Cantigny to celebrate anniversary of McCormick’s birth

Cantigny Park will celebrate the 131st birthday of Col. Robert R. McCormick with activities and demonstrations for all ages.

The free festivities — including birthday cake — run 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton.

McCormick, former editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune, was born July 30, 1880. McCormick Day will commemorate his legacy, with particular emphasis on his life at Cantigny. The colonel lived on the 500-acre country estate from 1920 until his passing in 1955.

Activities, demonstrations and special events will be held throughout Cantigny Park, including:

Ÿ Amy McCormick performance, 11 a.m. in the Gold Theatre

Ÿ McCormick Museum open house, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Ÿ Wayne DuPage Hunt horse jumping, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Ÿ German Shepherd Dog Training Club of Chicago, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Ÿ Wool spinning, all day

Ÿ Birthday cake cutting, noon in the Visitors Center

Vintage games will be available on the Parade Field in addition to assorted crafts. Kids also can make newspaper hats and birthday cards on the McCormick Museum’s south porch. Target practice with the ever-popular water balloon cannon will take place at the First Division Museum.

Kids also can try their hand at butter-making and take turns on a hand-cranked ice cream freezer, recalling a tasty summer tradition at Red Oaks Farm, as Cantigny was known originally. Samples will be available.

At 3 p.m., McCormick Day will conclude with a wreath laying at the Exedra, the final resting place of McCormick and his first wife, Amy. Cantigny Post 556 of the American Legion will conduct the brief ceremony.

All McCormick Day activities are complimentary, and Cantigny’s usual $5 per car parking fee will be waived.

For details, visit Cantigny.org.