Upcoming Events at The Sanfilippo Foundation

Introductory Tour - Various dates

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:

October 24, 2026 - Hua Momona Foundation

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.

Four Course Meal - Curated by Chef Zach Laidlaw of Hua Momona Farms

Wine Pairings - Sommelier Richard Olson of Hua Momona Farms

Music from Hawaiin Legends!

To learn more about the foundation and to buy tickets: https://huamomonafoundation.org/events/

November 7, 2026 - Barrington Junior Womens Fashion Show Fund Raiser - "The Jewel Box"

Join us for a fashionable afternoon of fun, food and drinks in the Carousel Pavilion, with a live fashion show featuring the works of local fashion designers, and local artists/designer booths for shopping. Carousel Rides will be given!

This Fashion Show fundraiser with local vendors celebrates 90 years of Barrington Junior Women's Club assisting the greater Barrington Community.

Our biggest event of the year is here, join us in celebrating BJWC's 90th anniversary at The Jewel Box, an unforgettable afternoon in support of our community.

For more information and to buy tickets: https://www.bjwc.org/upcoming-events

November 14, 2026 - Focus Foundation, Gala Evening

Touring of the Sanfilippo Estate and dinner in the Pavilion. Focus is dedicated to promoting eye care solutions in Haiti, Rwanda, Jamaica, India, Burundi and other low resource settings.

Step into a world where nothing is quite as it seems. This year's FOCUS Gala, A Night of Illusions, will take place at the Sanfilippo Estate. You don't want to miss the spectacular estate tour from 5pm to 6pm, where you'll be shuttled to the estate and then over to the FOCUS Gala.

The FOCUS Gala doors open at 6pm for the cocktail hour, followed by dinner, a captivating performance from a live magician, silent and live auctions, and speeches from doctors and board members sharing stories of the patients whose lives have been changed by the gift of sight.

Dress Code: Black Tie Optional.

To learn more about the foundation and to buy tickets: https://givebutter.com/c/focusgala2026

November 18, 2026 - Railroad Dining Experience Aboard the Sanfilippo Pullman Palace Car

Due to popular demand, we are again offering our Intimate, Railroad Dining Experience.

November 18, 2026 - Train Company Dinner, with Pullman Car Restoration Presentation.

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.

Special Menu Created by Wild Asparagus Catering in Barrington, IL

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

Click Here to view or download the 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:

11/18/26 at 6:00 pm: Powered by

November 22, 2026 - Illinois Railway Museum - Steam Department Concert and Touring

Join us for touring the Sanfilippo Collection and for a train-themed Wurlitzer Concert, with a short silent movie. Organist Dave Calendine is our featured guest performer.

Live Demonstrations of the Sanfilippo steam engines in the lower level of the home will be offered, and a visit to the Carousel Pavilion for rides. Various raffles, including a chance for throttle time on a steam locomotive will be part of the fun!

For more information about the Illinois Railway Museum and to buy tickets: https://www.irm.org/event/steam-department-benefit/

December 5 and 6, 2026 - Sanfilippo Christmas Wurlitzer Concerts

Organist Dave Wickerham Performs Christmas Favorites on the Sanfilippo Wurltizer. House touring before the concert is encouraged, and visits to the Carousel Pavilion after each concert will be available.

Would you be so kind as to bring a non-perishable item for those in need? This year we will be collecting donations for the Cuba Township Food Pantry. Drop off boxes for the non-perishable food donations will be available upon arrival. With hundreds of guests for our Christmas Concerts we can make a meaningful impact on food insecurity this Holiday Season. See this website for more information about the food pantry and a list of food items in most demand: https://cubatwpil.gov/food-pantry/.

Saturday, December 5 - Doors open at 6 pm, Christmas Concert 7 pm - 8:30 pm, Carousel Pavilion visit 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm. Tickets are $60 each.

Sunday, December 6 - Doors open at Noon, Christmas Concert 1 pm - 2:30 pm, Carousel Pavilion visit 2:30 - 3:30 pm. Tickets are $60 each.

Buy your tickets today, these concerts always sell out:

12/5/26 at 6:00 pm: Powered by

12/6/26 at Noon: Powered by

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:

December 9 & 10 Pullman Palace Car Dickens Christmas Dinner. Watch for more information in our upcoming 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.