Museum Adventure Passes
Messenger Library cardholders in good standing can receive free or discounted admission and other discounts to a variety of exciting museums and recreational facilities in the Chicago area.
- Museum Passes are available on a first come, first served basis. Passes may not be reserved. Each museum specifies dates when passes cannot be used and other restrictions that may apply.
- Visit any library service desk to find out if a pass is available for the museum of your choice. Passes are not available via email; they must be collected in person.
- Each pass is valid for 7 days from the date of issue. The library can issue one museum pass per family, per 7 days. Each pass is only valid for one use.
- When you visit your museum of choice, make sure you have the pass, the library card used to get the pass, and a photo ID. Passes will be collected by the museum.
Explore More Illinois
Explore More Illinois allows library cardholders from participating public libraries to reserve free and discounted admission, parking, and gift store purchases from museums, cultural centers, zoos, gardens, and more!
To obtain a pass log in with your library card credentials and browse for passes by date or attractions. When you log in, you will see the current day’s events. To view all attractions, click the text link “All Attractions” that is located next to today’s date at the upper left-hand side of the page. Make your reservation and print or download your pass shortly before your visit. You can have two active reservations per library card. Please cancel your reservation(s) if unable to attend. Otherwise the reservation will count as being used. Remember that once you print or download your pass you cannot cancel your reservation.
• Find an attraction/make a reservation
• For more information visit: https://exploremoreillinois.org/
The list of participating and attractions and their offers are subject to change, Please log into Explore More Illinois to see the most current offerings. Not all attractions will be available to all libraries.
Check Out IPO (2026/2027 passes are here!)
We are excited to participate in the Check Out IPO Library Partner Program! Use your Messenger Library card to “check out” a FREE Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) concert this season! Here’s how it works:
- Present your MPL library card in person to staff at the library’s Adult Services Desk to receive your pass.
- Each pass is valid for two tickets (student and/or adult).
- IPO requests that a patron household reserve a pass not more than once per season.
- The pass must be presented at the box office window on concert night to claim tickets.
- Box office opens 90 minutes before concert time.
2026/2027 Mainstage Concert Schedule
- Opening Night with Matthew Lipman (October 17, 2026 at 5:30 PM at The Center at GovState) featuring works by Glinka, Walton, and Brahms.
- Carmen (November 21, 2026 at 7:30 PM at Lincoln-Way North High School) featuring Montgomery and Bizet.
- Holiday Concert – Handel’s Messiah (December 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM at Lincoln-Way North High School).
- Studio Ghibli: The Music of Joe Hisaishi (February 20, 2027 at The Center at GovState) showcasing iconic film music.
- Note: Libraries did not get any passes to the March 13th CARMINA BURANA show
NEW Concert Venues:
- The Center at GovState (Located at 1 University Pkwy, University Park, IL 60484)
- Lincoln-Way North High School (Located at 19900 S Harlem Ave, Frankfort, IL 60423)
* Programs & artists are subject to change. Limited passes are available on a first come, first served basis.
Ravinia Lawn tickets (Check back June 2027!)
The 2026 Program is now closed
Through this special partnership with the Ravinia Festival’s Reach Teach Play initiative, we are excited to offer a limited number of Ravinia Lawn tickets to Messenger Public Library cardholders. Tickets will be available for in person pick up only on June 24 at 9:00 am.
Mid-June we will receive a limited supply of complimentary lawn passes to select performance dates for the upcoming 2026 summer season. It’s the perfect opportunity to pack a picnic, grab a lawn chair, and enjoy incredible live music under the stars in Highland Park.
How to Get Tickets
Because these highly coveted passes are limited, they will be distributed under the following guidelines:
- Availability: Physical lawn tickets are expected to arrive at the library in mid-June.
- Distribution:
- Tickets will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis and must be picked up in person at the library, at the ASD Help Desk, while supplies last
- Patrons can pick up tickets for ONE show to allow everyone an opportunity to attend.
- Patrons must take either 2 tickets or all 4 tickets; no single tickets will be issued.
- Words & Music Words & Music lawn passes are only valid on the date printed, may only be used on the evening of the performance
- Tickets may not be exchanged for a dated ticket and cannot be sold.
- Failure to follow these guidelines will result in our library being removed from the program.
- Eligibility: Ticket distribution is strictly limited to Messenger Public Library cardholders. Please remember to bring your library card with you to request tickets at the desk.
Important Note for Neighbors: Other neighboring suburban library systems participate in their own independent Ravinia partnerships. If you hold a card with another library system, please contact your home library directly to inquire about their ticket availability.
2026 Words & Music Concert Lineup
(Reference Only, This List Does Not Imply Ticket Availability)
Sunday, July 19 @ 5:00 PM – Marin Alsop & Maria Dueñas: Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony and Violin Concerto (Features pre-show KidsLawn activities from 3:00–4:30 PM)
Thursday, July 23 @ 7:30 PM – Marin Alsop: Mahler’s Sixth Symphony
Friday, July 24 @ 8:00 PM – Breaking Barriers: On the Movies
Friday, July 31 @ 7:30 PM – Marin Alsop: Dvořák’s “New World” & Carlos Simon’s “Good News Mass”
Saturday, August 1 @ 7:30 PM – Marin Alsop & Emanuel Ax: John Williams and Rachmaninoff
Sunday, August 2 @ 5:00 PM – This Land: America in Song (Features pre-show KidsLawn activities from 3:00–4:30 PM)
Thursday, August 6 @ 7:30 PM – Klaus Mäkelä & Daniel Lozakovich: Snowy Sounds of Sibelius and Strauss
Friday, August 7 @ 7:30 PM – Klaus Mäkelä: Stravinsky’s “The Firebird” and Debussy
Thursday, August 13 @ 7:30 PM – The Music of Quincy Jones
Friday, August 14 @ 7:30 PM – Brahms x Radiohead
Thursday, September 3 @ 7:30 PM – Dame Jane Glover & Steven Isserlis: Music of the Baroque
