The Cultural Center’s purpose is to provide a community gathering place to educate about the relationship between culture and the natural world. This mission comes to life through festivals, plays, concerts, classes and exhibits.
The anchor for the popular programming is the 18,500-square-foot building set within the native landscape of Greenbelt Forest Preserve.
Originally opened in June 2000, the Cultural Center underwent a major expansion in 2011. The improved facility has two classrooms, a divisible multi-purpose program room, two community art galleries, an outdoor amphitheater and an outdoor pond for environmental education programs. Large windows offer panoramic views of the surrounding natural setting.
Summer 2013 Festivals FREE
- Kids Nature Funfest 2-5 PM, June 9, 2013
Away from video games and television, this festival gets kids moving outdoors and learning about nature, the environment and healthy lifestyles. Active games with prizes. Activities include nature art, face painting, juggling show, insect connect, relay races, explore the pond.
- Gospelfest 3-7 PM, July 21, 2013
Be inspired by Lake County’s best gospel voices. This annual favorite features choirs, solo performances and praise dancers that will bring you to your feet.
- Experience! Afrofest & Jamaicafest 2-7 PM, August 17, 2013
Blues music by “Guitar” Watson and the Caribbean sounds of the band Indika make this a summer event not to miss. Dance, food, music and market of African-American and Caribbean cultures. Dine on ribs, jerk chicken and other cuisine. Shop for jewelry and other imports.
- Fiestas Patrias 2-7 PM, September 15, 2013
Live music, native dancing and authentic food are all part of this traditional Mexican and Central American independence celebrations. Enjoy the costumes and flare of Erandi folkloric and Aztec dancers, mariachi and marimba music, soccer games and more.
Art Exhibits
- The Art of the Blues: Through May 17, 2013
This exhibition features items from the private collection of internationally known Chicago blues pianist, and Libertyville resident, "Barrelhouse" Chuck Goering. Through playbills and posters collected from his more than 30 years learning from, and playing with, some of the biggest names in blues music, this exhibition brings the look and feel of the Chicago blues scene to the Greenbelt Cultural Center.
- Estamos Aquí (We Are Here) June 13–August 11, 2013
Estamos Aquí (We Are Here) is a national touring exhibition that features contemporary serigraphs by forty artists who took an opportunity to learn a specialized silkscreen print technique from a collaborative Austin-based residency. Many of the artists are speaking from the Latino/Chicano perspective, and the resulting portfolio of prints expresses their celebrations, sorrows, challenges, popular culture, and personal experiences.
Education Programs
We offer year-round classes using our two large indoor classrooms and the surrounding preserve as a natural classroom.
- Field Trips
Classes with topics ranging from Illinois pioneers, to cultural experiences, to nature are available for school and scout groups. Field trip details. Teachers and scout leaders, sign up for field trip emails.
- Camps
Each summer we host fun, educational camps themed around fishing, art, acting and more.
- Programs
Parents, enrich your child's life and involve them in healthy outdoor nature classes taught by our environmental educators. Many programs are free, drop-in sessions. To search for programs at Greenbelt, click here and select "Greenbelt Cultural Center" in the "where" menu choice. Or, view the Lake County Forest Preserves complete program calendar.
Office/Public/Gallery Hours
Tuesday–Friday: 11 AM–5 PM
Saturday–Sunday: Open for special events or by appointment.
Closed Mondays
Available to Rent
The building can be rented for meetings, conferences, classes, retreats, weddings, showers, Quinceañeras, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, receptions, family reunions and other social gatherings.
Rental hours: Rent the building for private events between the hours of 7 AM–1:30 AM the following morning.
Rooms have large windows with picturesque views of the surrounding preserve. A selection of room sizes are available.
| Rooms |
Capacity |
| Grand Woodland Banquet Hall |
330* |
 |
|
| Hawthorn, Walnut or Maple banquet rooms |
100* |
|
|
| Two banquet rooms combined |
200* |
|
|
| Meeting Room |
30 |
|
|
| Meeting Room (tile floor) |
30 |
|
|
| Meeting Room |
8 |
|
|
| * Based on banquet style seating |
|
Additional Spaces
- catering kitchen
- food prep room adjacent to banquet hall
- two art galleries
- pre-function gallery
- two patios
- tutdoor amphitheater
- break-out room that seats eight
- outdoor pond
- brides room/speaker prep room
Amenities
- full kitchen
- state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment
- outdoor amphitheater
- stage
- dance floor
- artist gallery
- parking
Approved Caterers
Approved Services
Rental Rates
Rental rates for social use by Lake County residents
Rental rates for social use by non Lake County residents
Rental rates for non-profit organization in Lake County
Rental rates for non-profit organization out of Lake County
Business meeting rental rates
For more information or to arrange an appointment, call 847-968-3477. |
