Let the festivities begin… and more updates around the county

Turkey Testicle Festival celebrates 40th anniversary

Sometimes, the lead of a story just writes itself – Parkside Pub in Huntley is celebrating “balls and beers for 40 years.”

The pub’s legendary Turkey Testicle Festival turns 40 this year!

On Thanksgiving eve, iron stomachs from all over Illinois will descend on the downtown restaurant and bar to listen to great music, enjoy great drinks, and … well, there’s no way to sugar-coat this – eat deep-fried turkey testicles.

The annual bash takes place from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23 – click here to learn more.

County COVID vaccination campaign wins another accolade

Congratulations, once again, to Public Communications Inc. for winning an award for helping develop McHenry County’s ad campaign to get teenagers vaccinated against COVID-19!

PCI won a Golden Trumpet Award from the Publicity Club of Chicago for the “No More Missing Out” campaign last year, which sought to get young adults vaccinated to help guarantee the return to in-person learning.

Earlier this year, PCI also won a Skyline Award for Best Digital Marketing from the Chicago chapter of the Public Relations Society of America for the campaign.

County holding input sessions for 2050 Comprehensive Plan

McHenry County is holding four community visioning workshops – three in-person and one virtual – to gather community ideas for the 2050 Comprehensive Plan.

The workshops, a key component in developing the plan, will introduce the planning process and give residents the opportunity to tell McHenry County what they think. The in-person sessions will take place at the following times and places:

· Noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock;

· 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, Riley Township Hall, 9312 Riley Road, Marengo; and

· 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, Cary Village Hall, 755 Georgetown Drive, Cary.

The virtual session will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 – you can register for it by clicking here.

The Comprehensive Plan will serve as a blueprint for McHenry County’s future by setting policies that will direct growth and development for the next 30 years. You can learn more about the plan by visiting www.hla.fyi/McHenryCounty.

Christmas tree season is just around the corner

As our friends at Naturally McHenry County like to say this time of year, it’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas trees.

There’s just a certain something about cutting your own Christmas tree, and McHenry County is full of places to do just that – many of which offer plenty of other family-friendly activities.

Most county cut-your-own Christmas tree farms open the day after Thanksgiving and stay open until they sell out. But that happens quickly, so get your tree while you can!

Click here to see Naturally McHenry County’s list of local cut-your-own tree farms.

McHenry County election totals available for review

If you’re curious how McHenry County voters cast their ballots for the candidates in last week’s midterm election, you can check out local vote totals at the McHenry County Clerk’s webpage.

Click here to review McHenry County’s vote totals by race. Besides pie charts and bar graphs, you can review maps showing candidate wins by precinct.

Lighting of the Square returns to Woodstock

Woodstock Square will again be awash in light with the annual Lighting of the Square the day after Thanksgiving.

With the flip of a switch, Woodstock will ring in the official start to the holiday season with tens of thousands of lights illuminating the Park on the Square, its surrounding businesses and the historic Woodstock Opera House.

While the lighting ceremony itself begins at 7 p.m., a number of great activities start at 4 p.m., such as carolers, shopping and children’s games – and at 5 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at the Square in style on an antique fire engine. Santa will be available in his hut on the Square to meet with children starting at 7:30 p.m.

Best of all, admission is free! Click here to learn more.