September 30, 2014 – Perhaps not a “Grand Spectacle” but a spectacle nonetheless along the main branch of the Chicago River on Monday, as Redmoon Theater brought the three stars of its Great Chicago Fire Festival up from South Halsted Street and moved them into positions for Saturday’s event.

The 24 x 48-foot barges, tied together and pushed by tugboat, support three structures built to represent Chicago’s pre-1871 architecture.

They passed through 16 raised bridges without incident and were split off, one by one. One barge is moored near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, another is near O’Brien’s Riverwalk Café, and a third is just east of the DuSable Bridge at Michigan Avenue. The barges were in place by 2:30 p.m.

Each barge will have marine lights and a live attendant guarding it around the clock. They will remain in position through their 90-minute performance that starts Saturday at 8 p.m., then return to the south branch with the next scheduled bridge lift on October 8.

(Above) Near Wolf Point, two Redmoon crew members have climbed to crow’s nests on their barge.

(Above) The barges pass under the State Street Bridge. In the distance, Marina City, Westin Chicago River North, 321 North Clark, and 353 North Clark.	Redmoon Theater and Chicago Department of Transportation personnel watch as one of the barges is nudged into place next to O’Brien’s Riverwalk Café.

(Above) A barge moves into position east of DuSable Bridge.