Name: Bach and Beyond: Symphony847 Season Opener
Start: 2026-11-07T19:30:00-06:00
Location: Cressey Center for the Arts

Cressey Center for the Arts

Symphony847 opens its 2026-27 season with Bach and Beyond on Saturday, November 7 at 7:30 PM at the Cressey Center for the Arts on the Lake Forest Academy campus, 1500 West Kennedy Road, Lake Forest. 
PROGRAM J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (with a one-minute second movement by Anders Hillborg) Lawrence Axelrod: Brandenburg Fantasia No. 1 Intermission J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 2, with solo flute Christopher Ramaekers, conductor
It's about an hour of music plus an intermission. Bach's own slow movement in the Third Brandenburg is just two chords, and a living composer's second movement sits in the middle of it. Chicago composer Lawrence Axelrod wrote his Fantasia as a companion to the Brandenburgs. The night ends with the Orchestral Suite and its famous Badinerie. 
TICKETS $20 general admission. $10 college students. Free for anyone 17 and under (add a free ticket at checkout). Tickets: <a href="https://link.symphony847.org/November-2026" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">link.symphony847.org/November-2026</a>
<a href="https://link.symphony847.org/November-2026" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"></a>Doors open at 7:00 PM. 
Directions and what to expect: <a href="https://symphony847.org/plan-your-visit" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">symphony847.org/plan-your-visit</a>
<a href="https://symphony847.org/plan-your-visit" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"></a> Symphony847 is an orchestra based in Lake Forest and run by the musicians who play in it.

Local Event: Bach and Beyond: Symphony847 Season Opener

Lake County

Chicago Metropolitan Area

Vernon Hills

Illinois

Bach and Beyond: Symphony847 Season Opener

Symphony847 opens its 2026-27 season with Bach and Beyond on Saturday, November 7 at 7:30 PM at the Cressey Center for the Arts...

The nationally and locally acclaimed Pequod's Pizza is coming to Vernon Hills on Tuesday, October 20th! Note that pizzas will be PAR BAKED, with Pequod’s world-famous caramelized crust and will be available for PICK UP at 5:30pm at Steinhafels. Pequod's was just named the "Best Pizza in the US" by Yelp!
Order by 12pm on Tuesday. But don't wait until the last minute to place your order, because these events sell out!
Twice is nice! Place two or more orders for delivery on the same day and only pay the $5 DwellSocial Fee once.View menu + order: <a href="https://dwell.social/4jSi0vJ" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://dwell.social/4jSi0vJ</a>

Local Event: The famous Pequod's, caramelized crust pizza is heading your way. Order by noon.

The famous Pequod's, caramelized crust pizza is...

The nationally and locally acclaimed Pequod's Pizza is coming to Vernon Hills on Tuesday, October 20th! Note that pizzas will...

The famous Pequod's, caramelized crust pizza is heading your way. Order by noon.

Mellody Farm

Celebrate fall at Mellody Farm’s annual Harvest Festival, a full day of live entertainment, seasonal activities, food and drink experiences, pet-friendly fun, shopping, giveaways, and community programming.
Daytime activities are free and open to the public, with ticketed Harvest Festival Bites &amp; Sips and Bourbon &amp; Bonfires experiences beginning at 4 p.m. The festival is sponsored by Eagle Ridge Resort &amp; Spa, and proceeds from the event benefit the Hawthorn School District PTO.Saturday, October 24th10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
<h2>Festival Highlights</h2>
Mellody Farm Harvest Haul
10 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Pick up a complimentary Harvest Haul card at check-in and “Fill Your Basket Around the Farm” by visiting participating retailers, restaurants and festival activities. Complete at least eight stops to receive a free fall-themed Mellody Farm item, while supplies last, and be entered to win prizes.
The grand prize includes a two-night family getaway to Eagle Ridge Resort &amp; Spa, plus prizes from Mellody Farm businesses including OVME Medical Aesthetics, European Wax Center and SITKA Gear.&nbsp;
<hr>
Illinois Agriculture &amp; Urban Farm Zone + Winterizing Your Garden Workshop
10 a.m . –1 p.m.
Explore agriculture, gardening and sustainability with the Lake County Farm Bureau, University of Illinois Extension and Illinois Sustainable Agriculture Partnership.
From 10 a.m.–11:30 a.m., join the free Winterizing Your Garden Workshop for seasonal gardening tips. Morning offerings also include Biscuits &amp; Bloody Marys, plus lemonade and cider, available as part of the ticketed Bites &amp; Sips experience.
<hr>
Fall Fun Throughout Mellody Farm
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Look for strolling entertainment and activities while shopping throughout the property, including:
<ul><li>Face painting</li><li>Balloon artists</li><li>Seasonal characters</li><li>Fall photo opportunities</li><li>Appearances by Mellody Farm’s four-legged ambassador, Keenam</li></ul>
<hr>
Yappy Hour Presented by Lazy Dog
1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Bring your four-legged family members for a special Yappy Hour, featuring a fall pet costume contest, photo opportunities, giveaways and a pet rescue and adoption event with PAWS Chicago.
<hr>
Harvest Festival Bites &amp; Sips
4 p.m. – 8 p.m. | <a href="https://omella.com/267p5" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ticket Required</a>
Taste your way around Mellody Farm at six Bites &amp; Sips stations featuring participating restaurants including City Works, Tangled Roots, Mendocino Farms and Lazy Dog. Enjoy a variety of seasonal bites and beverages, from meatloaf sliders and pretzels to beer, house-made lemonade and more.
<hr>
Bourbon &amp; Bonfires
4 p.m. – 8 p.m. | <a href="https://omella.com/267p5" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ticket Required</a>
Settle in around the fire pits for Bourbon &amp; Bonfires with Aged in Oak, featuring bourbon tastings, curated flights, bourbon education and a relaxed fall gathering experience.
<hr>
Live Music
Beginning at 4 p.m.
Enjoy free live music from Big Boss and the Toes as the Harvest Festival transitions into its evening celebration.
<h2>Give Back This Fall</h2>
Harvest Festival also kicks off Mellody Farm’s seasonal community giving initiative. Guests are encouraged to donate nonperishable food and clothing to support local families and hunger-relief efforts.
<a href="https://omella.com/267p5" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Purchase Tickets</a>
Daytime activities are free and open to the public. Tickets are required for Harvest Festival Bites &amp; Sips and Bourbon &amp; Bonfires.
<ul><li>Harvest Festival Bites &amp; Sips: $35</li><li>Bourbon &amp; Bonfires: $35</li><li>Bites &amp; Sips + Bourbon &amp; Bonfires Package: $55</li><li>Designated Driver Ticket: $20</li></ul>
Check back for additional participating businesses, programming, and festival updates.

Local Event: Mellody Farm Harvest Festival Returns to Vernon Hills Oct. 24

Mellody Farm Harvest Festival Returns to Vernon...

Celebrate fall at Mellody Farm’s annual Harvest Festival, a full day of live entertainment, seasonal activities, food and drink...

Mellody Farm Harvest Festival Returns to Vernon Hills Oct. 24

Gardeners looking to prepare their yards, plants and vegetable gardens for colder weather can get expert advice during a free “Winterizing Your Garden” workshop at Mellody Farm on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., kicking off a full day of activities during the Mellody Farm<a href="https://www.mellodyfarm.com/events/harvest-festival/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> Harvest Festival</a>.
Led by Mellody Farm’s dedicated MicroHabitat farmer Alejandra Rodriguez, the workshop will offer practical seasonal advice on putting gardens to bed for winter, protecting plants from colder temperatures, preparing soil for the months ahead and setting gardens up for a successful spring.
Rodriguez will be joined by Alex Landberg, Lake County Master Gardener/Master Naturalist Program Coordinator with University of Illinois Extension – Lake County, as well as Lake County Extension Master Gardeners. Representatives from American Farmland Trust (AFT) and the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) will also participate, sharing information about sustainable agriculture, farmland stewardship and their work supporting farmers and landowners in Lake County and throughout Illinois.
All participating agricultural and gardening experts will remain on site through 1 p.m., giving guests additional time following the workshop to ask questions, learn more about their organizations and pick up educational materials. The workshop is free, but advance registration is requested through<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winterizing-your-garden-putting-the-garden-to-bed-tickets-1992891263416?aff=oddtdtcreator&amp;keep_tld=true" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> Eventbrite</a>. The first 20 registered attendees will receive a complimentary seed packet.
Add Biscuits &amp; Bloody Marys to the Morning:&nbsp;Guests can make a morning of it with Biscuits &amp; Bloody Marys, a special Harvest Festival food-and-drink experience taking place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. One $35 ticket includes the morning experience - biscuits from Buttermilk restaurant, Bloody Marys and apple cider - and also includes admission to the Bites &amp; Sips portion of the Harvest Festival later that day, featuring food and beverage tastings from participating Mellody Farm restaurants and businesses. Proceeds from the $35 ticket benefit the Hawthorn School District 73 PTO.
The workshop is part of Mellody Farm’s ongoing Urban Farm programming, connecting the community with local agriculture, gardening education and the seasonal growing process. Mellody Farm’s Urban Farm features 60 planters maintained by MicroHabitat, with produce harvested throughout the season benefiting the Vernon Township Food Pantry.
Guests are invited to stay for the full Mellody Farm Harvest Festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and features food and drink experiences, live entertainment, face painting, balloon artists, shopping, community programming, pet-friendly activities, giveaways and more. Additional Harvest Festival programming and participating businesses can be found at<a href="https://www.mellodyfarm.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> </a><a href="https://www.mellodyfarm.com/events/harvest-festival/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">www.mellodyfarm.com</a>.

Local Event: Biscuits, Bloody Marys & Winter Garden Wisdom Come to Mellody Farm

Biscuits, Bloody Marys & Winter Garden Wisdom...

Gardeners looking to prepare their yards, plants and vegetable gardens for colder weather can get expert advice during a free...

Biscuits, Bloody Marys & Winter Garden Wisdom Come to Mellody Farm

Gorton Center

<h3>A musical journey through America with Ketch Secor, public radio’s David Greene, and Old Crow Medicine Show, that humanizes all sides of America’s gun debate through the power of music, conversation, and finding common ground, directed by Doug Pray.</h3>Louder Than Guns brings together the frustrations and hopes of citizens who are asked to listen to one another and try to find common ground. Led by Ketch and David, these emotional and inspiring discussions, in barbeque joints, barbershops, church pews, gunstores, and concert halls, prove that localized, community-led discourse has the power to move the needle on gun reform in ways that today’s polarized media and politicians rarely achieve. Because most people in this country – gun owners and non-gun owners alike – want safer communities.&nbsp;
Join us immediately following the film for a special Q&amp;A with Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, alongside former host of NPR Morning Edition and current host of the public radio show, “Left, Right &amp; Center” David Greene.

Local Event: Documentary Film and Q&A: Louder than Guns

Lake Forest-Lake Bluff

Documentary Film and Q&A: Louder than Guns

A musical journey through America with Ketch Secor, public radio’s David Greene, and Old Crow Medicine Show, that humanizes all...

The International Students Association (ISA) invites the Lake Forest College community and friends to join us for One World, a celebration of Lake Forest College’s cultural diversity through music, art, and dance.<a href="https://advancement.lakeforest.edu/register/oneworld2026" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">REGISTER BY CLICKING HERE TODAY!</a>
Held on Tuesday, November 10, the evening begins with a reception for community members at the Gorton Center in Lake Forest at 5:30 p.m., followed by the event inside Gorton’s John and Nancy Hughes Theater beginning at 6:30 p.m.
One World features an amazing display of talented performances representing cultures from around the globe while also serving as a fundraiser supporting our international students who may be experiencing financial challenges.

Local Event: Lake Forest College Community Engagement Event: One World 2026 - A Cultural Journey

Lake Forest College Community Engagement Event:...

The International Students Association (ISA) invites the Lake Forest College community and friends to join us for One World, a...

Lake Forest College Community Engagement Event: One World 2026 - A Cultural Journey

Trinity Episcopal Church

Experience a stunning afternoon of classical music with the Artemis Chamber Orchestra in this free performance of Beethoven's first piano concerto and string quartet no. 11, the "Serioso"! Held in the beautiful Trinity Episcopal Church, this event is open to the public but requires advance seat reservation.

Local Event: FREE Artemis Chamber Orchestra concert

Highland Park

FREE Artemis Chamber Orchestra concert

Experience a stunning afternoon of classical music with the Artemis Chamber Orchestra in this free performance of Beethoven's...

Experience a stunning afternoon of classical music with the Artemis Chamber Orchestra in this free performance of Joel Styzens Dulcimer and String Concerto, "Resonance", and Grieg's first string quartet! Held in the beautiful Trinity Episcopal Church, this event is open to the public but requires advance seat reservation.

Experience a stunning afternoon of classical music with the Artemis Chamber Orchestra in this free performance of Joel Styzens...

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Bach and Beyond: Symphony847 Season Opener

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