1880s magic coming back to Glen Ellyn

Magic and old-fashioned entertainment will bring people back to the 1880s during a reinvigorated Tavern Days festival at Stacy's Corner in Glen Ellyn this month.

Jugglers, a flea circus, comedians, magicians and an 85-year-old ventriloquist are expected to enchant audiences during the Grand and Mystical Kickapoo Medicine Show, expected to be the biggest family event in Glen Ellyn Historical Society's 40 years.

The show, which will be at 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m. Sept. 30, will be featured during the society's Tavern Day festival.

Historical society Executive Director Jan Langford said the idea will mimic traveling medicine shows that went from town to town in the 1880s.

"The medicine show is just going to be a riot," she said. "We've got some real great acting talent and musical talent that's all coming together for this."

Other forms of entertainment during the event, which runs from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., will include a pig roast, craft demonstrations, games, stilt making and walking, live animals, juggling lessons, storytellers and an apple festival bake sale.

The society hasn't held its Tavern Day festival in two years.

"We just thought this would be a great way to bring back our popular Tavern Day event and make it a valued extravaganza," Langford said. "It's history, it's in a tent and it's fun."

The event is not a fundraiser for the group's capital campaign to develop a history park at the corner of Main Street and Geneva Road in Glen Ellyn. Organizers said medicine show tickets pretty much will break even with its cost of production.

"It's just to show what fun they can have at five corners," said Jean Jeske, medicine show coordinator.

However, the pig roast is a fundraiser, and money for the meal will be put toward the group's capital campaign.

If you go

What: Tavern Day festival, featuring the Grand and Mystical Kickapoo Medicine Show

When: Tavern Days runs from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 30; medicine show is at 1:15 2:15 and 3:15 p.m.

Where: Stacy's Tavern Museum, 557 Geneva Road, Glen Ellyn

Cost: Tavern Day: free; medicine show: $5 for adults, $2.50 for kids 10 and under; pig roast: $15 for adults and $7.50 for kids 12 and under. Tickets are available at The Book Store, Stacy's Tavern Museum and McChesney Miller Grocery Store

Details: (630) 858-8696