Upcoming Events at The Sanfilippo Foundation

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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August 15, 2026 - F.A.R. Out! with Organist Nathan Avakian, Zach Frame, and Nicholas Renkosik

Three solo organists, with drums, and piano trio performances. A Sanfilippo crowd favorite, these gentlemen continue to surprise us with every appearance. Past performances have included Stairway to Heaven, Uptown Funk, Bohemian Rhapsody. Come be amazed at what the theater organ can be!

Touring 6 pm - 7:30 pm, Concert 7:30 - 9 pm, Carousel Pavilion visit 9 - 10 pm.

Tickets are $45 each:

Introductory Tour - Various dates

August 19 at 1:30 pm
August 25 at 1:30 pm
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/

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.