Oct. 1 in Northbrook featured blue skies and temperatures in the lower 80 degree range for the Northbrook Historical Society’s 45th annual Shermerfest in downtown Northbrook at Village Green Park.
“It is absolutely beautiful, the weather is nice, and we are enjoying it very much,” said patron Inna Chizhevsky of Northbrook who spent time at Shermerfest with granddaughter Halle, 3.
A large turnout attended the four hour Sunday event which began at noon. Shermerfest launched as an event in 1979.
Shermerfest featured the “Classic Northbrook” car and truck display of more than 120 vehicles, a motor parade, music in the gazebo, mums for sale and more. At 3 p.m. the Rotary Club of Northbrook hosted its Rubber Ducky Race on the river with 3,000 yellow rubber duckies.
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Nonprofit organizations also had their community resource tables set up in an area under heritage mature trees. The Northbrook Arts Commission hosted a chalk drawing event along Meadow Road.
Downstairs inside the society building, luncheon diners could choose chili or farmers’ vegetable soup. Other purchased fare included hot dogs and popcorn. Ice cream and other treats were available too.
All were welcome at Shermerfest and it has no admission fee annually. Shermerfest is the Northbrook Historical Society’s largest fundraiser, helping to keep two historic Northbrook buildings open and free for those wishing to preserve and learn about Northbrook’s history.
“We are the keeper of the stories,” said Judy Hughes of Northbrook, Northbrook Historical Society president.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the village’s name change from Shermerville to Northbrook. There are other anniversaries too for 2023, Hughes said.
“For Northbrook, it’s special,” Hughes said about 2023. “It was in 1923 that the village changed its name.
“And 70 years ago, in September, Glenbrook High School opened for the first time and that was before it was Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South.
“Glenbrook South didn’t start until 1962,” Hughes said of the Glenview high school.
“And Northbrook is the only community offshore that draws its lake water directly from the lake (Michigan) and it was in September of 1963 that after 10 and a half months of building and a lot of years of planning, they opened the valve to turn the water on.
“So every time anybody in Northbrook opens their tap to get water, it’s coming from the lake,” Hughes said.
“And the piping goes under North Shore Congregation Israel’s parking lot (in Glencoe), under a golf course, under the (Chicago) Botanic Garden, under Edens highway to the (water) plant on Dundee Road,” Hughes said.
“It is an amazing, amazing feat.”
Returning as a popular offering was Cow Pie Moo-lette. A cow traverses a grid painted on the lawn of 289 squares. People “buy” a square.
If the cow drops a “pie” during the half-hour timed event, the winner is the sponsor(s) whose square had the landing cow pie or a shared square with other squares. If the cow does not produce a pie, winning names are picked at random.
This year, Jane, 1, a female Guernsey cow weighing 800 pounds, was the star of the grid, courtesy of Historic Wagner Farm of Glenview. And no, Jane did not make a cow pie but did go number one right at the start of the countdown. Oh the drama.
As a fundraiser for the Northbrook Historical Society, Jon Kuester, Historic Wagner Farm director with the Glenview Park District (which operates Historic Wagner Farm), said, “The farm is happy to partner with them (the Northbrook Historical Society).
“It’s a little outreach for us and a little money for them, hopefully.
“Everybody wins,” Kuester said with a smile.
Ron Bernardi of Northbrook Sunset Foods wore a signature black cowboy hat as emcee of Cow Pie Moo-Lette.
“It’s a fun event, make a few dollars, brings people out,” Bernardi said. “It’s unique. It’s wonderful.”
Visit https://www.northbrookhistory.org.
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Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.