22. Get Artsy Outdoors at Art in the Park

If you love art and you love the outdoors, you don’t want to miss the FREE “Art in the Park” art and music festival coming up in Barrington this weekend.  The third annual event kicks off the outdoor festival season and is happening all day this upcoming Sunday, May 22nd.  You can expect to find more artists displaying their works this year, along with more musicians, more children’s activities, more food AND more people gathered for a day of art and inspiration at Barrington’s Citizen’s Park.

There will be close to 60 area artists displaying their works for sale from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at this Sunday’s event, there will be eight musical acts performing live on the stage, you’ll find live art demonstrations happening throughout the park and just wait until you hear what’s planned for kids this year…

Organizers have invited young artists from around Barrington to display their works at 16 children’s booths. From paintings to origami, the kids will be featuring their own masterpieces and there will also be face painting and a special art activity area for kids this year. In addition to the children’s activities, this will be a great opportunity to not only meet local artists, but to watch them create! Local painter, Alex Brubacher, will be doing a live spray painting demonstration in the park from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. while a local dj spins tunes to get his creative juices flowing. And you’ll find live art demonstrations going on throughout the park all day.

The eight musical acts include jazz artist, Greta Pope, Screamin’ Rachael Cain, dubbed the “Queen of House” music by Billboard Magazine, Nashville Songwriter, Jessica Rae and Barrington’s own Together Again band, a group that reunited decades after they first played together in the 70’s at Barrington High School. Together Again will take the stage from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. and again from 5 to 5:45 p.m. As the sound of music fills the air, there will be plenty of great food to sample as you mill about the park. Frantonio’s Italian Deli will be selling their locally famous specialty sandwiches, pasta salads and cannolis, there will be homemade baked goods freshly made by some of the participating artists and Barrington’s Sweet Spot candy shop will have a booth selling candy, ice cream and snow cones.

Art in the Park is presented each year by the Barrington Cultural Arts Center (BCAC). The theme of this year’s festival is “Journey into the Arts” and the goal is to give visitors the sense that they are traveling as they view the many paintings and crafts exhibited this Sunday.  The Barrington Cultural Arts Center is all about “Making Art Happen” in Barrington.  BCAC Chairperson and stained glass artist, Susan Russo says, “Our mission is to give area artists a way to come together, share their art with the community and encourage others to explore their creative sides.”  The BCAC hosts many art events in Barrington throughout the year to make it known that Barrington is a thriving art community that welcomes artists of all ages and talent levels.

You’ll find artists of all types at Art in the Park who specialize in mediums like oil painting, watercolors, acrylics, mosaics, fabric, jewelry, spray painting, stained glass and there will even be local writers taking part.  Art in the Park will go on, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 22nd.  You’ll find Citizens Park at 511 Lake Zurich Road in Barrington and you can read more about Art in the Park and other events sponsored by the Barrington Cultural Arts Center on their website at BarringtonCulturalArtsCenter.org.