Get ready for what is expected to be one of the best celebrations of the arts ever in Barrington. And it is all for free.

It's being billed as the "Late Winter Festival." And it is expected to draw so many people that not one but two shows are planned on Sunday afternoon, March 3.

The show is a merger of some of Barrington's leading arts groups and performers -- perhaps for the first time ever, said Larson Gunness, who is coordinating the festival along with the Local Brew Coffeehouse events team.

The coffeehouse team is best known for producing shows at the Bay Spring Community Center in West Barrington. But that venue is far too small to host this type of festival right now, said Gunness.

So, the shows will take place in the Barrington Public Library auditorium. They start at 1:30 and 3:30 pm and will run for about 90 minutes each.

"We're doing it just for fun," said Gunness, who also will be performing with Bay Spring Folk.

"And we're trying to keep it simple," he said. "No one will prepare anything special. We already have the material. Everyone will just do their own thing."

Besides Bay Spring Folk, the performers are well-known singers Pat McGee and Pat McAloon, who often perform and tour together; the Arts Alive! theatrical dancers, and the Barrington Community Theater's circus skills performers.

The arts organizations actually have started meeting to share ideas for performances and events, Gunness said.

"Why not do a show together?" he said. "Everyone jumped at the idea. Everyone is psyched to do something for fun, to show what we're up to."

There will be no common rehearsal, he said. Everyone is just planning to be available to "jump on stage and do their thing."

Donations will be accepted. The BAY Team substance abuse coalition will provide some refreshments.