Every barn has a unique story to tell. It’s waiting to be discovered during the annual DeKalb County Barn Tour!

The tenth annual DeKalb County Barn Tour will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, in Sycamore and Cortland townships. This unique event allows visitors to take in the history, sights and sounds of the county’s historical farmland. This opportunity to tour local barns is sponsored jointly by and benefits both the DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association (DAAHA) and the J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center in DeKalb.

The self-guided/driving event includes a guided tour at each of five barns and one carriage barn: the Johnson Barn on Bethany Road, the Quigley barn on Quigley Road, the Theis Family Barn in Maple Park, the Dayton Barn and Dandy Don’s barn both on Old State Road, and Emma’s Carriage House on Somonauk Street. Barn owners are on site to answer questions and share stories.

Admission is $40 per carload. Visitors can move at their own pace, and photography is encouraged.

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the DeKalb County Barn Tour, free “brag buttons” will be available for guests to write in the number of years they’ve attended the Barn Tour. The commemorative calendar is now available for purchase at DeKalbCountyBarnTour.com, with a limited number available the day of the tour.

The souvenir guidebook, which serves as a ticket, can be purchased the day of the tour at the starting point, the Sycamore Park District parking lot, 435 Airport Road, or in advance online at DeKalbCountyBarnTour.com. Tickets purchased online must be redeemed at the starting point in order to collect the official guidebook.

Illinois artist David Alan Badger has once again provided hand-drawn sketches of each of the barns for the guidebook, which also contains a history of each barn, a map of locations, a list of activities at each site, and educational articles about barns.

Besides a tour of each barn, events include a geo-caching activity, food catered by the Waterman Lions Club, and information on the Glidden Homestead and DAAHA. Renowned local author and artist Kyle L. White will provide “Humorous and Reflective Midwest Stories” programs at 10 am, 11 am and noon at the Johnson barn.

Various vendors will sell a variety of unique wares, including local soap and honey, and ironwork made by volunteer blacksmiths from the Glidden Homestead will also be available for purchase. There will be unique gift shop items for the 10th anniversary of the DeKalb County Barn Tour.

For more information, visit www.DeKalbCountyBarnTour.com, call 815-756-7904 or email jessi@gliddenhomestead.org.

ATTACHED PHOTO: The Johnson Barn on Bethany Road in Sycamore is featured on this year’s DeKalb County Barn Tour, hosted by the J.F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center and the DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association (DAAHA) on August 10.