Barrington talks about organizing an art festival

Barrington's recently formed cultural commission is getting off to a fast start as members investigate organizing a Memorial Day-weekend art festival in the downtown area.

The village hopes to repeat the success of similar festivals in other towns, such as Highland Park and Buffalo Grove, in order to bring visitors downtown to spend money at local businesses.

Officials envision an outdoor festival featuring about 120 artists, who would pay a fee to participate.

Barrington Village President Karen Darch said Monday the event would fit perfectly into the village's plans to revitalize downtown.

The village board discussed a variety of ideas for the festival at Monday night's committee meeting, including hanging decorative banners to promote the festival, as well as showing a simulcast of a performance by New York's Metropolitan Opera at the Catlow Theater.

Officials still are trying to work out how food vendors would be involved in the art festival. One proposal included inviting local restaurant owners, much like what's planned for the Great Taste Fest of Barrington on Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Millrose Restaurant in South Barrington. Trustee Beth Raseman suggested having a more upscale approach to food, like serving oysters.

Officials said it would take a couple of years to grow the event, and forecast a budget loss during the event's growing pains.

The cultural commission formed in August and includes 17 members from the library and park districts, the Barrington Area School District 220, the village's historical society and other groups. The commission's goal is to promote existing arts and cultural activities, as well as create new ones.