Cantigny celebrates McCormick Day with free activities

Cantigny Park will celebrate the birthday of its benefactor, Col. Robert R. McCormick, with a full day of free activities on Thursday, Aug. 4.

Tours, demonstrations and activities for visitors of all ages are planned throughout the park from noon to 7 p.m., followed by the Chicago Sinfonietta in concert. The day is Cantigny's gift to the community - activities, parking and the evening symphony are complimentary.

McCormick, former editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune, was born on July 30, 1880. He lived on the 500-acre country estate from 1920 until his passing in 1955. His will designated Cantigny as a public park for education and recreation.

On McCormick Day, Cantigny remembers the colonel's remarkable life as a gentleman farmer, First Division soldier, public servant and media industry giant.

Scheduled activities include:

• McCormick Museum open house from noon to 6 p.m.

• Amy McCormick living history performance by Ellie Presents at 2:30 p.m. in the McCormick Museum.

• History Alive! from 1 to 3 p.m. at the First Division Museum.

• Historic grounds tour - guided one-hour walks from Visitors Center at noon, 2 and 4 p.m.

• Garden tour - guided one-hour walks from Visitors Center at 1, 3 and 5 p.m.

• Wreath-laying ceremony honoring Robert R. McCormick by American Legion Cantigny Post 556 at 3 p.m.

• Birthday cake cutting with Amy McCormick at 3:39 p.m. on the East Lawn. Cupcakes for all while supplies last.

• Music by ZAZZ (jazz combo) at 3:45 p.m. on McCormick Museum East Porch.

• AdoptaBull English Bulldog Rescue at noon on the Parade Field.

• Piñatas at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 p.m.

• Splash Artillery from noon to 4 p.m. on the Parade Field.

• Newspaper toss challenge from noon to 5 p.m. on the McCormick Museum south lawn.

• Inflatable Jumpy House and Horse Derby Race from noon to 6 p.m. on the Parade Field.

• Monster Mural from 1 to 3 p.m. on the Parade Field.

• Old-fashioned games: stilts, graces and hoop rolling from noon to 5 p.m. on the Parade Field.

• Crafts: Japanese lantern making from noon to 3 p.m., or while supplies last, at Education Center.

• Mustache and birthday hat making from noon to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. in the McCormick Museum Gold Theatre.

• Vintage baseball exhibition from 6 to 7 p.m. on the Parade Field.

At 7:30 p.m., the Chicago Sinfonietta takes the stage outside the First Division Museum. Maestro Mei-Ann Chen will lead a special performance featuring Charles Ives' "Variations on America" and selections from Aaron Copland.

After a brief intermission, the Sinfonietta will welcome the Mosaic Choir from Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora. Selections will include Alexander Borodin's "Polovtsian Dances" before the evening's grand finale, Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," complete with real cannon fire.

Picnics are welcome for this Ravinia-style lawn concert. For more information, contact cantigny.org.