Recreation opportunities abound in our region! Here are a few of the best our area has to offer.
July
Barrington Cruise Nights
Through Aug. 31, Th. 6:30 p.m. Themes include muscle cars, Corvettes and cars from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Features local food vendors, entertainment, kids’ activities, raffles and prizes. All vehicles welcome. Parking lot at Cook and Station streets, downtown Barrington, barrington-il.gov/home.
Delavan Fresh Market
Through Sept. 30, Thu. 3-7 p.m. Fresh farmer’s produce, honey, jams, organic foods and plants. Tower Park, Walworth Ave., Delavan, Wis., ci.delavan.wi.us/fresh-market.
Barrington Farmers Market
Through Oct. 19, Thu. 2-7 p.m. Featuring fresh produce, meats, pastries and bread, flowers, and other items from local farmers and producers. Food and beverage vendors. Park Avenue and Cook Street, downtown Barrington, barringtonfarmersmarket.com.
Woodstock Farmers Market
Through October, Tues. & Sat. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. On historic Woodstock Square, shop for fruit and vegetables, flowers, cheese, eggs, pet treats, bakery items, candles, olive oil, pottery and much more. Historic Woodstock Square, Woodstock, (815) 338-5164, woodstockfarmersmarket.org.
French Market
Through Nov. 12, Sun. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Downtown Geneva’s market brings shoppers fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, jewelry, handbags and more. Fourth and South streets, downtown Geneva, (630) 232-7494, geneva.il.us.
Summer in the Park
July 12-16, events daily. Wed. City Band concert and ice cream social, Th. movie in the park. Fri. Taste of Woodstock and live music. Sat. pool party, Sun. Family Day, featuring bounce houses, climbing wall and petting zoo. Emricson Park, 1313 Kishwaukee Valley Road, Woodstock, (815) 338-4301, mchenryil.gov.
Fiesta Days
July 13-23, events daily. Ten days of family fun including parade, Music Fest, Arts & Crafts in the Park, sidewalk sales, Food Fest, Teen Night, a car show and lots of entertainment. Peterson Park, 4300 Peterson Park Road, McHenry, mchenryfiestadays.com.
Windmill City Festival
July 14-16, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Play on inflatables, compete in a sidewalk chalk drawing contest, participate in a pet parade and golf challenge, sample food, visit the beer garden and listen to music. Batavia Riverwalk, downtown Batavia, (630) 879-5235, bataviaparks.org.
Pioneers at Work
July 16, 1-4 p.m. Explore the world of pioneer living through this hands-on event. Discover how looms were used to create beautiful fabrics and building tools were used to create and repair everything from barns to homes. Durant House Museum, Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W700 Dean St., St. Charles, (630) 377-6424, ppfv.org.
Classic Car Show
July 16, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Great vintage cars, music and food; tours of the museum available. Elgin History Museum, 360 Park St., Elgin, (847) 742-4248, elginhistory.org.
Kane County Fair
July 20-23, Wed-Th. 3-11 p.m., Fri.-Sat. noon-midnight, Sun. to 10 p.m. The 149th fair’s offerings include a carnival, food, live entertainment, 4-H displays, championship bull riders, barrel racing and a demolition derby. Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, (630) 584-6926, kanecountyfair.com.
Cruise Nites
July 25, Aug. 22, Sept. 26, 5-8 p.m. Fun-filled classic/vintage car show held on Riverside Avenue. Downtown St. Charles, (630) 584-8384, stcharleschamber.com/cruise-nites.
Lake County Fair
July 26-30, Wed.-Th. 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Fri.-Sat.to midnight, Sun. to 7 p.m. Fun for the family including motorcross, a demolition derby, rodeo, concerts, more. Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake, (847) 680-7200, lcfair.com.
Wizarding World of Woodstock
July 27, 4-9 p.m. Celebrating 20 years of Harry Potter. Enter the adult or child costume contests, take a tour of Gringotts Bank, visit the owlery, watch a live quidditch match, and compete in Harry Potter trivia contests. For all ages. Location: Woodstock Public Library & Historic Woodstock Square, Woodstock, (815) 338-0542, woodstockpubliclibrary.org.
Algonquin Founders’ Days Festival
July 27-30, Th. 4-10 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. to 5 p.m. Fireworks 9 p.m. In its 57th year, this family-friendly event includes great music, a cardboard boat regatta, trivia night, BBQ cook-off, Kids Korner and a bike decorating contest. Food offerings include New Orleans cuisine, Kona ice, pizza, pasta and burgers. 100 Jefferson St., Algonquin, (847) 658-5340, algonquinfoundersdays.com.
Military Through the Ages
July 29-30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Walk through time visiting military encampments ranging from ancient Rome through Operation Desert Storm; see how soldiers lived and fought, as well as the progression of clothing, weapons and technology. Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, (630) 668-5161, cantigny.org.
August
McHenry County Fair
Aug. 1-6, Tue. 4-10 p.m., Wed.-Sun. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. In its 68th year, the fair features 4-H livestock shows, conservation and agriculture displays, a carnival and a variety of grandstand entertainment. McHenry County Fairgrounds, 11900 Country Club Road, Woodstock, (815) 338-5313, mchenrycountyfair.com.
Mane Event/Taste of Arlington Heights
Aug. 4-5, Fri. 5-11 p.m., Sat. noon-11 p.m. Stroll downtown, sample food from local vendors and listen to live music. Location: Vail Ave. and Campbell St., downtown Arlington Heights. Info: Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce, (847) 253-1703, arlingtonhcc.com.
Kane County Flea Market
Aug. 5-6, Sept, 2-3, Sat. noon-5 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. New collectors and seasoned veterans search for great finds among hundreds of dealers of jewelry, furniture, books, antiques and more. Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, (630) 377-2252, kanecountyfleamarket.com.
Blast on the Beach
Aug. 5, 3-9 p.m. Join a treasure hunt, visit craft and fun fairs; complete the day with music by Dick Diamond and the Dusters, playing tunes from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Main Beach, 300 Lakeshore Drive, Crystal Lake, (815) 459-0680, crystallakeparks.org.
Vintage Transportation Extravaganza
Aug. 6, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. The past comes alive through the display of antique autos, trucks, fire engines, tractors and buses. Ride streetcars, interurban and diesel coach trains. Illinois Railway Museum, 7000 Olson Road, Union, (815) 244-7245, irm.org.
Family Fun & Fitness
Aug. 8, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Entertainment for the entire family, including kids’ games, inflatables and face painting. Downtown Sycamore, (815) 895-3456, discoversycamore.com.
Wine Down Wednesdays
Aug. 9, Sept. 23, 6 p.m. Enjoy culinary delights from East Dundee restaurants, a glass of wine and some local music. The Depot, 319 N. River St., East Dundee, (847) 426-2255, eastdundee.net.
Summer Soirée
Aug. 11, 7-10 p.m. Relax into the weekend, nibble on tasty treats and listen to music; maybe win a raffle prize. Elgin History Museum, Elgin, (847) 742-4248, elginhistory.org.
French Connection Day
Aug. 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Lots of joie de vivre for visitors to this French open-air market, tasting wine, listening to music, playing a game of pétanque and posing beside a 23-foot Eiffel Tower. Commemorating Cantigny’s benefactor, who named his Wheaton estate after the village in France that he and fellow soldiers liberated in WWI. Cantigny Park, Wheaton, (630) 668-5161, cantigny.org.
Venetian Festival
Aug. 16- 20, events daily. This weekend of family entertainment includes a craft fair, carnival, water ski show, brat stands and a beer tent, capped off with a lighted boat parade and firework display high above Lake Geneva. Entertainment nightly. Flat Iron Park, 201 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva, venetianfest.com.
RiverFest Express
Aug. 17-20, Th. 5-9 p.m., Fri. to midnight, Sat. noon-11:30 p.m., Sun. to 9 p.m. This annual community event features a midway, food and beverages, nightly entertainment, car and craft shows, and small business expo. Panton Mill Park, 10 N. Water St., South Elgin, (847) 774-1151, riverfestexpress.net.
Rot ‘n’ Roll
Aug. 18, 7:30-9 p.m. Everything gets recycled in nature, from the sandwich that fell off the picnic table to the tree that falls in the woods. Learn about decomposition while digging and exploring. Registration required. Creek Bend Nature Center, LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, St. Charles, (630) 444-3190, kaneforest.com.
Blues, Brews & BBQs
Aug. 18-20, Fri. 5:45-11 p.m., Sat. 3:30-11 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Family-friendly blues music fest on McCullom Lake tempts visitors with an array of barbecue foods, corn on the cob and desserts. BBQ Cook-Off competition. McHenry Rotary Club, Peterson Park, 4300 Peterson Park Road, McHenry, (770) 220-9300, mrbbb.com.
Prairie Walk
Aug. 19, 9 a.m. Start the day with a tour of the prairie led by museum staff. Reservations required. Garfield Farm Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, La Fox, (630) 584-8485, garfieldfarm.org.
Long Grove Vintage Days
Aug. 19-20, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The historic and charming village of Long Grove is the site of this street market for all things vintage, antique, reclaimed and handmade. Take a hayride, sample local street food and enjoy live bluegrass and classic rock. Historic Long Grove Village, Old McHenry Road, (847) 331-8596, longgrove.org.
Elgin Road Race
Aug. 26, noon-3 p.m. Watch Model T Fords and other vintage cars circle a parade lap that was part of the world-famous Elgin Road Race. Sherman West Court, 1950 Larkin Ave., Elgin, (847) 742-4248, elginhistory.com.
Geneva Concours d’Elegance
Aug. 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Participants from all over the county display their prized antique, classic and modern automobiles. Celebrating the 100th birthday of the Nash automobile and featuring “Woodies” of all ages and Indianapolis-style race cars. Third Street, downtown Geneva, (630) 584-3107, genevaconcours.net.
September
Harvard Balloon Festival
Sept. 1-3, events daily. Enjoy balloon launches in morning and evening, a 5K and 10K run, and activities including inflatables, a rock wall, zip line, daily evening movie and live bands. Milky Way Park, 300 Lawrence Road, (815) 943-6468, Harvard, harvardballoonfest.com.
Summer Sunset Fest
Sept. 1-3, Fri. 3-10:30 p.m., Sat. 9:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Enjoy a weekend of fun, including a carnival, car show, Kids Korner, talent contest, wine tasting and bands. Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Road, Lake in the Hills, (847) 960-7400, summersunsetfest.com.
Revolutionary War Re-Enactment
Sept. 9-10, Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. to 4 p.m. Get a feel for camp life, witness a battle, and experience the sights and sounds of the 18th century. Cantigny Park, Wheaton, (630) 668-5161, cantigny.org.
Long Grove Apple Fest
Sept. 22-24, Fri. 6-10 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. From cakes and pies to popcorn and martinis, apple-inspired treats abound during this three-day event, which features live music daily. Long Grove, (847) 634-0888, longgrove.org.
Johnny Appleseed Festival
Sept. 30, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Pony rides, petting zoo, pumpkin train, pumpkin bowling, clowns, face painting, storytelling, wagon rides, scarecrow contest, apple pie contests, craft fair, food, live music. Downtown Crystal Lake. Info: (815) 479-0835, downtowncl.org.