Prepare for the arrival of apple orchard season!

Apple picking season is (almost) upon us!

Fall is still a month away, but apple picking season will be here before you know it!

McHenry County is home to some of the best you-pick apple orchards in the state, with every variety you can imagine, and probably more than a few you never heard of. And with all sorts of family-friendly activities, a visit to a McHenry County orchard is so much more than picking apples.

Many orchards will be open at month’s end, and some will be opening sooner – and as always, our friends at Naturally McHenry County have a great list of family orchards to pack your baskets full of apples, cider, and other home-grown goodness. Be sure to check before your visit to see which varieties are available and which need more time.

County urges residents to report weekend storm damage

The McHenry County Emergency Management Agency is asking residents and business owners who sustained damage from this weekend’s severe weather to report it through an online survey.

The EMA is partnering with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to compile information on storm damage through a Residential Self-Assessment Survey, which will help determine whether McHenry County can pursue additional assistance for residents; it does not guarantee or imply eligibility for financial assistance, aid, or funding of any kind.

The damage reported had to have been sustained between Saturday, Aug. 16, and Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025.

To fill out a survey, please visit this Online IEMA_OHS Self-Assessment Survey, or download the link with the QR code above. English or Spanish can be selected.

The deadline to submit the survey is this Friday, Aug. 22.

Reporting damages to emergency management officials is a voluntary activity – it is not a substitute for reporting damage to your insurance agency. The information collected will be used strictly for assessment of disaster aid eligibility and planning purposes.

Get your sunflower fix while you can!

With summer ticking by, time is running out to visit your local sunflower maze before the season ends.

Check out Naturally McHenry County’s list, and be sure to visit your farm’s webpage or social media before you go – recent rains have made for some muddy trails.

These bright and sunny wonders of nature won’t be here for much longer, so get moving or wait until next year!

First Talk and Tour of 2025 focuses on stream restoration

The Talk and Tour lecture series showcasing innovative McHenry County best management practices has started its fourth season.

Its first event of 2025, “Stream Restoration for Flood Reduction and Water Quality,” took place Friday, July 25, and gave participants a tour of one of the Village of Algonquin’s recent stream restoration projects.

Don’t worry if you missed it – you can click above to watch a video of the presentation.

The Talk and Tour series is the result of a partnership between the McHenry County Planning and Development Department and the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County to give the public a close-up look at ways that communities, businesses and households can sustainably manage resources and save money doing so.

The glow of the Huntley Hootenanny returns Sept. 6

Once again, the Village of Huntley and the District 158 Education Foundation are making the streets glow for a great cause.

Now in its eighth year, the annual Huntley Hootenanny is a 5K evening glow run/walk that raises funds for District 158 classroom initiative grants and student scholarships for continuing education.

The event takes place, rain or shine, at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. The admission price is $15 for students and $22 for adults, and you must register online – there will be no registration at the event.

Truck’N Food Show comes back for second year

We never get tired of saying it – we love a good McHenry County festival success story. The Woodstock Truck’N Food Show is returning for a second year.

The event brings together a spectacular display of big-rig trucks and tractors – along with food trucks, live music, cold beer, and plenty of all-ages activities – with proceeds going to support the McHenry County Fair.

This year’s event takes place from 3 to 10 this Saturday at the fairgrounds, 11900 Country Club Road, Woodstock.

Admission is $10 for adults, and $5 for children 6 to 12, seniors, and military and first responders with ID. You can buy tickets in advance online, as well as register your semi or tractor to participate.

If you like what you see, you can help us reach more McHenry County residents and businesses by sharing it!

Staying connected and informed is more important now than ever! Follow McHenry County on social media to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

McH Thrive is a collaborative initiative being implemented by McHenry County and the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) in partnership with the McHenry County community, including cities and villages, businesses and residents.