Saturdays
9 am – 10 am

Unroll your mat and enjoy the scenery of Elawa Farm’s restored gardens in this guided outdoor yoga class blending gentle, restorative, power, and vinyasa flow styles. The session begins with breathwork and meditation before building into a more active flow to release tension and restore balance. All levels are welcome, with modifications offered throughout. Please bring your own yoga mat.

Saturdays
10:30 am – 11:30 am

Discover the perfect blend of relaxation and fun! Join us for an unforgettable outdoor yoga experience that combines the healing benefits of yoga with the joy of interacting with our friendly goats. Please note that Goat Yoga is canceled in the event of rain, as our goats don't love the rain either! If canceled, we’ll reach out and issue a full refund for your tickets.

Tuesday, Oct 13
6 pm – 9 pm

Enjoy the flavors of the early fall harvest with Chef Mickey in this hands-on demo cooking class! Watch as Chef Mickey demonstrates advanced techniques including knife skills, grain hydration, and tempering egg custards. Guests will enjoy a seasonal three-course meal featuring roasted delicata squash with goat cheese, pomegranate, and pumpkin seeds; reverse-seared bone-in pork chops with apple-fennel chutney and creamy polenta; and maple-bourbon crème brûlée. Resident sommelier and mixologist Tim Clark will welcome guests with a seasonal cocktail upon arrival.

Thursday, Oct 15
6 pm – 8 pm

Celebrate the beauty of fall with a hands-on cupcake decorating class with Annalise Atilano, owner and baker of Sweet B’s Bake Shop in Lincolnshire. Learn a variety of piping techniques as you decorate six cupcakes featuring fall-inspired pumpkins and florals. Annalise will guide you through each design step-by-step, sharing tips and techniques to make decorating approachable and fun. No previous experience is necessary—just come ready to get creative! You’ll leave with a beautiful box of cupcakes, new decorating skills, and the confidence to recreate these designs at home.

Monday, Oct 19
6 pm – 9 pm

Explore the traditions of Mexican tamale making in this hands-on cooking class with Chef Ernesto of El Molcajete Sauces. Learn to prepare both corn husk and banana leaf tamales while exploring traditional techniques, regional flavors, and authentic sauces. Guests will receive step-by-step instruction on making masa and fillings, assembling and cooking tamales, and more. Enjoy handcrafted mezcal margaritas and seasonal aguas frescas throughout the class, followed by a family-style meal featuring the tamales prepared during class with authentic sauces and traditional sides.

Tuesday, Oct 20
6 pm – 9 pm

Celebrate autumn flavors with Chef Mickey in this demo cooking class! Watch and learn as Chef Mickey demonstrates advanced cooking techniques, including long-form braising and skimming, cooking puddings without curdling eggs, and more. Guests will enjoy a seasonal three-course meal featuring roasted wild mushroom and herb crostini, red wine-braised beef short ribs with Parmesan gnocchi, and dark chocolate sea salt budino. Resident sommelier and mixologist Tim Clark will welcome guests with a seasonal cocktail upon arrival.

Wednesday, Oct 21
9 am – 12:30 pm

Take your sourdough skills to the next level with Pastry Chef Maggie Logan! In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how to apply sourdough fermentation to three hearty, advanced breads while practicing techniques like folding, shaping, scoring, and baking. Participants will make and take home three levain-based breads, along with recipes to recreate them at home. Bring your favorite apron and an appetite!

Thursday, Oct 22
6 pm – 9 pm

Unleash your creativity and join us for an evening of painting, sipping, and socializing. Whether you’re looking for a unique date night, a fun evening out with friends, or a solo creative escape, this class is designed to help you relax and discover your inner artist. Jane will guide you step-by-step in creating an adorable goat painting inspired by Elawa Farm’s own goats. All art supplies are provided. With your ticket, you’ll also receive two glasses of wine and assorted seasonal charcuterie. This class is for all skill levels, with no prior experience necessary. Ages 21+ for alcohol consumption.

Monday, Oct 26
6 pm – 8 pm

Celebrate Día de los Muertos with a hands-on baking experience at Elawa Farm! Chef Ernesto Rodriguez of El Molcajete Sauces will guide you step-by-step through making Pan de Muerto, the traditional Mexican bread enjoyed during Día de los Muertos. Learn about the history and meaning behind this beloved bread while mixing, shaping, and baking your own loaves from scratch. While the dough rises, enjoy a Mezcal espresso martini and appetizers as you gather around the table and celebrate the flavors, traditions, and stories that make Día de los Muertos special. All experience levels welcome—just come ready to bake, learn, and celebrate!

Tuesday, Oct 27
6 pm – 9 pm

Join us for the next installment of our Viva Bistro series: Volume VI with Chef Mickey Knutson, featuring seasonal ingredients and elevated fall-inspired techniques. Watch as Chef Mickey demonstrates techniques including preparing greens, creating pan sauce emulsions, fruit caramelization, and more. Guests will enjoy a bitter greens and shaved fennel salad, roasted chicken breasts with creamy mustard cider sauce and Brussels sprouts, and a warm pear and cardamom upside-down cake. Resident sommelier and mixologist Tim Clark will welcome guests with a seasonal cocktail.

Friday, Oct 30
1 pm – 4 pm

Celebrate the beauty of fall at Elawa Farm with a relaxing watercolor class inspired by the season’s harvest. Evelyn will guide you step-by-step as you paint a vibrant pumpkin portrait while learning simple watercolor techniques to create rich color, texture, and depth. Whether you’re new to watercolor or an experienced painter, this one-and-done class is a chance to unwind, get creative, and enjoy an afternoon at the Farm. Leave with your own beautiful fall painting, a few new watercolor skills, and a little extra beauty to brighten your home. All materials included. No experience necessary—just come ready to paint, relax, and let your creativity grow!

Tuesday, Nov 3
6 pm – 9 pm

Experience what makes Elawa Farm unique in this farm-to-table Demo Cooking Class with Chef Mickey Knutson. Celebrate seasonal ingredients while learning elevated techniques inspired by the harvest, including timing browned butter and high-heat vegetable roasting. Guests will enjoy charred cauliflower steaks with romesco sauce and crispy capers, followed by pan-roasted chicken breasts with root vegetables and browned butter sage sauce. Dessert will be spiced pumpkin bread pudding with salted caramel drizzle. Resident sommelier and mixologist Tim Clark will welcome guests with a seasonal cocktail.

Friday, Nov 6
10 am – 11:15 am

Prepare your dahlias for a beautiful growing season ahead in this hands-on workshop with Elaine Madansky, Elawa Farm’s edible garden specialist. In our climate, dahlia tubers need to be carefully removed and stored over the winter to protect them from the cold. Learn how to properly dig, divide, and store your dahlia tubers, helping ensure healthy, vibrant blooms when the next growing season arrives. This hands-on class will cover the essential steps for overwintering your tubers so you can confidently bring your dahlias back to life next year.

Sunday, Nov 8
1 pm – 3 pm

Explore the practice of herbalism with Alex Williams, co-founder of First Curve Apothecary and Greenspell School of Ecological Herbcraft. Learn how common medicinal herbs can be incorporated into everyday routines to support general well-being, vitality, and preventative self-care. This workshop will introduce common weedy herbs, native medicinal plants, and kitchen herbalism practices including teas, tinctures, infused oils and vinegars. Alex will also discuss how herbalism can complement conventional care while nurturing our connection to the natural world.

Tuesday, Nov 10
6 pm – 9 pm

Celebrate the food and wine of Bavaria with Chef Mickey in an evening of regional specialties. Learn advanced techniques including high-heat roasting, pan deglazing, cider braising, and dumpling preparation. Guests will enjoy Bavarian Beer Cheese Soup with rye pretzel croutons, followed by crispy Bavarian pork knuckle with caraway pan jus, bread dumplings, and cider-braised red cabbage. Dessert will be vanilla bean cream with spiced local plum compote. Resident sommelier and mixologist Tim Clark will welcome guests with an aperitif and wines selected for the evening's menu.

Sunday, Nov 15
1 pm – 3 pm

Become a more informed consumer and learn how to purchase nutrient-dense, sustainably raised meat in this panel-style lecture with Joe Wanda of Wanda Farms, McCullough Kelly-Willis of the Chicago Meat Collective, and Chef Lee Kuebler of Elawa Farm. Explore the differences between industrial and pasture-raised meat, learn about various processing techniques, and discover how different cuts of beef can be used for a variety of culinary applications.

Tuesday, Nov 17
10 am – 11:30 am

Get into the holiday spirit with a hands-on wreath-making workshop led by Eileen Weber of Lake Forest Flowers and the Elawa Farm Team. Create a beautiful, personalized wreath using fresh greens, seasonal ribbon, festive decorations, and your own creativity. All supplies are provided, and guests can enjoy holiday music, hot cocoa, and a cozy atmosphere while crafting their wreath.

Tuesday, Nov 17
6 pm – 9 pm

Celebrate the food and wine of Alsace with Chef Mickey in an evening of regional specialties. Learn techniques including pastry baking, caramelizing onions, wine braising, and handmade Spätzle. Guests will enjoy Alsatian onion tart, followed by chicken in Riesling with wild mushrooms, tarragon, Spätzle, and braised leeks. Dessert will be Alsatian apple tart with rich egg custard. Resident sommelier and mixologist Tim Clark will welcome guests with an aperitif and wines selected for the evening's menu.

Friday, Nov 20
6 pm – 8 pm

Create a beautiful, edible centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table in this hands-on cookie decorating workshop with Kim Dunham, owner and baker of Folklorica Bakery. Learn Kim’s tried-and-true techniques for decorating cookies made with antique molds using natural dyes. No baking or art experience is necessary, and all materials are provided. Each participant will go home with one dozen painted German butter cookies arranged into a festive centerpiece.

Tuesday, Dec 1
6 pm – 9 pm

Celebrate the food and wine of Gascony with Chef Mickey in an evening of regional specialties. Learn advanced techniques including precision egg poaching, bacon fat rendering, and slow-simmering legumes. Guests will enjoy Frisée Salad with Warm Bacon, classic Toulouse Cassoulet with duck confit, garlic sausage, pork belly, and white beans, followed by a Gascon apple croustade. Resident sommelier and mixologist Tim Clark will welcome guests with an aperitif and wines selected for the evening's menu.

Tuesday, Dec 8
6 pm – 9 pm

Celebrate the food and wine of Napa with Chef Mickey in an evening of regional specialties. Learn advanced techniques including simmering polenta, preparing citrus curd, and blind-baking tart crusts. Guests will enjoy roasted fig and honeyed goat cheese crostini, followed by pan-roasted duck breast with Cabernet Sauvignon and blackberry reduction, heirloom squash, and wild mushroom polenta. Dessert will be a Meyer lemon and rosemary tart with honey-whipped cream and toasted pine nuts. Resident sommelier and mixologist Tim Clark will welcome guests with an aperitif and wines selected for the evening's menu.

Friday, Dec 11
9 am – 12:30 pm

Get into the holiday spirit with Pastry Chef Maggie in this hands-on baking class featuring the classic French Bûche de Noël, or yule log cake. Learn how to bake a light sponge cake, prepare a rich chocolate or coffee buttercream, and master the techniques for rolling, filling, and shaping your festive dessert. Chef Maggie will share professional tips for cake structure, flavor pairing, and holiday presentation. This class is flavored by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas.

Tuesday, Dec 15
6 pm – 9 pm

Celebrate the food and wine of Piedmont, Italy with Chef Mickey in an evening of regional specialties. Learn advanced techniques including roasting mushrooms, slow wine braising, and setting chilled custards. Guests will enjoy an autumn mushroom tart with wild mushrooms, Fontina, and fresh thyme, followed by braised beef in Barolo with root vegetables and creamy polenta. Dessert will be hazelnut and cocoa budino with roasted Langhe hazelnuts and sea salt flakes. Resident sommelier and mixologist Tim Clark will welcome guests with an aperitif and wines selected for the evening's menu.

Friday, Dec 18
9 am – 12:30 pm

Get into the holiday spirit with Pastry Chef Maggie in this hands-on baking class featuring the classic French Bûche de Noël, or yule log cake. Learn how to bake a light sponge cake, prepare a rich chocolate or coffee buttercream, and master the techniques for rolling, filling, and shaping your festive dessert. Chef Maggie will share professional tips for cake structure, flavor pairing, and holiday presentation. This class is flavored by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas.

Tuesday, Dec 22
6 pm – 9 pm

Celebrate the food and wine of the Pacific Northwest with Chef Mickey in an evening of regional specialties. Learn advanced techniques including par-boiling grains, rolling galette pastry, and simmering seafood chowder. Guests will enjoy Dungeness crab and corn chowder with smoked sweet corn and mushrooms, followed by pan-seared King salmon with marionberry-balsamic reduction, roasted Brussels sprouts, and warm hazelnut and farro salad. Dessert will be a cardamom and roasted fig galette with rosemary-infused sweet cream. Resident sommelier and mixologist Tim Clark will welcome guests with an aperitif and wines selected for the evening's menu.

Tuesday, Jan 5
6 pm – 9 pm

Celebrate the food and wine of Tuscany with Chef Mickey in an evening of regional specialties. Learn advanced techniques including pan-roasting meat, baking with gluten-free chestnut flour, and whipping ricotta. Guests will enjoy Tuscan kale and white bean stew with sausage, Lacinato kale, and cannellini beans, followed by pan-roasted sirloin cap with cipollini onions, rosemary, Chianti pan jus, and rosemary polenta. Dessert will be Tuscan chestnut cake with pine nuts, raisins, rosemary, and whipped ricotta. Resident sommelier and mixologist Tim Clark will welcome guests with an aperitif and wines selected for the evening's menu.

Select Saturdays
12:30 pm - 1 pm

Join our Assistant Farm Manager, Georgia DeSilva, and our adorable goats for an energizing walk around the farm! This guided experience offers the perfect opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Elawa Farm while interacting with our friendly goats. It’s a fun and relaxing way to enjoy the outdoors and connect with our charming animals.

Select Fridays & Saturdays
9:30 am & 1:30 pm

Come meet our curious and friendly chickens and ducks on a guided visit with Assistant Farm Manager, Georgia DeSilva! This hands-on experience will enable you to observe our chickens and ducks up close, learn about their unique personalities, and feed and pet them. This is an enjoyable and interactive experience for animal lovers of all ages!

Select Saturdays
10:00 am & 12:00 pm

This guided tour explores the farm’s place in Lake Forest history, along with the foundation’s mission and work today. Guests will learn about regenerative farming, seasonal growing cycles, land stewardship, and partnerships with regional sustainable farmers, with stops throughout the gardens, animal areas, and indoor spaces. Please note the route includes uneven terrain and steps. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Tours are held rain or shine.

Select Saturdays & Sundays
10 am, 10:30 am, 11 am

Get ready for a heartwarming experience with our friendly goats! Step into their playful world and enjoy a fun-filled session of cuddling, petting, and interacting with our lovable furry friends. This unforgettable encounter is perfect for all ages!

Every Friday
10 am & 11:15 am

In this class, Nicole will lead you and your little ones in 45-minutes of collaborative music making. We will connect through music while we sing, dance, move, play and pretend.

Wednesday, Oct 14
12 pm – 1 pm

Join us for an afternoon of harvesting during Adventures at Elawa! Kids will visit Elawa Farm’s Discovery Hive and Garden to harvest herbs and greens while exploring plants through their five senses. This hands-on activity offers a fun way for young learners to connect with the farm and discover some of the remaining late-season plants Elawa has to offer. This is a drop-off class for children ages 3–5.

Thursday, Oct 15
10 am – 10:45 am

Join Marisa Lind of Marbear Yoga for a fun and interactive Mommy & Me Yoga class designed for children ages 3–7 and their accompanying adult. This playful session combines yoga, movement, games, mindfulness, and a creative craft to help little yogis build confidence, coordination, and connection while families move and create together. Please bring a yoga mat for both adult and child. One ticket includes both the child and one accompanying adult.

Wednesday, Oct 28
12 pm – 1 pm

Get into the Halloween spirit with a special holiday edition of Adventures at Elawa! Kids will decorate their own pumpkins, creating fun characters and names for their new pumpkin friends. Once their pumpkins are ready, the group will head outside for Halloween playtime in Elawa Farm’s Discovery Hive play area. Halloween costumes are encouraged!

This is a drop-off class for children ages 3–5.

Thursday, Oct 29
10 am – 10:45 am

Join Marisa Lind of Marbear Yoga for a fun, Halloween-themed Mommy & Me Yoga class for children ages 3–7 and their accompanying adult. Little yogis can wear their favorite costumes (as long as they can move comfortably) while enjoying yoga, movement, games, mindfulness, and a creative craft. Families will move, learn, and create together in a welcoming environment. Please bring a yoga mat for both adult and child. One ticket includes one child and one accompanying adult.

Wednesday, Nov 4
12 pm – 1 pm

Explore the colors of fall at Adventures at Elawa! Kids will head out on a nature walk around the Farm to gather fallen leaves and plants in a variety of colors. Together, we’ll sort our discoveries by color and create temporary outdoor artwork while developing observation and cognitive skills. Come dressed to be outside! This is a drop-off class for children ages 3–5.

Thursday, Nov 5
10 am – 10:45 am

Join Marisa Lind of Marbear Yoga for a playful Mommy & Me Yoga class designed for children ages 3–7 and their accompanying adult. Families will enjoy a fun mix of yoga, movement, games, mindfulness, and a creative craft while building confidence, coordination, and connection. Please bring a yoga mat for both adult and child. One ticket includes admission for one child and one accompanying adult.

Wednesday, Nov 11
12 pm – 1 pm

Join us in creating nature faces at Adventures at Elawa! Starting with a nature walk, we will gather natural materials to create nature faces. Whether it’s a self-portrait, a familiar face, or an entirely new character, kids will use their imaginations to explore different emotions and expressions through nature play. This is a drop-off class for kids ages 3–5 years old.

Thursday, Nov 12
10 am – 10:45 am

Join Marisa Lind of Marbear Yoga for a special gratitude-themed Mommy & Me Yoga class designed to help families pause, reflect, and move into the holiday season together. Enjoy yoga poses, mindfulness activities, and a gratitude-themed craft to use throughout the holidays. Families will move, learn, and create together in a welcoming environment. Please bring a yoga mat for both adult and child. One ticket includes admission for one child and one accompanying adult.

Thursday, Nov 12
4 pm – 5:30 pm

Get into the spirit of Thanksgiving with a hands-on kids baking class! Young bakers will learn to make apple and pumpkin hand pies while practicing measuring, ingredient prep, pie assembly, decorative egg washing, and more. With step-by-step instruction and recipes to take home, kids can recreate their delicious treats with family. This is a drop-off baking class for ages 6 and up.

Wednesday, Nov 18
12 pm – 1:30 pm

Join us for a culinary exploration in this Thanksgiving edition of Adventures at Elawa! Together, we’ll make mini muffin tin pumpkin pies and practice gratitude while the pies bake. Each child will get hands-on experience scooping, mixing, and transferring filling into their mini pies. This is a drop-off class for kids ages 3–5 years old.

Wednesday, Dec 2
12 pm – 1 pm

Join us in feeding the birds at Adventures at Elawa! During the cold months, birds have fewer food sources as insects are dormant and plant forage is reduced. We’ll make easy DIY bird feeders using nut-free ingredients for kids to take home and leave outside as an offering for birds during the cold season. This is a drop-off class for kids ages 3–5 years old.

Wednesday, Dec 9
12 pm – 1 pm

Join us for a fun, outdoor Adventures at Elawa! Come bundled for an outdoor adventure as we make our way on a cold-season scavenger hunt. With scavenger hunt picture cards in tow, we’ll search for things that are common to find at Elawa in December. This is a drop-off class for kids ages 3–5 years old.

Friday, Dec 11 & Friday, Dec 18
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Get into the holiday spirit with a festive sugar cookie decorating class! Kids will decorate holiday cookies with plenty of sprinkles and creativity, then bring their treats home to share with family and friends. Each child will decorate and take home a half dozen holiday sugar cookies. This is a drop-off class for kids ages 5 and up.

Wednesday, Dec 16
12 pm – 1 pm

Join us for a holiday baking edition of Adventures at Elawa! We’ll be making holiday-shaped sugar cookies to enjoy. Kids will practice rolling dough, using cookie cutters, and more, plus they’ll each bring home cookies and recipes to share with their families. This is a drop-off class for kids ages 3–5 years old.