Organizer cancels Barrington Freedom Festival
The organizer of the annual Barrington Freedom Festival and Freedom Run has canceled this year’s events, which would have coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
But the village of Barrington itself has begun planning a more solemn memorial to mark the anniversary.
In an email to supporters and sponsors of the Freedom Festival this week, organizer Dirk Beveridge wrote, “It is with heavy disappointment that I have made the decision to cancel this year’s Freedom Festival and Freedom Run. I hope you know how honored I have been to have served our troops and our community with you.”
Beveridge was traveling for business Thursday and could not be immediately reached to explain the reasons for his decision.
The first Barrington Freedom Festival was held in the fall of 2004 to show support for U.S. troops stationed overseas. It occurred shortly after a rare anti-war rally in Barrington.
At the time, Beveridge was firm that the intention of the Freedom Festival was to support troops and that “Any political agenda is going to be unacceptable and off-limits.”
The festival adopted the slogan, “We Do Care,” in contrast to the anti-war rally’s slogan, “Do You Care.”
The Freedom Festival was held for seven consecutive years through 2010, moving from its original October dates to ones in September closer to the 9/11 anniversary.
In 2008, a 9.11-mile Freedom Run was added to the festival, winding its way through Barrington Hills and ending in downtown Barrington.
Until Beveridge’s recent announcement, the festival’s website at we-do-care.org had promised an eighth annual event to take place on Sept. 10.
Instead, Barrington Village President Karen Darch said, the village is in the early stages of planning a solemn, respectful memorial service for the victims of 9/11 that will likely occur on Sept. 11 itself at Memorial Park downtown.
These plans will be further discussed at the village board’s committee of the whole meeting Monday evening.
In the rest of his recent email to supporters this week, Beveridge wrote, “Our seven Freedom Festivals, three Freedom Runs, video webcasts, and award-winning 4th of July floats — together we all made a difference. From the bottom of my heart I appreciate all that you have done.”
Beveridge is the owner of a Barrington-based consulting firm.