Whether it felt warm enough to qualify or not, summer is officially here now that Ravinia opened its sprawling gates for the 2018 edition of American’s longest running seasonal music festival. After Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys and Ozomatli officially kicked off the party, Diana Ross delivered diva-style with all the grandeur and opulence that fit a Saturday night out on the town like sequins to a Bob Mackie gown.

While Miss Ross didn’t get to everything, her signature treatment of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” with arms outstretched Central Park-style was practically worth the price of admission alone with an encore of the disco definer “I Will Survive” only adding to her testimony of tenacity.

And what an evening it was when The Supremes leader turned breakout star offered the main portions of her entire timeline during a rare breakout date from a Las Vegas residency fittingly titled “Endless Memories.” Much like a recent show stopping performance when she was honored with an American Music Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Ravinia returner oozed star power as she entered ever so appropriately to “I’m Coming Out” in a shimmering black and silver dress accented with a glowing green shawl.

The Supremes scored several shout-outs right in a row (“My World Is Empty Without You,” “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby Love”), though it was “Stop! In The Name Of Love” that had everyone on their feet miming along with the song’s signature hand motions. Motown’s leading lady kept intermingling the best of the beloved girl group (“Come See About Me,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Love Child”) with her own (“Touch Me In The Morning,” “It’s My House,” “The Boss”), sounding and looking well below her 74 years.

In fact, the singles kept flying just as fast as the costume changes, which also included the groove-saturated “Upside Down,” “Love Hangover” and “Take Me Higher” through gorgeous editions of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “The Look Of Love,” Billie Holiday’s “Don’t Explain” and “Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To).” While Miss Ross didn’t get to everything (most glaringly, “Endless Love,” “Missing You” and “Someday We’ll Be Together”), her signature treatment of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” with arms outstretched Central Park-style was practically worth the price of admission alone, plus an encore of the disco definer “I Will Survive” only added to her testimony of tenacity.

Besides encountering “Diamond Diana” over opening weekend, Ravinia regulars likely noticed the massive overhaul to the venue’s dining pavilion, starting with the Lawn Bar and Market on the first floor, which are sandwiched between a newly expanded Festival Shop. In addition to getting a chance to pull up a barstool or grab a seat on the patio for a wide assortment of drinks, expect an elevated food court selection stacked with premium quick eats.

Ravinia’s chef’s table experience now populates the second floor at Tree Top and The Porch, which finds various formats of fab food for virtually any palette, paired with a bird’s eye view of the expansive lawn. It all adds up to another opportunity for some serious unwinding before a show or to simply grab a casual bite on the go before the music begins, so rest assured, no one will be hungry or thirsty on any budget or timeframe.

For additional information on Diana Ross, visit Facebook.com/DianaRoss.

Upcoming concert highlights at Ravinia include Loverboy and Survivor (Jun. 3); Stephen Marley and Matisyahu (Jun. 7); Chris Thile: “Live From Here” (Jun. 9); Anita Baker (Jun. 10); John Fogerty and ZZ Top (Jun. 12); Jackson Browne (Jun. 15); Alison Krauss (Jun. 16); Seal (Jun. 19); Jill Scott and The Roots (Jun. 22); Roger Daltrey performs The Who’s “Tommy” (Jun. 23 and 25) and Bryan Adams (Jun. 29). For additional details, visit Ravinia.org.

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