Upcoming Events at The Sanfilippo Foundation

October 1 and October 15, 2026 - Railroad Dining Experience Aboard the Sanfilippo Pullman Palace Car

Due to popular demand, we are again offering our Intimate, Railroad Dining Experience Aboard the Sanfililppo Pullman Palace Car.

October 1, 2026 - Italian Dinner, with "Marian Sanfilippo" Presentation.

October 15, 2026 - Train Company Dinner, with Pullman Car Restoration Presentation. (SOLD OUT)

LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE!

Click Here to view or download the event flyer.

All aboard the Sanfilippo & Barrington Hills Railway!

Join us for an intimate dining experience aboard the fully restored Sanfilippo Pullman Car. The Pavilion opens at 5:45 pm to sign in and receive your ticket. Our "travels" begin at 6:00 pm in the Carousel Pavilion Station. You will be greeted with a glass of Champagne and Fisher nuts to enjoy a short presentation at 6:15 pm.

All Aboard at 6:30. The Pullman Palace Car has been transformed into a legendary 1868 dining car. The curated menu is presented by Wild Asparagus with historic train courses specilally researched by Chef Maddie. Wine service is included.

At 8:30, We leap forward in time as we pull into the Eden Palais Station Depot in 1890 Paris. Board a high seas rocking gondola or gilded horse awaiting you on the Carousel, then feel free to explore the entire Pavilion Collection.

Tickets are $145 each, purchase either 2 or 4 tickets. Cocktail attire requested.

Both Special Menus Created by Wild Asparagus Catering in Barrington, IL

October 1 Italian Dinner (Sorry, NO substitutions):

Click Here to view or download the October 1 flyer and menu.

• Appetizer: Wild Asparagus Famous Cheese Puffs and Artichoke, Parmesan Stuffed Mushroom
• Antipasto Green Salad: Cucumber, red onion, kalamata olives, tomatoes, salami & petite mozzarella pearls on mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette. Seved with Foccacia.
• Dinner: Stuffed Shells and Meatball - Pasta shells stuffed with spinach, roasted red pepper, ricotta, and parmesan on top of a rich marinara and finished with a drizzle of truffle oil and shaved parmesan. served with a large beef meatball. Wine service included.
• Dessert: Almond Cake with Gelato - Sliced Almond Cake served with Vanilla Gelato and toasted almonds. Coffee service upon request with dessert.

October 15 Turn of the Century Dinner (Sorry, NO substitutions):

Click Here to view or download the October 15 flyer and menu.

• Appetizer: Wild Asparagus Famous Cheese Puffs, Tomato Basil Bruschetta

• Salad Bowl/Roll: Fresh romaine topped with cucumber, radish, tomato and red pepper. Served with a Southern Pacific dressing recipe circa 1950.
• Dinner: Chicken ala Century - Swiss and ham stuffed chicken breast breaded, fried until crispy, and smothered in swiss cream cheese sauce. Served with a potato pancake and roasted asparagus. Wine service included.
• Dessert: Shoofly Pie and Peaches - Slice of shoofly pie served with fresh sliced peaches, includes coffee service upon request.

***PLEASE READ ALL OF THE FOLLOWING BEFORE PURCHASE:

All guests must be 21 or older. No meal substitutions. No refunds or cancellations. We regret this event is not handicap accessible due to train car steps. The train car remains stationary at all times.

Only 32 tickets are available. Tables of 4, so tickets will only be sold in multiples of 2 and 4 guests. If you purchase several tables, we will seat your guests across the aisle from your table, if possible.

These special events sell out fast, buy your tickets today:

10/1/26 at 6:00 pm: (2 TICKETS REMAINING) Powered by

10/15/26 at 6:00 pm: SOLD OUT

Introductory Tour - Various dates

September 15 at 1:30 pm
September 23 at 9:30 am
September 30 at 1:30 pm
October 20 at 9:30 am
November 10 at 1:30 pm
November 19 at 1:30 pm

We get many requests for individual tickets for one of our 3-hour Docent-Guided Tours of the Collection. This tour includes 2 hours in the Sanfilippo Residence and one hour in the Carousel Pavilion with the Foundation Director as your tour guide.

Cost is $35 per guest. Limited tickets available; first come, first served. Tickets only available through The Sanfilippo Foundation Website. Come hear the story of the family and Collection, demonstrations of a variety of music machines, a mini-concert on the Mighty Wurlitzer and a the history of the items in the Carousel Pavilion. There's a reason many folks have taken this tour more than a few times! It's educational and highly entertaining.

After purchase, you will receive a confirmation email from Paypal, our credit card processor, as your receipt. We will send you a second email within a day with your ticket(s) and details to attend. We highly encourage carpooling if attending with family and friends.

Purchase your tickets today:

September 19, 2026 - Barrington Dance Ensemble - "Shaken, Not Stirred" Gala

Enjoy an evening of Bond, Ballet, and Brilliance, honoring 37 years of Barrington Dance Ensemble's dedication to enriching lives through outstanding dance, education, and scholarships. Plus a premiere performance by BDE's Company featuring a new work set by Jacqueline Moscicke inspired by the James Bond Films. House touring and carousel rides.

Visit the Barrington Dance Ensemble website for more information: https://www.barringtondance.org/annual-gala

September 26, 2026 - Lambs Farm - Celebrating the Spirit

Join us for Celebrating the Spirit, as we celebrate our 65th Anniversary and support the mission of Lambs Farm. Enjoy an unforgettable experience that includes touring of the Sanfilippo Estate, live and silent auctions, fine food and drink, music, carousel rides, and more.

Visit the Lambs Farm website for more information: https://www.lambsfarm.org/events/category/celebrating-the-spirit/

October 10, 2026 - The Magic of Childhood Gala

Benefiting The Chicago Academy For The Arts, SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program and Turning Pointe Autism Foundation

5:00PM - 6:30PM - Tours of the Sanfilippo Estate & Magical Encounters

Guests will explore the extraordinary collections of the Sanfilippo Estate while enjoying surprise performances by strolling magicians throughout the property, adding moments of wonder and delight to the experience.

The Sanfilippo Place de la Musique is known worldwide for its beautifully restored antique music machines, chandeliers, art glass, and the world's largest restored theatre pipe organ. Guests will also experience the Perfume Passage Foundation collection, featuring a recreated 1900s Parisian passageway, a restored 1880s American drugstore and soda fountain, an Art Deco gallery, and the iconic Rene Lalique fountains.

6:30PM - 9:00PM - Dinner Program & Entertainment: Open Bar - Plated Dinner - Inspirational Performances - World-Class Magician Showcase - Rides on the Eden Palais Carousel

Featured Magicians: Luis Carreon, John Guastaferro, Justin Purcell, Paige Thomson.

Special Performances by Kodi Lee, The Chicago Academy for the Arts.

Click on the following link for more information and to purchase tickets: https://festivalofchildren.org/chicago-2026/

Advanced Guided Tour - October 15, 2026

This 3-hour guided tour would be for those who have previously taken the regular subscriber tour and were looking to delve further into the variety of automatic music instrument in the Collection. This 3-hour Advanced Tour will be limited in guest numbers so that participants can have a closer, more intimate look at the interesting features of the music machines, and explore pieces not often shown on our regular tour. It would also include a visit inside the Theater Organ pipe chambers (you must be able to walk up 4 flights of stairs unassisted to see the pipe chambers), as well as a visit to the Carousel Pavilion.

Cost is $45 per guest. Limited tickets available; first come, first served. Tickets only available through The Sanfilippo Foundation Website.

After purchase, you will receive a confirmation email from Paypal, our credit card processor, as your receipt. We will send you a second email within a day with your ticket(s) and details to attend. We highly encourage carpooling if attending with family and friends.

Purchase your tickets today:

The Vilter Engine Journey - Online Film Presentation

Our 1916 Vilter Compound Stationary Steam Engine was recently disassembled, and moved out the door of the pavilion; all 80,000 pounds of it! Donated to the Coker Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It will one day run again on steam.

We filmed the process and are presenting a special film called THE VILTER ENGINE JOURNEY.

For a minimum donation of $25, we will provide a private link to the 1 hour 40 minute film, for you to watch at your leisure on our YouTube Channel.

If you love mechanical engineering, steam engines, how they operate, and want to learn how we removed this behemoth, this film is for you! Here's a link to our film's short movie trailer on YouTube: A Vilter Steam Engine Journey Preview.

Donate $25 or More to Receive Your Private Link:

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SAVE THE DATES:

The Magic of Childhood Gala - October 10 - The Sanfilippo Foundation and the Festival of Children Foundation (Costa Mesa, CA), partner with an evening of Live Magic, music, dance and more, raising funds for three charities that serve children. More details, soon!

Hua Momona Foundation - October 24 - A charity evening of great Hawaiian music, exquisite dinner and drinks, wine auctions and more. Funds raised benefit the Hua Momona Foundation, which to date has provided over 100,000 free meals to those effected by the Lahaina devastating fires, and continues to do the work of feeding those in need.

Barrington Junior Womens Fashion Show Fund Raiser - November 7 - A fashionable afternoon of fun, food and drinks in the Carousel Pavilin, with a live fashion show featuring the works of local fashion designers, and local artists/designer booths for shopping. Carousel Rides will be given!

1 Focus Foundation, Gala Evening - November 14 - Touring of the Sanfilippo Estate and a lovely dinner in the pavilion. Focus is dedicated to promoting eye care solutions in Haiti, Rwanda, Jamaica, India, Burundi and other low resource settings. More details, soon!

Illinois Railway Museum - Steam Department Concert and Touring - November 22 - Join us for touring the Sanfilippo Collection and for a train-themed Wurlitzer Concert, with a short silent movie. Organist Dave Calendine. Live Demonstrations of our steam engines in the lower level of the home, and a visit to the Carousel pavilion for rides.

Sanfilippo Foundation Holiday Events:
December 5 - Saturday evening Christmas Concert - With Organist Dave Wickerham
December 6 - Sunday afternoon Christmas Concert - With Organist Dave Wickerham

Pullman Palace Car Dinner - More dates to be announced soon! Stay tuned to our Newsletters!

Various Dates - Guided tour of the new Perfume Passage at the Sanfilippo Estate

The Perfume Passage Foundation mission: Preserving the history, beauty, and artistry of perfume bottles, compacts, ephemera and related vanity items, the Perfume Passage Foundation seeks to educate and inspire visitors by illuminating the connection between perfume and the human experience.

Come visit the unique window displays and travel through time and history with our intimate, docent-guided tour through the world of perfume bottles, vanity items, ephemera and much more.

For information and tour tickets for all four galleries, please visit Perfume Passage Foundation

Return to this web page often for an update of our events open to the public. You can also join our E-Newsletter List (below) and be among the first to receive notice of all our events, and how to obtain tickets.

Visiting the Sanfilippo Estate

The Sanfilippo Estate is a private residence not open to the general public except through pre-arranged charity events and pre-arranged group tours of 40 or more guests, and a limited number of corporate events. Interested groups may contact the Foundation Director by email: director@sanfilippofoundation.org for more information. We do not offer the Estate for weddings, wedding related activities, nor children's parties.

Special Events (concerts, gala fundraisers) can be arranged for Charity Organizations and Corporate Groups. Email the Sanfilippo Foundation Director: director@sanfilippofoundation.org. Please include a contact phone number.

Tour Groups: 3-Hour, Docent-Guided Tours of the Sanfilippo Collection are available for groups of 40 or more. Send an email to: info@sanfilippofoundation.org. Please include the name of your group and a contact phone number.

Individuals looking to visit the Estate are encouraged to find a group (such as your local libraries, park districts, senior centers, etc.) who can put together the required minimum for one of our 3-hour Docent-Guided Tours and then have the organization contact the Foundation Director; or you can visit one of the websites of the charities holding events at the Estate (links provided) and obtain tickets to an event listed; or you can attend a Sanfilippo Foundation event -- all are updated regularly on this website. We also encourage individuals to sign up for our E-Newsletter. On occasion, we offer individual tickets to a guided tour to our E-Newsletter subscribers. Our preference for initial contact is by email.