Recreation opportunities abound in our region! Here are a few of the best our area has to offer.
July
Lake in the Hills Rockin’ Rib Fest
July 9-12, Thu.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Ribs, live music, a car show and a BBQ Smack-Down Cook-Off. Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Road, Lake in the Hills, lithribfest.com.
Barrington Brew Fest
July 11, 3-7 p.m. Sample special artisanal, craft beers from dozens of breweries and food from local restaurants, including the Big Ironhorse and McGonigal’s Pub. North lot of the Union Pacific Metra station downtown, 201 S. Spring St., Barrington, barringtonbrewfest.com.
30th Annual Heritage Fair
July 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. “Art on the Farm – Raising Barn Quilts.” Antique car show, white elephant sale, antique auction, bed turning, pie-baking contest, cake walks, live entertainment, more. McHenry County Historical Society, 6422 Main St., Union, (815) 923-2267, mchsonline.org.
Kane County Fair
July 15-19. Championship bull riding, demolition derby, carnival midway, bands including Neverly Brothers, American English. Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, (630) 584-6926, kanecountyfair.com.
Irish Fest
July 17-18, Fri. 5-11 p.m., Sat. 4-11 p.m. The annual celebration of Celtic Pride with two days of Irish dancing, heritage, fun and food. Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Freemont St., Arlington Heights, (847) 255-1225, ahmuseum.org.
Lions Club Alpine Fest
July 17-19.
Carnival rides, games, food, family events and entertainment. Sunday includes the Alpine Fest Parade, which parades down Main Street. Lion Fred Blau Park, 81 E. Main St., Lake Zurich, lzlions.com.
Illinois Whitewater Festival
July 18. Enjoy a day of fun and good eats presented by the Chicago Whitewater Association with support from Yorkville Parks and Recreation. Marge Cline Whitewater Park, 301 E. Hydraulic St., Yorkville, yorkville.il.us.
DuPage County Fair
July 22-26. Enjoy entertainment, a beer and wine tasting, rodeo, demolition derby, exhibits, food vendors, more. DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton, (630) 668-6636, dupagecountyfair.org.
Turning Back Time Weekend
July 24-26, Fri. dusk-11 p.m., Sat. 3-11 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The ‘50s are making a comeback in Sycamore during the 16th annual Turning Back Time Weekend. Hop into your vintage ride and cruise over for classic cars and live entertainment. 407 W. State St., Sycamore, turningbacktimecarshow.com.
Fabyan Centennial Celebration
July 25, noon. The Fabyan Windmill has been a part of Geneva and the forest preserve for 100 years. Enjoy food, music, giveaways, windmill tours and a pinwheel-making station. Glenwood Park Forest Preserve, 1644 S. River St., Batavia, (630) 444-3190, kaneforest.com.
International Dragon Boat Festival
July 25, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Twenty paddlers, on 27 teams, race for the best times in boats with elaborate designs that originated in ancient China. Lake Arlington, 2201 N. Windsor Dr., Arlington Heights, (847) 577-3059, gwndragonboat.com.
La Grange Endless Summerfest
July 31-Aug. 2, Fri. 4-10:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun. noon-10:30 p.m. A weekend of live entertainment, carnival rides, petting zoo, fireworks, more. Gordon Park, La Grange, lgba.com.
Habitat Restoration Workday
July 25, Aug. 29, 9 a.m.-noon. Wear work clothes. The Land Conservancy of McHenry County, Community Research Forest, 20500 Lembcke Road, Harvard. Info: (815) 337-9502, conservemc.org.
Lake County Fair
July 29-Aug. 2, Wed.-Thu. 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Four days of livestock barns, midway, entertainment, beer garden, more. Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake, (847) 680-7200, lcfair.com.
McHenry Rotary Blues, Brews & BBQ
July 31-Aug. 2, Fri. 5-11 p.m., Sat. 4-11 p.m., Sun. noon-8 p.m. BBQ cook-off with great food, craft beers and blues music. Petersen Park, McCullom Lake Road, McHenry, (815) 331-6428, mchenryrotarybluesbrewsandbbqs.com.
August
Crystal Lake Night Owl Bike Ride
Aug. 1, 11 p.m. Enjoy a late-evening ride to benefit The Land Conservancy of McHenry County and promote bicycling as an alternate means of transportation and exercise. Begins at Crystal Lake City Hall, 100 W. Woodstock St., (815) 354-3428, clnightowlride.org
Dog Days
Aug. 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Bring your dog and see agility and disc-catching demonstrations, dog rescue organizations and animal shelters, vendors, pet play area, Stuff-A-Dog. All dogs must have current vaccination tags and be sociable with others. Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, (630) 668-5161, cantigny.org.
Wheaton Brew Fest
Aug. 1, noon-4:30 p.m. Event features more than 80 craft brews, entertainment, food vendors, more. Memorial Park, 208 W. Union Ave., Wheaton, wheatonparkdistrict.com.
Kane County Flea Market
Aug. 1-2, Sat. noon-5 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Up to 1,000 dealers display, sell antiques, collectibles, Fancy Junque. A country breakfast is served on Sundays. Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, (630) 377-2252, kanecountyfleamarket.com.
Antique Tool Show and Sale
Aug. 2, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Members of the Midwest Tool Collectors Association and the Early American Industries Association display, trade and sell antique and collectible tools. Garfield Farm and Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, St. Charles, (630) 584-8485, garfieldfarm.org.
McHenry County Fair
Aug. 5-9, Wed. 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Thu.-Sat. 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Enjoy a carnival midway, magic show, the McHenry County Queen Pageant, rodeo, motocross racing, antique truck and tractor pulls, demolition derby, more. Country Club Road across from the Woodstock Post Office, Woodstock, (815) 338-5315, mchenrycountyfair.com.
Green Fair on the Fox
Aug. 8, 9 a.m.-3p.m. Features the opening of the Batavia’s Farmers’ Market, United Way Dash with Dad 5K Race and the Green Walk. Batavia Riverwalk, Peg Bond Center and Batavia City Hall, 151 N. Island Ave., Batavia, (630) 761-3528, greenfaironthefox.com.
South Elgin RiverFest Express
Aug. 13-16. Includes live entertainment, craft show, trolley rides, car show, carnival rides, fireworks, more. Panton Mill Park, 10 N. Water St., South Elgin, (847) 774-1151, riverfestexpress.net.
Naperville Wine Festival
Aug. 14-15, 4:30-10 p.m. Sample from more than 300 wines from around the world. City Gate Centre, 2155 City Gate Lane, Naperville, napervillewinefestival.com.
Oktoberfest in August
Aug. 14-16., Fri. 6:30-11 p.m., Sat. 1-11 p.m., Sun. 1-9 p.m. Sample German and domestic beer, bratwurst, food, live entertainment, arcade games, family friendly kid rides, singers and dancers. Schwaben Center, 301 N. Weiland Road, Buffalo Grove, oktoberfestinaugust.com.
9th Annual St. Charles Riverwalk
Aug. 15, 8:30 a.m. Stroll along the Fox River in downtown St. Charles and hear stories of the people, buildings, art, monuments, and parks that have helped to create the beauty and charm of this area. Pottawatomie Park Pavilion, 8 North Ave., St. Charles, (630) 418-6309, stcrivercorridor.org.
Festival of the Horse & Drum
Aug. 15-16, Sat. 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. An equestrian festival with a diverse and exciting twist. American Indian Pow-Wow; Horsemen of Spain, Portugal & Mexico; Tanner & Glaze. Equestrian games, equine abilities expo, more. Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, (630) 272-3077, festivalofthehorseanddrum.com.
Park Palooza
Aug. 22, 4:30-10 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a lazy end-of-summer Saturday with music, food trucks, beer garden and fun. Berens Park, 493 Oaklawn Ave., Elmhurst, (630) 782-4955, epd.org.
Sycamore’s Ribs, Rhythm & Brews Fest
Aug. 22, 5-11 p.m. Enjoy lip-smackin’ ribs from some of the best grill masters in the region, a wide variety of refreshing brews and three live bands, including Back Country Roads. Somonauk Street, Sycamore, discoversycamore.com.
Geneva Concours d’Elegance
Aug. 23, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. See cars orphaned when their manufacturers went out of business, Jaguars, police cars and – in honor of the 60th anniversary of Elkhart Lake – race cars built in 1955 or earlier. 3rd Street, Geneva, genevaconcours.net.
Heirloom Garden Show
Aug. 23, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Rare and specialty fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs displayed and sold by Midwestern growers. Member participation by Seed Savers Exchange. Garfield Farm and Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, La Fox, (630) 584-8485, garfieldfarm.org.
Cornfest DeKalb
Aug. 28-30, Fri. 3-11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. One of the last remaining free music festivals is back in Downtown DeKalb, with sound stage, carnival, food, beer garden, more. Between 1st and 4th streets, downtown DeKalb. Info: (815) 748-2676, cornfest.com.