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    Check out these special events at The Morton Arboretum

  • David Rogers' Big Bugs

    Daily, May 10-September 8
    7 a.m.– Sunset
    Arboretum Grounds

    Celebrate the exciting world of bugs with the David Rogers' Big Bugs exhibition, NOW through September 8. See details

    The Morton Arboretum presents David Rogers' Big Bugs, May 10-July 8Stare in amazement at 10 larger-than-life insect sculptures. The sculptures are built using natural materials including trees, dried branches, roots and green saplings. Kids can pick up their free Official Bug Detective Guide and uncover the truth about bugs as they explore the exhibit. 

    David Rogers' Big Bugs
    May 10-September 8
    7:00 a.m. -sunset
    Free with Arboretum admission

    Join us for these BUG-TASTIC events for the whole family!

    Incredible Insects
    June 8 & 9
    11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Children's Garden
    Get an up-close look at giant Madagascan hissing cockroaches, a leaf-mimicking praying mantis, a tarantula named Cecil, and more. Free with Arboretum admission.

    Meet Ladybug Girl
    June 22
    10:00 a.m. – noon
    The Arboretum Store
    Meet and take photos with Ladybug Girl, get a sweet "ladybug" treat, color, craft, and have fun! Free with Arboretum admission.

    Ladybug Picnic
    June 30
    11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
    Parking Lot 20
    Celebrate ladybugs with a picnic. Discover why they are beneficial to plants, make fun crafts, and join in a live ladybug release. #Y2016
    Member: $18 per person (nonmember: $25) 

    Edible Insects
    July 14 & July 21
    2:00 -3:30 p.m.
    Sycamore Room
    Insect cuisine is enjoyed in many parts of the world – do you dare to try it? Join us as we learn about the food chain, sample tasty insects, and make insect crafts. Note: Bug tasting is optional. #Y308
    Member: $10 per person (nonmember: $17)

    Spider City
    July 20 & 21
    11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Children's Garden
    Join Brian Moskalik PhD, assistant professor of zoology at the University of St. Francis, to view local spiders, praying mantids, and exotic tarantulas. Free with Arboretum admission. 

    Meet the Monarchs
    August 6 & August 14
    9:30 –11:00 a.m.
    Children's Garden
    Kids ages 3-5, with an adult, can join us as we act out the lifecycle from crawling caterpillars to fluttering beauties. We'll also play games and make a marvelous monarch craft. #Y305
    Member: $18 per child (nonmember: $25) 

    Monarch Madness
    August 24
    11:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m.
    Children's Garden
    Explore the wonderful world of monarch butterflies. Take a closer look at tiny butterfly eggs, view how scientists tag butterflies for research, and take home milkweed seeds to start your own butterfly feeding ground. Free with Arboretum admission.


    Celebrate bugs in the Children's Garden daily from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    with these drop-in programs. Sponsored by Navistar.  

    June
    Lovely Ladybugs: Test your skills in a bug board game and make a ladybug mask.
    Ants in your Plants: Learn about ants and make an a-maze-ing ant craft.

    July
    Splendid Spiders: Discover where spiders live and how they help gardens.
    Grand Grasshoppers: Explore these little creatures and learn why they're so noisy.

    August
    From Water to Wings: Learn about dragonflies and make a winged craft.
    Butterflies and Blossoms: Find out facts about butterflies and create a disguise.

  • The Chicago Symphony Orchestra at The Morton Arboretum

    June 27, 29, & 30

    For the first time ever, The Morton Arboretum will host the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra in a series of concerts at two locations on our grounds. See details

    Chicago Symphony Orchestra Summer Concerts, June 27, 29, and 30TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
    June 27, 29, & 30 

    Open-air concerts on the Arboretum Concert Lawn

     
    Thursday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m.
    The Chicago Symphony Orchestra salutes the music of composer John Williams, performing such beloved classics as his Star Wars Suite, The Raiders' March (from Raiders of the Lost Ark), and Adventures on Earth ( from E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial). Richard Kaufman conducts.

    Ticket pricing: $25 for The Morton Arboretum members & CSO subscribers, $30 for nonmembers & nonsubscribers

    Saturday, June 29, at 7:30 p.m.
    Carlos Miguel Prieto leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in an all-Tchaikovsky program featuring Capriccio Italien and Symphony No. 4, as well as the Violin Concerto with soloist and Naperville native Jennifer Koh. 

    Ticket pricing: $25 for The Morton Arboretum members & CSO subscribers, $30 for nonmembers & nonsubscribers

    Sunday, June 30, at 3:00 p.m.
    Carlos Miguel Prieto leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in a program of dance music for the whole family including collections from Bizet's Carmen suites. 

    Ticket pricing: $15 for The Morton Arboretum members & CSO subscribers, $20 for nonmembers & nonsubscribers

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    Indoor children's concerts at the Arboretum's Thornhill Education Center

       
    Saturday, June 29, at 11:00 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. - SOLD OUT
    The Chicago Symphony Orchestra presents two performances of Goldilocks and the Three Bears from its "Once Upon a Symphony" series, which offers small ensemble concert experiences in an intimate setting. Suitable for families with children ages 3-5. 

    Ticket pricing: $15 for The Morton Arboretum members & CSO subscribers, $20 for nonmembers & nonsubscribers

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    Ticket Information:

    For performance locations, maps, parking, and more, view CSO at the Arboretum Concert Details.

    ONLINE at cso.org/morton
    VISIT the CSO box office (220 S. Michigan Avenue)
    CALL CSO Patron Services at 312-294-3000

  • Summer Science Camp

    Register now!
    Half-day & full-day camps offered weekly, June 10- August 9

    Enroll your children in Summer Science Camps and uncover eight fun-filled weeks of exploration. Choose from more than 100 week-long camps for K-8th graders! See details

    Children can spend the summer boosting their brains through engaging play and experiments integrating the art and science of trees and nature.

    NEW THIS YEAR! Supervised play before and after camp make life more convenient for mom and dad!

    Half-day and full-day camps offered weekly, June 10- August 9

    Choose from more than 100 camps that run mid June-mid August. Discover more and register!

    Sponsored by

    logo molex

  • Library Exhibit: Tales and Treasures

    March 15– December 28
    Tuesday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.
    Saturday: 10:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.

    The Sterling Morton Library is turning 50! See details

    Tales & Treasures, March 15– December 28To celebrate, this exhibit will showcase 50 rare and unique objects from the library's collections, each with a special story to tell. Displays of rarely seen objects, interactive games, and a library-wide scavenger hunt will engage visitors of all ages in the rich legacy of the library. After exploring, visitors will be invited to imagine what the next 50 years might hold for this and other libraries.

    Free with Arboretum admission, open during regular library hours.

    March 15– December 28
    Tuesday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.
    Saturday: 10:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.

  • Wednesdays, Woods & Wine

    Every Wednesday, June 5-August 21
    5:30-8 p.m. Arbor Court

    Taste the flavors of summer every Wednesday, June 5-August 21, at the Arboretum. See details

    Wednesday is the new Friday! Unwind after work while enjoying live music, drinks, a complimentary cheese buffet, and a menu offering an assortment of tapas plates to purchase. 

    Every Wednesday, June 5-August 21
    5:30-8:00 p.m.
    Arbor Court

    For adults 21 and over (no children allowed)

    $10 member ($15 nonmember)
    Ticket includes one drink, cheese buffet, and live music.

    Members, bring your membership card to enjoy your discount.

    Please bring your own lawn chair for relaxing outdoor seating.

    Rain location: Event moves indoors with scenic view of Meadow Lake.

    For nonmembers attending this event, Arboretum admission fee is waived after 4:30 p.m.
    No reservations required.

    Not a member? Join or renew today.

     
    Musical lineup:
    June 5: Five Guys Named Moe
    June 12: Frank and Dave
    June 19: 7th Heaven Acoustic
    June 26: Shin Dig
    July 3: Hifi Superstar
    July 10: Rockin' Johnny
    July 17: 28 Days
    July 24: Frank and Dave
    July 31: Jin and Tonic
    August 7: Pirates Over 40
    August 14: Lisa Rene Band
    August 21: Midnight Band

     

  • Theatre-Hikes® at The Morton Arboretum

    Weekends, July-October, and on Columbus Day, Monday, October 14
    Afternoon performances begin at Thornhill Shelter.

    Experience the theater on nature's stage. Tickets on sale now! See details

    Kalendar TheatreHikes2

    Walk along with the action of your favorite literary tales performed live among 1,700 acres of trees and beautiful landscapes. A new show debuts each month!

    Performances on Saturdays and Sundays, July-October and on Columbus Day, Monday, October, 14.

    Plan Your Experience:

    The first Sunday performance of each month will be a low-impact hike (suitable for strollers, walkers, and wheelchairs).

    Each performance lasts approximately two and one-half hours, so please wear comfortable shoes, dress for the weather, and bring a chair or blanket, water bottle, and insect repellent.

    All performances begin at the Thornhill Shelter (Parking Lot 21).
        

    Tickets:   

    Adults:  $12 Member ($19 nonmember)
    Children:  $8 Member ($13 nonmember)

    Season Pass Ticket to all Theatre-Hikes®
    Adults:  $40 Member ($60 nonmember)
    Children:  $25 Member ($45 nonmember)

    Nonmembers: Arboretum admission is included with your ticket price.

    Not a member? Begin or renew a membership now.

    Purchase your tickets now!

    ONLINE
    PHONE 630-725-2066, Monday-Friday; 10a.m.-3 p.m.
    IN PERSON The Visitor Center, daily during regular hours

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    The Three Musketeers

    All performances at 1 p.m.
    Weekends, July 6-28

    The famous swashbuckling, Alexandre Dumas story comes to life outdoors. It is a tale of heroism, treachery, close escapes, and above all, honor. D'Artagnan sets off for Paris in search of adventure. Sabine, his sister, the quintessential tomboy is sent with d'Artagnan to attend a convent school in Paris. However, she poses as a young man - d'Artagnan's servant - and quickly becomes entangled in her brother's adventures. Soon after reaching Paris, d'Artagnan joins forces with his heroes, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, the famous musketeers to defend the honor of the Queen of France. In so doing, he finds himself in opposition to the most dangerous man in Europe, Cardinal Richelieu, and Countess de Winter, known as the Milady.

    Contains Violence: Sword Fights, deceit, and death, but appropriate for all ages (geared toward young boys and girls ages 6-14 who like action).

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    James and the Giant Peach

    All performances at 1 p.m.
    Weekends, August 3-August 25

    A boy who was always told he was worth nothing achieves the impossible in this play based on the story by Roal Dahl. The story starts with our Hike Leader introducing James and then James takes us on the journey from when he first found the giant peach in his aunt’s yard to arriving here in the United States.

    Appropriate for all ages (geared for children ages 6-13 with adult humor too).

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    A Walk with Mark Twain

    All performances at 1 p.m.
    Weekends, September 7-29*

    Mark Twain greets the audience and leads them along two of his famous stories: The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and The Diaries of Adam and Eve.
    The first story is a morality play that teaches lessons on pride and gambling. Jim Smiley, a man with all the luck in the world, finds his luck has run out when he gambles everything on a giant frog that he figures can’t lose. Then Mark Twain takes us back in time. He sets the story of the first couple in the early 1900’s Buffalo, NY at Niagara Falls. Adam and Eve figure out how to first deal with each other, then children, and life itself.

    Appropriate for all ages (geared for children 2-102).

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    The Passion of Dracula

    All performances at 3 p.m.
    Weekends, October 5-27*
    & Columbus Day, Monday, October 14 

    This version of the Dracula legend based on the 1897 Bram Stoker novel is set in the English countryside in 1911 where several village girls have died under mysterious circumstances. Dr. Seward presides over a nearby mental hospital and the locality has acquired a new resident, Count Dracula! A trio of doctors, a young reporter and a stouthearted English lord battle the Count for possession of the lovely heroine. With a dash of Holmesian sleuthing in this Baskerville hound country setting, our heroes save the heroine and dispatch the Count in the traditional manner. "A genuine old fashioned horror thriller." - N.Y. Daily News.

    Appropriate for all ages (geared toward teens and young adults, but no inappropriate material).

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    *Fall weekends are popular days for visitation. Please allow up to 45 minutes to park and get to where the hike commences (Thornhill Shelter, Parking Lot 21).

    Please wear comfortable shoes, dress for the weather, and bring a chair or blanket, water bottle, and insect repellent.

    Theatre-Hikes Logo

    Theatre-Hikes at The Morton Arboretum are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

    LOGO_Illinois_Arts_Council