The Lakeside Festival is almost here!

Independence Day doesn’t just mean celebrating our great nation’s birthday – it means the return of the Lakeside Festival at the Dole!

Starting Thursday, July 3 and lasting through the holiday weekend, the Lakeside Festival is four days of fun, food, games and music at Crystal Lake’s historic Dole Mansion. The festival, one of McHenry County’s largest and longest-running summer festivals, is also the main fundraiser for the Lakeside Legacy Foundation and its year-round arts, education and community programs.

The gates open at noon on July 3, and hours are noon to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, when the city’s fireworks display on the lake ends the four-day extravaganza. Visit the festival website for a complete list of events and bands.

General admission is $10 each day at the gate, $5 for seniors 65 and older, and free for kids 12 and under and for active-duty military with ID. As a reminder, the festival has gone cashless for admission, carnival tickets, and alcohol sales. Credit, debit and mobile pay will be accepted.

Looking for a calendar of July fireworks?

McHenry County has no shortage of opportunities to celebrate Independence Day by watching a professional fireworks display.

Whether you need to double-check the start time of your family’s tried-and-true traditional display, or you’re looking to try out a new one, our friends at Naturally McHenry County have got you covered.

Naturally McHenry County, as always, has put together a list of area Independence Day fireworks displays, from Cary Stars ‘N Stripes Fest to McHenry Fiesta Days. You can check it out by clicking here.

County high school students excel at career exploration camp

Congratulations to all the high school students who completed the Construction Management Career Exploration Camp!

Students at the four-day camp from June 9-12 at McHenry County College got to engage in career exploration activities, learn about career opportunities from local employers, complete technical and employability skills training, participate in industry tours, and learn about MCC’s academic programs.

And on behalf of McHenry County Government, thank you for using our Workforce Housing report to brainstorm solutions to increase the availability of housing for working-class McHenry County residents!

Each participant successfully earned a 10-hour OSHA Construction Certification. This camp is one of several career education camps funded by the Illinois Community College Board’s Taking Back the Trades grant, with employer support from the McHenry County Manufacturing Pathways Consortium.

Host a Pop-Up for your business with Naturally McHenry County!

As a reminder, our friends at Naturally McHenry County are hosting Maker Pop-Ups at their new Visitor Center!

Located at the historic Old Courthouse Center on Woodstock Square, the events will give local makers, small businesses, nonprofits, and event promoters a unique opportunity to connect with locals and visitors right in the heart of McHenry County!

The first few that Naturally McHenry County has hosted looked like fun successes – be sure to like their Facebook and Instagram pages to check out their posts.

Pop-ups are being offered between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays through October.

To learn more and apply, click here.

Woodstock Square is your go-to for summer family entertainment

Every summer, the Park on the Square hosts Woodstock City Band concerts every Wednesday – the tradition of the summer Square concert goes back 141 years, by the way.

But the City Band is just one of the many acts that call the Park on the Square home in the summer.

Did you know that the Square hosts children’s movies every Thursday through July? Or new and original interpretations of Shakespeare on Saturdays at the end of July and the start of August? And after the City Band’s season ends on July 23, did you know that rock, blues and Latin bands fill out the rest of the season?

There’s so much more year-round fun hosted on the Square as well – see all of it by clicking here.

Join the Marengo Park District for Day in the Park

It sure sounds like Indian Oaks Park is going to be the place to be on Saturday, July 12! From 4 to 11 p.m. that day, Indian Oaks Park will be filled with all sorts of activities, such as a splash zone, inflatables, contests, food, drink, live music, and a fireworks display.

Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. To learn more about the day and particular events, click here. The park is located at 825 Indian Oaks Trail, on the southwest side of town.

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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.