Barrington’s Cruise Night and farmers market have merged into one evening of family fun with more of everything, including food vendors, live music, classic cars and children’s activities.
“It’s like a festival every week. There is so much more to do,” says Clancy Potts, events and marketing manager for the Village of Barrington.
Every Thursday from June through August, the farmers market appears in downtown Barrington from 4-8 p.m. The Classic Car Show runs 6-8 p.m.
In previous summers, these events were in separate locations. Now, they’re together, with the Farmers Market on Station Street, between South Cook Street and Park Avenue. About 50-100 classic cars are on display in the adjacent BMO Bank parking lot, where you’ll also catch live music.
The village has partnered with Bensidoun USA to bring back its farmers market on a grander scale. Bensidoun USA manages more than 100 markets worldwide, including several across the Chicago area.
This year, you’ll find a greater variety of food trucks, hot food options, more produce stands, free balloon animals, face painting, other children’s activities and alcoholic beverages sold by Barrington’s White House staff.
Among the more than two dozen vendors featured at this year’s market are names like Barking Spot Bakery & Boutique, Tamales Express, Bill’s Organic Olive Oil, Kernel Dan’s Kettle Corn, Miller Farms, Windy City Mushrooms, Linner Bakery, Grace Gardens, Joanna Beaumont Jewelry, Coffee Cake Guys, The Cookie Maker and Krick Woodshop.
Car themes and live music include Exotics Car Night and singer/songwriter showcase July 18; Buick/Oldsmobile Night and The Rolling Blackouts on July 25; European Car Night with Jim Sieg and The Chasers Aug. 1, and Mopar/Ford/Jeep Night featuring The Rolling Blackouts Aug. 15.
Although the car show and live music end Aug. 15, the farmers market continues every Thursday through Oct. 10.
For information and weather updates, go to barrington-il.gov/events.