Northbrook will launch its 125th Anniversary celebration with the kickoff of Flamingo Friday, the village’s rotating weekly driveway party, on June 5, officials said.
Rather than create new formal events to mark the anniversary of the village’s founding, Northbrook plans to coordinate it with other annual events, Deputy Village Manager Jim Hawkins said.
“It’s not about inventing new things,” Hawkins said. “It’s about enhancing events already happening, to the greatest extent possible. That has been the focus.”
For example, Northbrook plans to feature the 125th Anniversary as part of the annual Fourth of July celebration and as part of the 48th Annual ShermerFest, said Stacy Oliver, chairperson of the Ad Hoc 125th Anniversary Commission.
“It’s going to be a through line through other events,” Oliver said of the anniversary. “We will have representation at the Fourth, Shermerfest and other events happening in the community.”
The anniversary will serve as the figurative “grand marshal” for the annual Northbrook Fourth of July parade, she said. The commission will post representatives at tables during the parade to distribute information about and oversee giveaways commemorating the anniversary, Oliver said.
The representatives will collect information from residents about their wishes for the next 125 years in Northbrook, and the commission will use that information in displays celebrating the anniversary, she said.
“This Fourth of July is the 250th birthday of the nation and the 125th anniversary of the village,” Hawkins said. “We’re tying that together where we can.”
The commission, which is made up of members of the public and other commissions, began meeting twice a month in January, Hawkins said.
It was scheduled to next meet on May 6.
“They’re looking at what events they can do and trying to find something a little bit special,” he said. “They’re not taking over an event, but will participate. It’s about enhancing and getting the word out about the 125th Anniversary.”
Flamingo Friday is a village-sanctioned event hosted by residents on a rotating basis by placing a flamingo, supplied by Northbrook, in their yard and setting up camp in their driveway on any given Friday – and sometimes other weekend days – between Memorial Day and Labor Day, according to the village’s Community Commission.
“Whoever volunteers to host the upcoming Flamingo Friday obtains a lawn flamingo from the previous host and displays it on their lawn or where their neighbors can see (it) a few days before the next event, thus signaling to the neighborhood where to gather for the next Flamingo Friday,” the commission said in a flyer explaining the event.
Since the village’s actual birthday is in November, Northbrook is exploring hosting a birthday party that may be connected to another event, Hawkins said.
Oliver said the commission is planning a birthday party at Village Hall for members of the Northbrook community. The party will feature displays from the Northbrook Historical Society, she said.
“We’re hoping to have art from children in the community and music – and, of course, a birthday cake, because what’s a birthday party without cake?” Oliver said.
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Additionally, Northbrook recently launched Throwback Thursday to post bits of information about village history as part of its weekly e-newsletter, Hawkins said.
“The Northbrook Historical Society will be a major partner within the celebration, focusing on historical aspects of Northbrook,” he said.
Lastly, the village is planning to launch a website dedicated to the 125th Anniversary, Hawkins said.
“So there’s a place to go for what events are happening and a place for posting pictures and so forth,” he said.