According to representatives, Cantigny Park will be alive with patriotic sights, sounds and activities for the whole family, and events and parking will be free on Independence Day.
The park was scheduled to open at 7 a.m, and special holiday programming was set for 12 p.m. to 4 pm.
Independance Day Celebration
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
12:00pm - 4:00pm
(NEWS RELEASE)
Independence Day at Cantigny is always fun and exciting for kids. The Robert R. McCormick Museum will host arts and crafts on the mansion's south porch starting at noon. On the Cantigny Parade Field, Revolutionary War reenactors will fire a real cannon and supervise 18th-century games. Kids can also celebrate freedom by adding their "John Hancocks" to a replica Declaration of Independence.
Inflatables will be set up for sliding and jumping, and John Measner will perform 30-minute magic shows starting at 12:30 and 2:15 pm. Aspiring young artists can help paint the 20-foot Cantigny mural.
At 3 pm, the Southwest Community Concert Band will perform patriotic music in front of the First Division Museum. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating, and picnics are welcome.
In special celebration of Independence Day, the Freedom Express will be parked outside the Cantigny Visitors Center and open all day. The 400-square-foot mobile museum tells the story of our First Amendment freedoms through compelling interactive displays.
The First Division Museum and McCormick Museum will each be open on July 4th from 10 am to 5 pm. As always, admission to both history-rich museums is free, and likewise there is no charge to stroll through Cantigny's 30 acres of colorful and serene gardens. The park also features a large shaded picnic area with playground equipment.
Inside the Visitors Center, Le Jardin will serve lunch from 11 am to 3 pm, and Bertie's (for ice cream, snacks and coffee drinks) will operate from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Outdoor concessions will also be available.
