Cantigny ready to celebrate its French Connection

If Cantigny Park could take a DNA test, results would reveal it owes part of its heritage to the French.

When Col. Robert R. McCormick returned from the Battle of Cantigny in World War I, he renamed the family estate known as Red Oaks in honor of the French community of Cantigny. The land became a public park in 1955.

In homage to the park's namesake and its history, the 12th annual French Connection Day celebration on Sunday promises a day steeped in French culture with food, music, art and family activities.

The event will begin with remarks from Consul General Guillaume LaCroix at 10:50 a.m.

There will be music throughout the day along with strolling mimes and a stilt walker. Shoppers will find an open-air French market presented by Bensidoun as well as a craft fair. There will also be children's craft activities and story times.

A variety of French food will be available along with a food and wine tent. A 23-foot replica of Paris' Eiffel Tower, donated to Cantigny several years ago, will add to the ambience.

The event goes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission and a $10 parking fee.

As a preamble to French Connection Day, Cantigny will present a French Picnic Under the Stars from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday. Visitors may purchase picnic baskets loaded with meats, cheeses, flatbreads and wine or bring their own meal without alcohol. The evening will include a live performance from a Chicago Sinfonietta four-piece ensemble from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and stargazing guided by the Naperville Astronomical Association, Northwest Suburban Astronomers and the Chicago Astronomical Society. Admission is $15 per car.