Bluegrass Stars Set the Tone for Ravinia's Farmers Market Event

Bob Benenson
43 minutes ago
2 min read

Summer Music Festival Invited Ravinia Farmers Market for 2nd Straight Year

*Fresh summer fruit on sale at Ravinia Festival concert event in partnership with Ravinia Farmers Market in the north Chicago suburb of Highland Park. Photo by Bob Benenson*

It is not unusual for farmers markets to bring in local musicians to entertain their browsing customers.

But for the second consecutive year, the legendary Ravinia summer music festival in the suburban Chicago city of Highland Park flipped the formula on its head — staging a concert headlined by the Kody Norris Show, a nationally popular bluegrass ensemble, while inviting Ravinia Farmers Market (not related to the Festival but located nearby) to set up tents near the park's Carousel Stage.

*Ravinia Farmers Market Manager Ed Kugler. Photo by Bob Benenson*

The event, which took place on the evening of July 29, is a passion project of Ravinia Farmers Market Ed Kugler (photo above), a strong advocate of locally and sustainably produced food in the Chicago region for more than four decades.

Peggy Malecki (left) and Robert Boyce, owner of Natural Environments in Lake Zurich, Illinois, at the farmers market event at Ravinia Festival on July 29. Peggy is publisher of Natural Awakenings Chicago magazine. Photo by Bob Benenson

Also helping organize the event was Peggy Malecki (left in the above photo), who publishes Natural Awakenings Chicago magazine. She has a long working association with Ed Kugler and also helps out Robert Boyce of Natural Environments of Lake Zurich, Illinois, which has a stand at Ravinia Farmers Market.

*Natural Environments bouquet at the Ravinia event. Photo by Bob Benenson*

*Signage at the event highlighted reasons why farmers markets and organic food are important. Photo by Bob Benenson.*

The Carousel Stage, which hosted the music portion of the event, has a rustic look but actually debuted in 2021.

Kody Norris (right in photo) heads the four-member group that is noted for their colorful take on country music couture. The other members, from left) are Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris on fiddle; 14-year-old banjo prodigy Jim Hensley; and bass player Charlie Lowman, a native of suburban Evanston, Illinois who had his own cheering section in the audience.

Will the Ravinia Festival's partnership with Ravinia Farmers Market continue into a 3rd year next summer? We'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, Ravinia Farmers Market — now in its 48th year — has returned to its usual spot at 486 Roger Williams Ave. in Highland Park on Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

LEARN MORE ABOUT RAVINIA FARMERS MARKET

And here are some more photos from around the July 27 pop-up market.