DOWNTOWN HIGHLAND PARK LAUNCHES “WHAT’S IN YOUR BASKET” CAMPAIGN

DOWNTOWN HIGHLAND PARK, IL (JUNE 2014) – It’s not summertime in Highland Park without Ravinia Festival, and it isn’t Ravinia Festival without a picnic on the lawn! Downtown Highland Park businesses offer plenty of shopping options to fill up Ravinia picnic baskets. And, with free Ravinia Pace Shuttle buses to take commuters to the Festival Grounds, it is also the perfect stop before or after Ravinia Festival with great pre- and post-show dining and entertainment options.

Downtown Highland Park is launching their “What’s in your Basket” campaign, giving anyone a chance to win an ultimate picnic basket, filled with essentials for a night at Ravinia Festival. Handpicked by media personalities at businesses throughout Downtown Highland Park, there will be three themed baskets, Date Night, Family Fun and Girls Night Basket, with one winner per basket. Winners will be announced September 19th.

The sweepstakes kicks off with the opening of Ravinia Festival season and ends September 14th, 2014. The winners will be announced on September 19th. For Sweepstake details, visit www.DowntownHP.com/basket. To enter, visit www.DowntownHP.com/basket, click ENTER link and upload the photo and theme of your basket. You may also enter the contest by posting onto Downtown Highland Park’s Facebook page, and using #DateNightBasket, #FamilyFunBasket or #GirlsNightBasket along with your photo of your basket.

Chicago Parent columnist and Today Show contributor, Meredith Sinclair’s Date Night Basket has all the essentials to make for a perfect Date Night picnic. The basket includes: a beautiful shawl, that can double as a tablecloth from Betts Boutique, a $25 gift certificate from Norton’s, Le Cadeux melamine dinner plates from Kenzy Gifts & Décor, wooden hand painted flatware from Table Compliments, a candelabra from Uncle Dan’s, The Great Outdoor Store, a waiter’s knife from Citywoods, a bottle of wine and baguette from Sunset Foods, some sweets for dessert including chocolate pretzel poppers and s’more bars from Goodies, and gelato from Frost Gelato, makeup and fragrance samples from Cos Bar, a Hanky Panky thong and Citronella candle from Posh Essentials.

“Mommy on a Shoestring” Sun-Times columnist and WGN and WCIU contributor, Beth Engleman’s Family Fun Basket offers items for a great time bonding and listening to music outside. Her basket includes: two books, What Pete Ate and Spot It, and a Rainbow Loom Kit from Beanstalk Toyland & Bookstore, a monkey Nap Mat backpack from Sprout Kids, a bottle of purification essential oil & spray bottle to keep the bugs away from Therapeutic Kneads, a bug band, disposable raincoats for kids and adults, and a battery operated lantern, with AAA batteries from Ross Highland Park, a $25 gift certificate from Norton’s, some sweets for dessert including a chocolate pizza with pretzels and M&M’s from Goodies, and gelato from Frost Gelato, melamine plates and wooden hand painted flatware from Table Compliments, a Crazy Creek collapsible chair from Uncle Dan’s, The Great Outdoor Store, and makeup and fragrance samples for mom from Cos Bar.

Last but not least, the Girls Night Out Basket was handpicked by WCIU’s “You & Me This Morning” co-anchor Melissa Forman. It includes: Party invitations (set of 10) to invite friends to Girls Night Out, and Mallow Tree caramel marshmallow treats from Stationery Station, a sweatshirt blanket to lay out under the picnic or keep warm from Campus Colors, a repurposed wine bottle candle from Style Shack, a Luminary lantern from Sunflower, a baguette and bottle of wine from Sunset Foods, a Ravinia To Go Box from City Park Grill, a $25 gift certificate from Norton’s, gelato from Frost Gelato, melamine plates and wooden, hand painted flatware from Table Compliments, a Hipster, modern day fanny pack from The Bootery, and makeup and fragrance samples from Cos Bar,

For more information about Downtown Highland Park, visit the newly designed website at www.downtownhp.com, “like” Downtown Highland Park on Facebook, email info@downtownhp.com, or call 847.780.4293.