The Barrington Lion’s Club is planning some exciting new activities with a patriotic focus for this week’s three-day Barrington 4th of July Brat Tent festivities on Thursday (July 3rd), Friday (July 4th) and Saturday (July 5th). They will be hosting a number of special events to honor the men, women and families of the U.S. Military in a new area at the tent site called Patriot Park. And that’s all IN ADDITION to the food, kids’ activites and live entertainment that has drawn crowds to this community 4th of July celebration for decades.
Barrington’s annual Brat Tent tradition was created by several area service organizations in the late 80’s in an effort to raise funds for the community’s 4th of July Fireworks display. Reporter Catherine Goetze took us all inside the Brat Tent festivities giving us a closer look last year for 365BarringtonTV.
For the first time since the start of the Brat Tent tradition, the Lion’s Club is creating an area within the fest called Patriot Park where they have scheduled special activities on Thursday and Saturday to create awareness about ways we can support members of the military in Barrington and beyond.
The Lion’s Club will kick off each day with a beautiful Color Guard presentation followed by the National Anthem sung by children within our community. Organizations that will be participating in Patriot Park activities to help the community support those who serve our armed forces include:
Operation Support our Troops
Toys for Tots
Pizza for Patriots
Heart of a Marine
Honor America’s Valor
Barrington Honor Ride & Run.
Patriot Park will also have an area with items displayed from WWII, the Korean War & Vietnam courtesy of D&J Bistro owner Stephanie Goupil, the Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores and Vietnam Special Force 5th Group. Toys for Tots will be collecting new & unwrapped toys to give to kids in our community who might not otherwise have gifts under the tree this Christmas.
Organizers Brian and Stephanie Cecola say the goal of this year’s patriotic focus is to bring new energy to the event, honoring those who defend our freedoms as Barrington celebrates Independence Day. Stephanie says it’s a new addition to the Brat Tent that they plan to expand upon in the years to come.
“The Brat Tent has always been a way for participating organizations to not only bring people together but also to give back to the community. The new ‘Patriot Park’ activities are an extension of that. Through these events, we can show our thanks and appreciation for those who serve our military forces and create more awareness about their service to our country.”
The fest will be filled with many activities for all ages including baggo, obstacle course challenges, eurobungee, 25’ rock wall, face painting, caricatures, commemorative dog tags and more. There will also be presentations by guests speakers, Bruce Johnson & Kirk Morris, as they share heart-felt stories and tributes prior to the first live band performance at 4:30 p.m. this Thursday.
You’ll find the Brat Tent set up at 201 Spring Street in the north commuter parking lot at Barrington’s Metra Station. Admission is FREE during Brat Tent Daytime Hours. Evening admission starts at 5 p.m., after which time admission is free for those age 17 and under while and the cost for adults is $5. The Fourth of July Festival is 100% volunteer based and 100% of ALL proceeds go to Barrington area charities.
2014 Brat Tent Schedule of Events
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Festival gates open at 11 a.m.
Patriot Park Schedule – (12 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
Thursday is Barrington High School Alumni Reunion Night – For details, visit BHSAA.org for.
12:00 p.m.: Color Guard – Presentation by Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion 24th Marine Regiment
12:15 p.m.: National Anthem Performed by Callie Gerak
12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Margie the Face Painter
12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: 25’ Rock Wall & Jacobs Ladder
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: Baggo Tournament & Elementary School Rivalry – WHO’S GOT GAME
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Obstacle Course Competition (Download Registration Form)
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: Patriotic Photo Booth
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Caricature Artist
4:00 p.m.: SPEAKER – Bruce Johnson, Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 3
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm: Create a military style “Dog Tag”
4:30 pm: Western Sky Band – Modern Country – Sponsored By Doering Landscape
8:30 p.m.: Suburban Cowboys – Country Music – Sponsored By Dave and Katy Pepper
Friday, July 4, 2014
Patriot Park Schedule – (12 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
10:00 a.m.: Fourth Of July Parade
12:00 p.m. to – 2:00 p.m.: Barrington Community Band
Dusk Fireworks at Dusk – Presented By Barrington Bank and Trust
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Festival gates open at 11 a.m.
Patriot Park Schedule – (12 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
12:00 p.m.: Color Guard – Presentation By Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion 24th Marine Regiment
12:15 p.m.: Natioinal Anthem Performed By Michael Delgado
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Obstacle Course Competition (Download Registration Form)
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Rock101 & Grassroots Present the NEXT generation of musical talent!
12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.: Frank Birdsall Balloons and Bicycle Act
12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: 25′ Rock Wall & EuroBungee
2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Rolling Thunder Arrives – Motorcyle Showcase & Honor Ride
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: Patriotic Photo Booth
4:00 p.m.: SPEAKER – Kirk Morris, Gold Star Father
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Create a military style “Dog Tag”
4:30 p.m.: Alex & the Allstars – 70s, 80s, 90s & Today’s Hits – Sponsored by Lake Cook Orthopedic
8:30 p.m.: Sixteen Candles Band – 80’s Music – Sponsored By Wickstrom Auto Group
Additional thanks to:
Angel Water, District 220, Hienen’s, Village of Barrington & Village of Barrington Hills
2014 Brat Tent Food & Drinks
Food & SnacksBBQ Pork Sandwich = 4 tickets Nachos & Cheese = 3 tickets Ice Cream Bars = 1 ticket
Beer & Wine
|
– See more at: http://www.living60010.com/Barrington4th-FoodandDrink.aspx#sthash.BRsFcE8k.dpufFood & Drinks
Food & SnacksBBQ Pork Sandwich = 4 tickets Nachos & Cheese = 3 tickets Ice Cream Bars = 1 ticket
Beer & Wine
|
– See more at: http://www.living60010.com/Barrington4th-FoodandDrink.aspx#sthash.BRsFcE8k.dpuf
Food & SnacksBBQ Pork Sandwich = 4 tickets Nachos & Cheese = 3 tickets Ice Cream Bars = 1 ticket
Beer & Wine
|
– See more at: http://www.living60010.com/Barrington4th-FoodandDrink.aspx#sthash.BRsFcE8k.dpuf
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Western Sky Band
Modern Country
4:30 p.m.
Sponsored By Doering Landscape Co.
Visit Their Website
Suburban Cowboy
Country Music
8:30 p.m.
Sponsored By Dave and Katy Pepper
Visit Their Website
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Alex and the Allstars
70, 80, 90 and Hits from Today
4:30 p.m.
Sponsored By Lake Cook Orthopedics
Sixteen Candles
80’s Music
8:30 p.m.
Sponsored By Wickstrom Auto Group
– See more at: http://www.living60010.com/Barrington-4th-Live-Music.aspx#sthash.XcnFdMqm.dpuf
Food & Snacks
BBQ Pork Sandwich (4 tickets), Brat or Italian Sausage (3 tickets), Chicken Sandwich (3 tickets), Hot Dog (2 tickets), Guinness Flavored Brats (3 tickets), Nachos & Cheese (3 tickets), Popcorn (2 tickets), Chips or Pretzels (1 ticket), Gatorade (2 tickets), Pepsi (1 ticket), Water (1 ticket), Ice Cream Bars (1 ticket), Onion Brewery Micro-brews (5 tickets), Mike’s Hard Lemonade (5 tickets), Wine (5 tickets) & Miller Beer (4 tickets).
There’s nothing like an icy cold beverage to go with a sizzling hot brat!
You’ll find the Barrington Brat Tent in the north Metra train parking lot at 201 S. Spring Street in Barrington.
See you at the 2014 Brat Tent, Barrington! Our TV crews will be out and about all weekend long capturing the community’s 4th of July festivities on camera so stay tuned for multiple video reports from 365BarringtonTV. In the meantime, for a taste of the family fun that lies ahead this week, here are more images from the Barrington Brat Tent in 2013.
