August Updates! Read more in the McH Thrive Newsletter today

McH THRIVE Update!

Resume McHenry County becomes McH THRIVE!

With the end of the state and federal COVID-19 states of emergency, it’s time to stop talking about resuming life as normal and dedicate it to moving ahead, together, better than before.

We deserve the opportunity that lies before us… our manufacturers and small businesses, our workforce, our tourism industry, our agriculture and agritourism sectors and our economic development agencies and chambers of commerce… all of us deserve the opportunity to THRIVE!

Thank you for reading and subscribing to the new McH THRIVE! You can help us continue to grow by forwarding this email to people who you think would enjoy it. They can subscribe by visiting McHenryCountyIL.gov/social.com or on social media.

Introducing Ice Cream Fest!

Here at McH Thrive, we just love introducing new festivals to add to McHenry County’s rich repertoire of year-round events. And quite frankly, the creators of this newest bash had us at the words “ice cream.”

At least eight local ice cream makers will take over Main Beach at Crystal Lake from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, and turn it into Ice Cream Land – a place filled with not only tasty locally-made ice cream, but also a slate of family-friendly activities, entertainment and live music. Even better, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to local charities, including CASA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County, and Warp Corps.

Tickets are $8 for adults online, with kids 5 and under free. You can purchase tickets by clicking here – organizers are strongly encouraging people to buy tickets in advance. Besides general admission, several events, such as the ice cream eating contest, also require advance registration through the ticket page.

Be sure to visit Ice Cream Fest’s website at https://icecreamfest.co to learn more!

Craft Beverage Trail ends August 31 with a new one to follow

If you’re participating in the McHenry County Craft Beverage Trail, you have one more month to complete it!

The current iteration of the trail ends Thursday, August 31 – so you have until then to sample all 10 local breweries and distilleries on the list and claim your prize from Naturally McHenry County for having completed it.

(And with time running out, we would be remiss if we didn’t take a moment to ask you to please enjoy the trail responsibly.)

Don’t be sad if you don’t finish it, or you missed out on this great way to sample McHenry County’s growing craft beverage industry – the craft beverage trail will be back by popular demand shortly after this current one expires.

Visit McHCraftBev.com to learn more, and to download the Naturally McHenry County phone app and participate.

Hiring fair taking place tomorrow at MCC

If you’re looking for a job, be sure to head to McHenry County College tomorrow to meet with local employers looking to hire.

The hiring fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, August 2, at the college, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake.

When you’re there, be sure to stop by the table of the McHenry County Workforce Network to learn about all their great services for job-seekers!

Watch out for upcoming Talk and Tour videos

The Talk and Tour presentation series, co-hosted by the McHenry County Planning and Development Department and the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, is going strong in its second year.

The series, held once a month on Friday afternoons, educates the public about ways that businesses, households and governments can employ best management practices to sustainably manage resources and save money doing so.

Many of their presentations are videotaped – you can watch them by clicking here, and two more videos will be posted in the coming weeks. There’s one more presentation scheduled for September regarding sensible winter salting, and you can learn more about it by clicking here.

Follow Naturally McHenry County and be an Insider

Every week, McH Thrive makes sure to give you a sampling of the McHenry County’s awesome year-round events and awesome destinations.

But if you’re not following our friends at Naturally McHenry County, you’re missing out on a lot.

McHenry County is an awesome place to play and visit – and that’s Naturally McHenry County’s very reason for being.

Be sure to subscribe to their monthly e-newsletter, The Insider, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Also, be sure to download their awesome app (click here for the Apple App Store and here for Google Play).

Enjoy Huntley kicks off its second year

A week of family-friendly fun and community is under way in Huntley!

Enjoy Huntley, first celebrated last year, is an incredible collaboration among the village government, its park district, library district, fire department, police department and School District 158.

It’s a week of outdoor concerts, farmers markets, games, movies, story times, food and other fun. Visit them online at enjoyhuntley.com for a complete list, and to learn more about what makes this festival unique.

What is McH Thrive?

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.