Barrington Fourth fest draws 10,000

Despite getting rained out one night for first time ever, organizers of Barrington's annual Fourth of July festival said the event was a hit.

Event chair Brian Cecola said thunderstorms caused them to shut down the festival's opening night last Wednesday, but after that people turned out in droves to celebrate the Independence Day holiday weekend.

He estimated about 10,000 people attended Thursday, Friday and Saturday, in large part to the beautiful weather all weekend.

"It was picture perfect," Cecola said. "Our day crowds were really crowded."

New to this year's festival was a mechanical bull, which Cecola said was very popular.

"There definitely was a line for that one," he said.

The Friday night fireworks show was another popular aspect of the festival.

"It was a packed front lawn at the high school," Cecola said of people camped out watching the show.

Among this year's musical acts were I-Road, the Wind Gypsys and Sixteen Candles.

The festival atmosphere continues this weekend in downtown Barrington with the annual Uncork Barrington wine tasting Friday and Barrington Brew Fest Saturday.

For more information, visit www.uncorkbarrington.com and www.barringtonbrewfest.com.