This year’s Bartlett Heritage Days is the 6th annual Village-wide fall festival celebrating the community’s rich history. The 2016 celebration is especially meaningful because Bartlett is observing the 125th anniversary of its incorporation.
Birthday Themed Events
In honor of this milestone birthday, several new Heritage Days events are planned, including the “Birthday Picnic in the Park,” in Bartlett Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, 9/10. Bring your own picnic, and the Heritage Days committee will supply the birthday cake. The 144th Army Band of the Illinois National Guard will perform.
Bartlett’s 125th Scavenger Hunt for Kids, all over downtown, will be brought to you by the Chicagoland Blue Star Mothers.
Other Bartlett Heritage Days highlights:
Banbury Fair hosts the country band Ghost Ryders and a fashion show Friday night. Also, head to Banbury to see returning, popular band 7Deez on Bartlett Band Bash Saturday night. This is also the location for Kids Fest and the bingo tent run by the Bartlett Chamber of Commerce on Saturday and the Bartlett High School Booster Club on Sunday.
The old-fashioned trolley will provide hop-on, hop-off transportation around the festival area on Saturday. Catch the trolley at Village Hall on Sunday, when The Bartlett Historical Society will offer narrated tours of historic homes.
Oak Street between Oneida and the railroad tracks will be closed for a pedestrian walkway and entertainment on the street, including the Illinois Wheelmen Bicycle Demo and dancers. Buskers (street performers) are again asked to participate. A classic car show returns on Sunday.
Also returning is the craft show relocated to Bartlett Town Center on Main Street, a jewelers row along Oak and the flea market on Bartlett Avenue.
Arts in Bartlett’s gallery, 215 S. Main Street, will have a special exhibit “America the Beautiful” that includes local artists’ works and the winners of the VFW Auxiliary high school patriotic art contest. It will also have a “Decorate an Umbrella” art contest and children’s arts and crafts.
Some Heritage Days events are still being finalized; go to www.bartlettheritagedays.com for updated information.