Olmsted Society of Riverside

Stewards of the Land and Olmsted’s Plan: In 1868, landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and his partner, Calvert Vaux, were commissioned to plan a unique community just west of Chicago, Illinois. The result was Riverside, a beautiful community along the Des Plaines River, complete with curving lanes, abundant greenery, and gas street lights. One hundred years later, the Frederick Law Olmsted Society of Riverside was formed.

HOPSTOP Tickets On Sale Now:    Check out our event page to secure your tickets for HOPSTOP before they run out.   Look forward to seeing you on Saturday September 26th, 2026 for another amazing day.

Upcoming Events

9/26 – Fun HOPSTOP 2026: Good company, great beer, local food…all in a beautiful park setting
9/27 – Tours Walking Tour: North Divisions
10/3 – Landscape Workdays Workday: Riverside Road
10/24 – Landscape Workdays Workday: Riverside Road
10/25 – Tours Walking Tour: South Divisions

What's New

💚🍻 Community Support Makes Hop Stop Possible! 🍻💚 A big THANK YOU to Michael J. Ward, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones, for supporting Riverside Hop Stop 2026! Located right here in downtown Riverside, Michael works with individuals and families at every stage of their financial journey—from those just getting started to those planning for retirement and everything in between. His areas of focus include: 💰 Retirement savings & income strategies 🎓 College savings 📈 Wealth strategies 📊 Portfolio reviews 🌱 New investors We’re grateful to have local businesses and professionals like Michael supporting events that bring our community together and help further the mission of the Olmsted Society of Riverside. 🌳 📍 Michael J. Ward | Edward Jones 6 E. Burlington St., Suite 1C East Riverside, IL 60546 📞 708-426-2083 🌐 Website: https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/michael-ward 📸 Instagram: @edwardjones 🍻 RIVERSIDE HOP STOP 2026 📅 Saturday, September 26 ⏰ 3:00–6:00 PM 🍺 20+ breweries, cideries, distilleries & non-alcoholic beverage makers 🥃 Commemorative tasting glass 🍔 Delicious local food & treats 🎶 Live DJ Mattio 🎨 Family-friendly activities 🚲 Free bicycle valet 🧺 Hop Stop picnic blankets available for $25 🌳 All in beautiful Riverside! 🎟️ Get your tickets and join us for an afternoon of great drinks, great food and an even greater community! #RiversideHopStop #HopStop2026 #EdwardJones #MichaelWard #RiversideIL #SupportLocal #CommunitySupport #OlmstedSociety #ShopLocal #RiversideCommunity
🎉 Did you know Hop Stop is a family-friendly event? It totally is! 🎉 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Children are welcome — they just need to be accompanied by an adult ticket holder to enter. This year, we’re excited to have Pocket Circus providing amazing children’s entertainment, including face painting and balloon art! 🎈✨ Check them out at 👉 pocketcircusweb.com #hopstop2026 #riversidefoods #riversideflos #riversideilcommunity #riversideillinois #familyfun #beerfest
🍴 Thank you to The Chew Chew for supporting Hop Stop 2026! Your generosity helps us keep this amazing Riverside beer fest rolling year after year. 🍻🌟 👉 www.thechewchew.com #hopstop #hopstop2026 #riversidefoods #riversideflos #riversideilcommunity #riversideillinois #riversideil #olmsted #beerfest #sponsors
🍝 A heartfelt thank you to La Barra Riverside for supporting Hop Stop 2026! Your partnership helps us serve up an incredible community beer fest right here in Riverside. 🍻❤️ 👉 www.labarrariverside.com #hopstop #hopstop2026 #riversidefoods #riversideflos #riversideilcommunity #riversideillinois #riversideil #olmsted #beerfest #sponsors
🍻🌳 Riverside Hop Stop 2026 is Back! 🌳🍻 One of Riverside's favorite traditions returns on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 3:00–6:00 PM at the Riverside Train Station! Presented by Riverside Foods and the Olmsted Society of Riverside, Hop Stop is the perfect way to spend an afternoon with friends and family while supporting a great cause. 🎟️ Your ticket includes: 🍺 A commemorative tasting glass 🍻 50+ beer, cider, spirit & non-alcoholic beverage tastings 🥃 Featuring local favorites, including Quincy Street Distillery 🍔 Delicious local food vendors 🎶 Live DJ Mattio 🎨 Art activities for kids (children under 12 are FREE with a ticketed adult!) 🚲 Free bicycle valet 🚆 Easy access via Metra—steps from the event! 🧺 New this year! Hop Stop commemorative picnic blankets are available for $25 while supplies last—the perfect keepsake for enjoying the festival and future outdoor adventures! 💚 Hop Stop is a not-for-profitwith proceeds benefiting the Olmsted Society of Riverside, helping preserve and beautify our historic community through stewardship, education, and community engagement. 🎟️ Get your tickets today! 🌐 Website: https://www.olmstedsociety.org/events/hopstop/ 📸 Instagram: @olmstedsociety Gather your friends, discover new favorites, support local makers, and enjoy an unforgettable afternoon in the beautiful Arboretum Village of Riverside! #RiversideHopStop #HopStop2026 #OlmstedSociety #DrinkLocal #CraftBeer #CraftCider #CraftSpirits #ZeroWaste #SupportLocal #RiversideIL #Cheers

Get Involved

Stewardship

We would love to have you join us to help preserve Olmsted’s legacy through volunteer work days to maintain our public lands, participation on special projects, and advocacy and historical research.

Learn

Education

Riverside is a unique and special place to live and visit and there is so much amazing history. We sponsor educational programs related to landscape design, architectural history, the environment, community history through tours, presentations, a curated Olmsted Collection at the Riverside Public library and on-line how to guides and resources.

Support

Community Engagement

The organization is 100% volunteer driven and there are great opportunities to support the community and have fun at the same time. It could be making a donation to support the preservation of Riverside's unique landscape in recognition of a loved one or sampling amazing local beers and wines at our largest community event, Hopstop, For members, our quarterly newsletter highlights the impact of our work and engagement with the community.