Story Courtesy of LIVING60010.com (Photos by Bob Lee)
The third annual Barrington Hills ‘Hills are Alive’ celebrates families and the lifestyle they enjoy living in their community.
For the third year in a row, the weather was a perfect sunny day for the annual Barrington Hills event. Families enjoyed hay rides, pony rides, games, Food and live entertainment all afternoon.
A popular display the past two years is the presentation of chickens, horses and other animals residents raise and care for on their properties. This year, the celebration also included an Exotic Animal Show. Children were able to pet and hold animals not usually seen in the area. Native hawks and owls were also on display with handlers from a conservation organization.
Local organizations serving the community had displays offering residents an opportunity to get involved and volunteer in the community.
Barrington Area Animal Rescue & Kennels (BAARK) is a new not-for-profit offering a safe haven for stray dogs. They currently have two dogs available for adoption. Their website is under construction, but interested dog lovers can learn about their work from their Facebook page here.
Boy Scouts, Barrington Service League and the Barrington Area Conservation Trusthad information tables and displays. Barrington Area Tennis Association had a net and racquets for people to give tennis a try. ComEd offered everyone an opportunity to try and power up their display with energy created riding a stationary bicycle. Citizen’s for Conservation allowed everyone an opportunity to take a look at the stars through a large telescope.
“This event reminds us all of how fortunate we are to call Barrington Hills our home,” shared Village President Marty McLaughlin.
Families took hay rides that brought them into the beautiful open prairies and woods maintained by the Barrington Hills Park District.
Children enjoyed a large obstacle course, painted bags and pumpkins, and took part in a variety of games with the opportunity to win prizes.
Live entertainment was performed by Barrington 220 teacher Mark Domanico. Families lounged on hay bails or relaxed in chairs in a large open area enjoying the music.
Food and drinks were available, as well.
“Thanks need to be given to Barrington Hills Park District and commissioner Dennis Kelly, Bob Miller and Algonquin Township, Village of Barrington Hills employee Anna Paul, Brian Cecola, his wife Stephanie and their children, Linda and Pam Cools, Kelsey Roberts, Robin Baumgarten, Anne Majewski, volunteers Colleen Koniceck, Carol McLuckie & Arnold Cernick, the Barrington Lions Club members and high school students from the National Honor Society, and all the organizations who generously donated their time to make the event a success,” added McLaughlin
