Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day, McHenry County!

We hope you’re having a great day celebrating with family and friends – and thank you to everyone who has to work today, especially our first responders and critical care workers.

While several municipalities held their fireworks displays over the weekend, there are some great displays coming up – Woodstock and Huntley are putting theirs on tonight, and Fox River Grove’s and the Pistakee Bay displays take place this Saturday! If that’s not enough for you, fireworks also end McHenry Fiesta Days and Algonquin Founders’ Days!

Click here for times and locations of upcoming displays compiled by our friends at Naturally McHenry County, and as always, be sure to check out their awesome events calendar and summer festival guide!

First business to move into new downtown Woodstock incubator

Congratulations to The Records Department, the first startup business to participate in the City of Woodstock’s retail incubator program!

The vinyl records store will move into the Old Courthouse Center this month and open in August.

The incubator program, THE 101, provides a physical retail location for startup or online businesses ready to take on the challenge of operating a brick-and-mortar location. Participants gain retail experience under the mentorship of the City of Woodstock and the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

THE 101 has space for a second business – to learn more and apply, click here.

McHenry County locations featured in new Illinois travel book

The new book, 100 Things to Do in Illinois Before You Die, features several McHenry County destinations that can’t be missed before you shuffle off your mortal coil.

Author Melanie Holmes cites two explicitly – the City of Woodstock and the Illinois Railway Museum in Union – and gives a nod to several local pizzerias known for Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.

Woodstock is lauded for its historic Square and Opera House, and of course for being the place that “Groundhog Day” was filmed.

The book can be purchased at the publisher’s website, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers.

Successful “Middle of Everything” state tourism campaign returns

Three commercial spots, again hosted by award-winning actress and Illinois native Jane Lynch, are airing on cable nationwide, and in 22 media markets in Illinois and neighboring states. Click on the video to watch the video highlighting the entire state; the spots focusing on Chicago and the Great River Road Trip that follows the Mississippi River can be found here and here.

The Illinois Office of Tourism launched the Middle of Everything campaign last year to highlight Illinois as a center of culture, food, history, architecture, nightlife and natural wonders. Organizers said the additional visitors last year created $1 billion in additional tourism revenue.

Click here to learn more about the campaign. And as we said last year, Jane is always welcome to come to McHenry County to check out everything we have to offer!

Learn more about drought-resistant plants with McHenry County

All of McHenry County is experiencing moderate or severe drought as of last Thursday’s report from the US Drought Monitor.

(Given how dry everything is, please consider leaving fireworks to the professionals this year – thought we’d throw that in.)

If you’ve ever visited the McHenry County Administration Building, its front is lined with a xeriscape garden planted with native grasses and flowers that are resistant to drought.

If you want to learn more, or you’re considering adding them to your landscaping, the county’s Water Resources Department has created videos extoling the value of native plantings. You can check them out here, here and here.

Rotary Ribfest returns to Lake in the Hills

Save some room in your stomach after your Fourth of July barbecue for the return of the Lake in the Hills Rockin’ Rotary Ribfest!

The annual event put on by the Lake in the Hills Rotary Club is a four-day extravaganza of food, carnival rides, bands and business vendors – and, of course, a lineup of some of the best barbecue masters to be found.

Ribfest takes place from Thursday through Sunday at Sunset Park, and proceeds go directly to support Rotary’s many service programs and charities.

Admission is $5 at the gate, with children under 12 being admitted free with an adult; active-duty military with ID get in free.

Click here to learn more, and to find a complete itinerary of hours and events.

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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.