This year's Shermerfest comes at a momentous time for Northbrook Historical Society
Fifty years ago in October 1973, several Northbrook residents met to decide if they wanted to organize an historical society.
The group wouldn't incorporate until the following year.
On Tuesday, Northbrook Village President Kathryn Ciesla read a proclamation designating Sunday as Northbrook Historical Society Day.
From noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, the historical society will host its largest fundraiser, Shermerfest, at Village Green Park.
This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the town's name change from Shermerville to Northbrook.
Shermerfest, started in 1979, is the second-oldest outdoor gathering after the Northbrook Days Festival.
It offers food, music, historical nuggets and whimsical and unique events such as the Cow Pie Moo-lette raffle.
Owners of classic vehicles can enter the annual CARavan parade through downtown streets, or join the classic car show at Village Green. Among the vintage display will be an authentic Good Humor ice cream truck and a dump truck, circa 1926, made by Reiland & Bree of Northbrook.
"We think it's very likely the only one still in existence," said Judy Hughes, historical society president.
Sunset Foods will provide hot dogs at a booth staffed by a Boy Scout troop. There will be chrysanthemums and pumpkins for sale, as well as T-shirts and a newly styled sweatshirt with a drawing of that Reiland & Bree truck on the back.
The historical society is partnering with the Northbrook Arts Commission for a colorful sidewalk chalk display along Meadow Street.
The Northbrook Rotary will launch its annual "Rubber Ducky Race" from the bridge at Shermer Road. In a historical touch, the Rotary also will bring an "End Polio" display complete with an iron lung.
The historical society will be serving Vienna farmer's vegetable soup and chili in its lower-level space at 1775 Walters Ave.
In a new feature, the society will post signs throughout the park with QR codes that lead to photos of Northbrook sites past and present.
Hughes calls it "Northbrook's historic windows to the past."
"I'll have them spread out all throughout the Green, 22 of them," she said.
Live music in the park gazebo will feature veteran Chicago blues guitarist and harmonica player John Grimaldi, stage name "Studebaker John," and a group called the Northbrook School of Music and Beer.
The group's harmonica player, Brian Bruce, serves as referee at the signature Cow Pie Moo-lette.
The Moo-lette, scheduled for 2 p.m., will be announced by "Mr. Northbrook," Ron Bernardi of Sunset Foods. He's been a Northbrook Historical Society board member since 2019.
The Moo-lette is a raffle with a prize of up to $1,000. The featured performer arrives on loan from Historic Wagner Farm in Glenview.
"Everybody loves the cow," Hughes said.
More information on Shermerfest, in addition to car show entries and Moo-lette raffle tickets, is available at northbrookhistory.org.