Nearly 300 picnic groves offer outdoor settings for celebrations of all sizes
Imagine shady groves filled with laughter, kids running across open fields, music drifting through the trees and a table spread set just steps from a lake. If you’ve never planned a picnic or event in the Forest Preserves of Cook County, you may be overlooking one of the easiest ways to create a truly memorable gathering.
Beginning Monday, November 16, the Forest Preserves will make planning an unforgettable event easy when online reservations for 2027 picnic groves and special event sites open, giving hosts a choice of nearly 300 groves across the county, including nearly 50 accessible sites. Groves can handle a few dozen to more than 1,000 guests, and an Approved Vendor List makes it easy to get everything from a DJ and dance floor to bouncy houses, a petting zoo and pony rides at one stop.
“For some families, summer means gathering at the same picnic grove year after year, but others are discovering us for the first time, and we’re excited to welcome them,” says Cook County Board and Forest Preserves President Toni Preckwinkle. “There’s something special about a celebration where the kids have room to play and everyone can spend an afternoon together enjoying Cook County’s incredible natural areas.”
Spaces range from shaded picnic shelters for smaller gatherings to open areas with room for large celebrations and games. A picnic permit reserves a designated gathering space, with picnic tables provided and amenities that vary by location. Hosts can find a grove close to home or choose a setting in a preserve they have yet to visit.
First-time organizers can begin at fpdcc.com/permits, where picnic grove maps and availability information help compare locations. Reviewing a site’s capacity, bathroom facilities and accessibility features before booking can help hosts choose a space that works best for guests.
Accessible picnic shelters offer accessible parking and paved paths connecting parking areas to shelters and accessible bathrooms. These shelters are available to people with disabilities and their guests and must be reserved in advance.
Organizers can also plan larger community events in the Forest Preserves; special event permits accommodate gatherings with 400 or more attendees. Hosts planning to use amplified sound or inflatables should review special use requirements and the approved vendors list before making arrangements. Fees and application deadlines depend on the event’s size and activities.
Customers are encouraged to make reservations online. Beginning November 17, permits may also be purchased in person on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Forest Preserves’ General Headquarters, 536 N. Harlem Avenue in River Forest, or the Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center, S. Western Avenue and W. 87th Street in Chicago. Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments can be scheduled at fpdcc.com/permits.
Forest Preserves permits staff can help new and returning customers determine which permit their gathering requires and answer questions about reservations. For assistance, call 800-870-3666, option 1, or email [email protected]. Visit fpdcc.com/permits for planning resources and reservations.
2027 Camping Reservations
All 2027 camping dates are also available beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, November 16. Camping reservations can be made online at fpdcc.com/camping or by phone at 855-YES-CAMP (855-937-2267).
Camping reservations can be made in person at Camp Bullfrog Lake, Camp Reinberg or Camp Sullivan starting November 17 during office hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or Saturdays and Sundays when people are camping.
Residents and visitors can still enjoy camping—in a tent, RV or heated cabin—at Camp Bullfrog Lake, Camp Reinberg, Camp Dan Beard and Camp Sullivan throughout winter.
For questions or assistance with making camping reservations, call 855-YES-CAMP (855-937-2267).
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About the Forest Preserves of Cook County
Don’t you sometimes just want to escape? Explore the natural beauty of Cook County for an hour, a day or even a night. When you’re surrounded by 70,000 acres of wild and wonderful there’s no better place to feel free.