Upcoming Events at The Sanfilippo Foundation

August 16, 2025 - Wurlitzer Concert with Organist with Dave Wickerham

Join organist Dave Wickerham for a rockin' evening on the Sanfilippo Wurlitzer at the Sanfilippo Estate performing favorites from the 50s, 60s, 70s & 80s music, including songs by Elvis Presley, The Carpenters, Neil Diamond, and more.

The legendary Sanfilippo Theater Organ provides an unmatched evening with friends, with the added bonus of time to tour the Collection of Automatic Music Instruments, and a carousel pavilion visit. And don't forget about enhanced viewing of the Concert with our movie screen projection system where you can watch the keyboards and foot pedals being played.

Your evening begins with a 90-minute self-guided tour through the Sanfilippo Collection. Come experience our newly restored Wurlitzer Photoplayer, now in the American Room, where a short silent movie will play accompanied by the Photoplayer. Docents will demonstrate many of the automatic music instruments during the touring portion of the evening (6:30 pm - 8:00 pm) prior to the concert.

Following the touring, settle into the estate's lovely, air conditioned, Music Theater for the 90-minute concert where every seat affords a great view. We encourage you to bring an article of clothing to set on your chosen seat while you enjoy touring the various rooms filled with music machines.

Conclude your evening with a visit to the Carousel Pavilion at 9:30 pm, home to the most complete European Salon Carousel in the World, the Eden Palais. This rare masterpiece, offers guests a galloping ride accompanied by the melodies of our French, Gavioli Band Organ. Explore the Pullman Palace train car, the Caboose, and the 1892 Grant Steam Locomotive (Henry Ford), and the steam engine annex, while we demonstrate dance, band, and fairground organs and answer your questions.

Make it extra special by bringing along your friends to experience this wonderful evening together.

This time around, your ticket will include an automatic entry into our Puzzle Raffle. Not sure what that is? Come join us and experience the fun!

House touring from 6:30 - 8 pm, Concert 8 pm - 9:30 pm, Carousel Pavilion visit 9:30 - 10:30 pm.

Tickets are $45 each.

Buy your tickets today:

Introductory Tour - August 19, August 27, September 23, September 25, October 7, October 15, October 21, November 5, November 11, November 19, 2025

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, a preview of the Perfume Collection, 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). You'll receive by email, all the information you need to attend, including map, address, and parking instructions. We highly encourage carpooling if attending with family and friends.

Purchase your tickets today:

October 11, 2025 - A Celebration of the Uptown Theater's 100th Anniversary

Join us for touring the Sanfilippo Collection, an exciting program about the Uptown Theatre and the newly released, hardcover book, The Uptown - Chicago's Endangered Movie Palace, by Robert Loerzel and James A. Pierce (CityFiles Press), and a reception in the Sanfilippo Carousel Pavilion. Tickets are $40 each and must be purchased online, in advance from the Sanfilippo Foundation Website. RSVPS are needed by October 3, 2025.

Proceeds will benefit Landmark Uptown Theatre Corp. (NFP) "Friends of the Uptown."

Noon to 1:30 p.m.: Viewing and hearing the Sanfilippo Collection of Automatic Music Instruments, Edison and Victrola Phonographs, Art Glass, and old movie palace artifacts, including the original chandeliers and other items from the Uptown Theatre. Docents are on hand to demonstrate music machines throughout the private home. The authors will be available to sign books, which you may purchase for $50 online in advance via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and CityFiles Press.

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. - Sanfilippo Theatre: Program includes a Wurlitzer Theater Organ demonstration, a short documentary film about Uptown Theatre history and a talk by the book's authors.

2:30 to 4:00 p.m. - Reception in the Carousel Pavilion, with food and drink, dance, band, and fairground organ demonstrations, and a carousel ride on the 1890 Eden Palais Carousel, the most complete European Salon Carousel left in the World.

Tickets must be pre-purchased to attend, tickets will not be available at the door. Limited tickets available, so please purchase early.

Come celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the World's Most Iconic and Beautiful Movie Palace! Publisher of "The UPTOWN" book: cityfilespress.com

Purchase your tickets today:

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

SAVE THE DATES:

October 4 - Barrington Dance Ensemble Gala
November 8 - Hua Momona Foundation Gala
November 15 - Anderson Humane Society Gala
November 23 - Illinois Railway Museum Steam Department Concert, with Organist Dave Calendine

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS:

December 6 and 7 - Organist Dave Wickerham
December 14 - Organist Nathan Avakian & soloist Claire Avakian

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.