Swing into summer at Cantigny where an exciting array of new art installations invites guests to experience the outdoors like never before. Indulge in the sights, sounds, flavors, aromas, and experiences of Cantigny.
“Feast of the Senses is an opportunity to experience Cantigny in a whole new way,” says Matt LaFond, Executive Director, Cantigny. “Through art, music, food, play, and nature, we’re creating memorable moments that connect people to Cantigny—and to each other.”
Cantigny’s Summer 2025 Theme, Feast of the Senses, kicks off on Saturday, June 7, featuring:
Sounds of Summer:
Opening May 10: Cantigny’s Beer Garden opens for the season and offers live music Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays along with bites, brews, and an incomparably relaxing environment to delight in long summer days.
Saturdays at 7 p.m. starting May 24: Summer Sounds, a new weekly concert series, kicks off with Hello Weekend, playing today’s chart-topping hits.
Sunday, June 15 (Father’s Day), 11 a.m.: Celebrate Father’s Day in style with Jazz and Wine Festival with The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra™ headlining an incredible lineup of performers.*
Saturday, July 19, 7:30 p.m.: Music, lights, and all the opulence of Versailles in Cantigny’s gardens. Enjoy entertainment including string music, aerialists, burlesque, a live band, and roaming performers transform Cantigny into a French escape at Cantigny’s Rendezvous: Splendor of Versailles (21+ event)
Sunday, July 20, 10 a.m.: Bring the whole family for a day of French-inspired fun and cultural celebration: Voyage en France. Shop the French Market, discover En Plein Air artists at work, enjoy art-focused family activities, plus musical performances, Can-can and Ballet dancers throughout the park.
Saturday, August 9, 7:30 p.m.: Cantigny Rewind, a special '90s throwback weekend featuring the hits from the best boy bands from the decade (21+ event).
Flavors and Aroma of Summer:
Beginning Thursday, April 24, 6 p.m. (schedule varies): Blooms & Bites garden series invites visitors to sip and snack through the gardens while Cantigny’s Director of Horticulture, Jamie Burghardt, shares expert insight on Cantigny’s beautiful blooms. (21+ event)
First Thursday of each month, beginning May 1, 6 p.m.: Sensory Cocktail Experiences, cocktails, canapes, and an exciting opportunity to experience Cantigny with this new series. (21+ event)
Third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. beginning May 15: Fan-Favorite Red Oak Farm Dinners, exquisitely curated multi-course dinners, thoughtfully paired with fine wine or a handcrafted cocktail. Gather around a communal table for an unforgettable culinary experience beneath the open sky.
Thursday, May 29, 6 p.m.: Enjoy cocktails and appetizers as Director Will Buhlig brings the McCormick House history to life, including the House’s art collection and architecture and learn more about Colonel McCormick’s first wife, Amy, and her love of art. More events to come. (21+ event)
Beginning Thursday, June 26, 6 p.m. (schedule varies): Cocktails with the Curator at the First Division Museum with Curator Jessica Waszak. (21+ event)
So Much to See and Do:
Fridays, beginning May 30 at sunset: Moonlit Movies return to Cantigny on Friday nights, starting with Inside Out 2 and more family-friendly features each week.
For more details, including tickets and menus, visit Cantigny.org.
*The Count Basie Orchestra mark appears under license from Rutgers University Institute of Jazz Studies. Audience video or audio recording during the show is prohibited.
About Cantigny:
Cantigny, in Wheaton, Illinois, is the 500-acre estate of Colonel Robert R. McCormick (1880–1955), longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune and founder of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. It is home to gardens, the First Division Museum about the history of the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division in which McCormick served, and a championship 27-hole public golf course. More information, including hours, admission fees, and a calendar of upcoming events, is available online at Cantigny.org.