winning film, video, and theatre production company based in Highland Park, produces the troupe."

Dance

Irina Makkai Classical Ballet
1899 Second St., Suite 2
Highland Park, IL 60035
(847) 433-1449

North Shore School of Dance
505 Laurel Ave.
Highland Park, IL 60035
(847) 266-1758

Recreation

Whether you prefer a game of tennis, a lap in the pool, a round of golf, a spin on the ice or a leisurely stroll along a beautiful path, the Park District has what you’re looking for. Many diverse recreational opportunities await all ages at our many parks and facilities as well as an extensive variety of programs for adults and children including art, dance, theater, exercise, tennis, golf, gymnastics, ice skating and nature classes.

The Park District of Highland Park is a separate municipal agency governed by five elected commissioners. The Park District currently owns and maintains 600 acres of land consisting of over 40 park areas, a swimming beach, an 18-hole golf course, a 97-acre nature preserve and numerous facilities. For more information about the Park District, contact the Administrative Offices (636 Ridge Road) at (847) 831-3810 or on-line at pdhp.org.