McHenry County’s beautiful Autumn Drive returns for its 37th year!

Experience the picturesque magic of the Autumn Drive

Ready to hit the road for a memorable McHenry County autumn adventure?

If a leisurely drive along scenic country roads filled with quaint stops and great goodies sounds like a good time, then the Autumn Drive is for you. Now celebrating its 37th year, the drive takes visitors through a mosaic of rustic farms, beautiful crafts and antiques, food and fun – all against McHenry County’s palette of gorgeous fall colors.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, from Friday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 19. The drive includes stops throughout rural Woodstock and Marengo. The drive is self-guided – you choose the places you want to visit, and when.

Visit www.autumndrive.net for more information, and be sure to check out the guide that Naturally McHenry County puts out every year to make your Autumn Drive experience the best it can be!

And if that’s not enough for you, that’s not all – read on to learn about the upcoming McHenry County Farm Stroll!

Applications being taken for 2026 McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes

The McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for the next class of businesses to open up in the McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes business incubator!

The Riverwalk Shoppes, located in Miller Point Park, consists of 10 tiny-house buildings where small business owners can learn the challenges of operating in a brick-and-mortar location.

Visit the McHenry Chamber’s dedicated Riverwalk webpage to learn more and to apply for the 2026 season, which will run from May 1 to Dec. 27. The deadline to apply is Saturday, Nov. 1.

Incubators help small businesses find success – 87% of incubated businesses are still open after five years, and 84% stay in the area where they started, according to the National Association of Business Incubators.

The Riverwalk is going strong in its third year, with the current shoppes open through December! Learn more about them by following the Riverwalk Shoppes on Facebook.

Sign up for Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition program

If you are interested in taking the reins at your family’s business or buying your first business, the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition program is right for you!

The 8-week workshop covers all stages of acquisition process from identifying the right business to buy to negotiating and financing the purchase to leading your new company after the deal closes.

The successful ETA program will now be held for a third cohort of prospective business owners beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the MCC Catalyst Campus in Woodstock.

No prior business ownership experience is required, and scholarships of $1,710, provided by the Advance McHenry County program, are available to reduce tuition costs to $189.

To learn more and apply, visit the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation’s Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition page.

Health department hosting battery recycling through Sept. 26

If you’re looking to get rid of your used household batteries for free, the McHenry County Department of Health is hosting a no-cost battery recycling event.

Through Sept. 26, residents can take their used AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt batteries to the Environmental Health Office, 667 Ware Road, Suite 110, Woodstock. Batteries will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.

Lithium-ion, rechargeable and vehicle batteries will not be accepted.

Annual Farm Stroll features McHenry County’s family farms

The McHenry County Farm Bureau is holding its annual Farm Stroll, a free self-guided tour of its family farms, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28.

This free, self-guided tour offers a unique opportunity to learn about local agriculture and connect with the farming community.

Choose the farms that interest you and visit them at your own pace during the designated time frame. Because this is a family-friendly, self-guided tour, there is no beginning or end of the route. While the event is free, bring cash to take advantage of the farmers who will be selling produce and other goods.

Visit their webpage to find a list of the 10 participating family farms.

Run for the Hills combines cardio and a scenic view for a good cause

Friends of Moraine Hills State Park is holding its annual Run for the Hills.

Runners have the option of a 5K, 10K or 13.1-mile half marathon course. All three courses are entirely within the confines of Moraine Hills State Park, with arrows and marshals to direct runners at all key intersections and turns.

The run takes place from 6:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 27, at the park, located at 1501 S. River Road, McHenry.

Visit their website for registration and cost information.

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.