Barrington traveling back in time with 1865 Street Festival
Dust off your Victorian-era lounge suits and break out your petticoats, because Barrington is going back in time at the 1865 Street Festival next weekend as part of the village's ongoing celebration of its 150th anniversary.
Mary DiGiulio and Christine Griffin from The 1865 Street Fair Planning Committee wore Victorian-era dresses to spread the word about the festival at this week's village board meeting.
"All the participants will be in costumes, like ourselves," Griffin said, with a laugh. "And we are good sports like this to dress like this."
From 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, Cook and Station streets will be blocked off and transformed into the festival grounds.
The public is encouraged to dress like it is 1865 so they can fit in with the many vintage components of the festival, such as a Wells Fargo Stagecoach. The festival also will feature street performers, a vintage carnival and lots of live music. Walking the streets will be jugglers, stilt walkers, civil war re-enactors and several actors performing as historical figures, including Abraham Lincoln.
Griffin said there will be a fire pit at the intersection. The festival's anchors will be McGonigal's Pub, Francesca's, Barrington Flower Shop and Egg Harbor Cafe. All of the shops will be open, some with extended hours.
The carnival, run by the Barrington Junior Women's Club, will feature a butter churn, pony rides, hoop roll, face painting and more.
Taking the stage, which will be set up near Barrington Flower Shop, will be several music groups from Barrington Area Unit School District 220, including the Barrington High School Jazz Band and Orchestra Quartet. A group will perform Virginia reel dancing, and the Bataille Academie of Danse will perform with the Barrington Children's Choir.
At 6 p.m., there will be musical entertainment by the fire pit, starting with Barrington's own Sons of Bildor, an acoustic duo made up of brothers Rob and Charlie Knapik. At 8 p.m., Chicago-based singer-songwriter Pat McKillen will close the festival with a two-hour set.
While there have been events related to the village's 150th anniversary, referred to as its sesquicentennial, Village President Karen Darch said the 1865 Street Festival is the first large event on the calendar.
"This is really the kick-off celebratory community event," Darch said.
The historic fun will continue on Sunday with a pair of sesquicentennial events.
Vintage baseball re-enacting group, the Crackerjacks, will play a game using old school rules at noon at Citizens Park.
The Barrington Area Library will host a Sunday afternoon social gathering from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The public is encouraged to share photos and memorabilia from Barrington's past. Display tables may be reserved in advance by contacting Rose Faber, Barrington Area Library, at rfaber@balibrary.org or (847) 382-1300, extension 3000.
For more information on the village's other sesquicentennial events, visit barrington150.com.