I love summer festivals and “tastes.” Each town has its own. It has become a place where everyone from town gathers to join the festivities; taste the different foods and beverages; play the games; and ride the rides. Best of all, it’s a place that friends seem to have an annual meet and greet.
Our family and friends enjoy the Fox Lake festivities. This weekend, Thursday, July 17, to Sunday, July 20, the Fox Lake Fire Department will celebrate 100 years and its 50th annual festival. Check out the Rec Guide for a schedule of events on each day. Also, the Rec Guide will have the listing of events of the local towns.
The water fights are a lot of fun. Just don’t get too close. You might get wet when the firefighters handle the hoses to try to push a “barrel” to the other team’s side to win the match. Kids will enjoy the fire truck parade on Saturday, July 19.
Another festival our family enjoys is the McHenry Fiesta Days. That runs a whole week, July 11 through July 20, with different events each day. Most popular is the weekend with the Taste of McHenry food booths at Peterson Park and the Art in the Park crafts and talent show at Veterans Park.
The best things are the sidewalk sales. Streets are blocked off and food vendors, along with various businesses, set their booths on the streets. And there is plenty of music to entertain you, too.
My favorite is the funnel cakes and homemade lemonade. The brat and brew comes afterward. A theory a friend of mine came up with is, “Have dessert first, sandwich afterwards.”
That way, I’m sure to have room for dessert! Yum.
Don’t forget about the Lake County Fair in Grayslake, which will take place Tuesday, July 22, through Sunday, July 27. Plenty of entertainment there: carnival rides, games, demo derby, monster trucks, truck-and-tractor pulls, plus many exhibits and of course, the foods.
Woody’s Menagerie and Petty Zoo and the “muttin’ bustin’,” is a lot of fun. Judging for the queens pageant will take place, too.
There you have it, look up the dates of the festival for your hometown and enjoy!
