Cantigny's 'Voyage en France' sets sail on July 16
The second "signature" event of Cantigny's fun-packed 65th summer is "Voyage en France," set for Sunday, July 16.
Fans of French culture will find lots to love at Voyage, a celebration of the sights, sounds and flavors of France, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road in Wheaton.
Artists will be working en plein air in the Cantigny gardens from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be French-inspired music by Zazz and dance performances by Can Can Chicago.
Stroll a French open-air marketplace hosted by Bensidoun, where you can browse and purchase French-inspired products and foods..
See the architectural and floral displays representing Paris, Provence, Normandy, and Picardy. Step into a photo station where you can capture the essence of France in a picture-perfect moment.
You can also experience the popular French game of pétanque (courtesy of Chicago Pétanque Club) and be entertained by the French street performers.
Other attractions and activities include: a 23-foot Eiffel Tower replica and crafts for kids making French lavender sachets and Eiffel Tower art.
Learn about the Battle of Cantigny and French and American soldiers during World War I.
Discover Illinois's French history with the Isle a la Cache Museum. The museum in Romeoville transports visitors back to the 18th century, when "Illinois Country" was home to the fur trade, and the two worlds of French voyageurs and Potawatomi intertwined.
"We're planning a fun and family-friendly day with something for everyone," said Matt LaFond, Cantigny executive director. "Voyage is an exciting expression of our special relationship with France, and our most photogenic event of the summer."
The day will also commemorate our state's connection to French voyagers and Cantigny's own unique ties to a country that proved life-changing for Robert R. McCormick, Cantigny's benefactor.
In 1918, at age 37, Colonel McCormick commanded an artillery unit in the Battle of Cantigny in France as a member of the U.S. Army's First Division. It was America's first significant victory in World War I.
Upon returning to Wheaton, the Colonel renamed his estate after the tiny French village that he and his fellow soldiers helped liberate from German occupation.
Visitors to "Voyage en France" can learn more about the Battle of Cantigny at the First Division Museum, where special activities will be available.
Tickets are on sale now at Cantigny.org.
Tickets are $15 per person; $12 for age 65 or older or free for ages 15 and under. Parking is included with ticket purchase, and all sales are final.
Several premium food and beverage opportunities are available as well, and must be reserved:
• The VIP Culinary Experience ($75) includes a tasting featuring specially curated French wines paired with complementing food delicacies. This "event within the event" will take place in the Prairie View Garden from 1 to 3 p.m.
• The Artisanal Picnic for Two, for $60, features a 9-inch x 9-inch bamboo charcuterie box meticulously crafted by Chi-cuterie of Geneva, plus a French Bistro Salad from Cantigny. All items are packed in a handy Cantigny insulated tote bag.
Cantigny will be open only to Voyage en France ticket holders on July 16. Park gates open at 9 a.m., and festival activities begin at 10 a.m.
Cantigny in Wheaton is the 500-acre estate of Colonel Robert R. McCormick (1880-1955), long-time editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune, and founder of the Chicago-based Robert R. McCormick Foundation. It is home to gardens, walking trails, a museum dedicated to the 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, a highly ranked 27-hole public golf course, and a golf academy for all ages. More information is online at Cantigny.org, including hours, admission fees and upcoming events.