A historic celebration of the performing arts takes place in Barrington on Sunday afternoon -- twice. And both shows are free.

The "Late Winter Festival" is merging several of Barrington's top performers and arts groups -- for the first time ever, perhaps -- in the library auditorium for two 90-minute shows -- at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm.

Overflow crowds are anticipated, said Larson Gunness, who is producing the festival along with the team that creates Barrington's Local Brew Coffeehouse events.

"I just hope we can accommodate everyone," Gunness said. "That's why we went to two shows."

The Bay Spring Community Center in West Barrington is the usual venue for the Local Brew events. But that venue right now -- limited to the tiny first floor of the building until a lift can be installed to the second floor to meet ADA guidelines -- is far too small to host this type of festival, said Gunness.

So, he said, organizers approached library director Debbie Barchi to host the festival. She said yes without hesitation.

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

"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."

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

The show actually developed out of a meeting of the various arts groups, who have begun sharing 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."

Donations will be accepted. The BAY Team substance abuse coalition, a sponsor, is providing some refreshments.