Another great week of activities in McHenry County. Check out the job fair and grant award, too

Dole, Woodstock farmers’ markets win national accolades

Once again, the American Farmland Trust has named the Farmers Market+ at The Dole and the Woodstock Farmers Market as among the best in the nation, as ranked by voters!

Voters ranked the Dole market in Crystal Lake the best in Illinois, with the Woodstock market coming in a very close second – both blew away the rest of the competition. They won third and fourth place, respectively, for best farmer’s market in the Midwest, and 11th and 12th place nationwide.

Congratulations to both markets for the well-deserved honor! If you’ve never visited them at the picturesque Dole Mansion or Woodstock Square, you have until the end of October, after which they move to monthly, indoor events until next spring. Make sure to get the latest on their dates and offerings by liking the Woodstock and Dole markets on Facebook!

Neighbors in Need to highlight homelessness awareness, resources

The McHenry County Continuum of Care to End Homelessness is holding an event to bring attention to the local resources available to the unsheltered.

“Neighbors in Need – Understanding Homelessness in McHenry County” will take place from noon to 6 p,m. Friday, Oct. 21, at the Crystal Lake campus of Willow Creek Community Church, 100 S. Main St.

The event will include presentations from the Continuum of Care and other agencies that assist the homeless, as well as live music and a food truck.

Neighbors in Need coincides with Community Resource Days, which are held every Friday at Willow Creek to provide the homeless or people facing homelessness access to showers, laundry, camping equipment, food, medical help, camping supplies, bike repair and other assistance.

Visit mchenrycountyhomeless.org to learn more about the Continuum of Care and its mission to end homelessness in McHenry County. To learn more about Community Resource Days, contact Julie Davis at 815-759-7284, or at julie.davis@willowcreek.org.

Advance-funded IMEC grants moving forward

Another week, another Advance McHenry County success story!

In February, the McHenry County Board approved an Advance McHenry County grant of just under $1.4 million to the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center to help local manufacturers rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic and become more resilient to future economic disruptions.

IMEC has opened up its program to applications, and as of early October, 14 McHenry County manufacturers have applied; their applications are in various stages of progress. More are on the way – they could include your McHenry County manufacturing business!

Visit imec.org/advancemchenry to learn about categories available for funding, frequently asked questions, and the application portal.

MCC Job and Internship Fair set for Thursday

McHenry County College is going to be the place to be Thursday for people looking for a job!

The college’s annual Job and Internship Fair takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m Oct. 13. The event is free – click here to register to attend.

Whether you’re seeking full-time or part-time work, or an internship, dress to impress and bring copies of your resume. More than 60 area employers plan to attend the fair – you can find a list by clicking here.

Organizers are also encouraging attendees to create a free account on the MCC Hire a Scot job website, which you can find here.

Autumn Drive set for Oct. 14-16

Few things say autumn in McHenry County more than the annual Autumn Drive.

The drive, now in its 34th year, takes visitors through a mosaic of mosaic of rustic farms, beautiful crafts and antiques, all against McHenry County’s palette of gorgeous fall colors.

Hours for the drive are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 14, 15 and 16. Visit autumndrive.net for a list of locations. The drive is self-guided – you choose the places you want to visit, and when.

Participating farms and businesses in rural Woodstock and Marengo will be offering fall produce and goods, as well as a bunch of other activities!

Flannel Fest coming to Main Beach in Crystal Lake

Fall chill means flannel, and the Crystal Lake Park District is inviting you to throw yours on and channel your inner lumberjack for Flannel Fest!

The festival takes place, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Main Beach, 300 Lakeshore Drive. Events include lumberjack shows (at 11, 1 and 3) featuring axe throwing, log rolling, speed sawing and chopping, as well as food trucks, a beer garden, campfires, s’mores, a raptor show, pie-eating and beard contests, and other fun.

Tickets purchased in advance are $10 for adults and $5 for children 6 and older; gate prices are $12 for adults and $7 for children 6 and older. Children 5 and under get in free. Click here to purchase tickets and to sign up for the pie-eating and beard/mustache competitions.