Welcome back to the McHenry County Craft Beverage Trail!

The McHenry County Craft Beverage Trail is back!

Let’s hoist a drink to celebrate the return of the McHenry County Craft Beverage Trail!

The popular trail offers people the opportunity to sample the wares of McHenry County‘s burgeoning breweries, wineries and distilleries.

This latest iteration of the trail, which runs through the end of the year, showcases 11 participating craft beverage establishments. The rules are simple – download the Naturally McHenry County App, check in with each visit, and then collect a commemorative t-shirt when you’ve hit them all. You have 10 1/2 months, so no rush – and please drink responsibly.

You can download the app and find a complete list of participating businesses by clicking here.

Fat Tuesday is also Paczki Day!

Paczki (pronounced “PUNCH-key”) are a mouth-watering pre-Lent Polish tradition – they’re extremely rich deep-fried doughnuts filled with fruit or cream and then dusted with sugar or iced. While Paczki Day has become trendy nationwide, it has deep roots in places with large Polish populations, like the Chicago area and McHenry County.

Our friends at Naturally McHenry County have come up with a partial list of local places to get fresh paczki, and you can find it here. And here’s another pro tip – don’t wait until the last minute, because they fly off the racks pretty fast!

By the way, you don’t need to say “paczkis” when ordering more than one, because the word is already plural; the Polish word for a single pastry is “paczek” (pronounced PUNCH-ek). Nie ma za co (you’re welcome)!

Coffee and Tea Trail wrapping up at the end of March

While one beverage trail has returned, another is getting ready to take a break – the McHenry County Coffee and Tea Trail will end on March 31.

That’s right – you have about seven weeks left to visit at least a dozen locations to win a free exclusive travel mug for your joe on the go.

Like the Craft Beverage Trail, just download the Naturally McHenry County App, check in at each coffee and tea shop you visit, and then collect your prize when you visit at least 12.

You can learn more, download the app, and see a list of participating businesses by clicking here.

People in Need 2025 Resource Guide is available online

The 65-page directory, which is updated after every annual forum, is a one-stop go-to guide for residents in need. It contains contact information for people needing help with housing, mental health, food insecurity, veteran care, child services, senior issues, and much more.

Click here for the English version, and click here for the Spanish version.

Please share this newsletter with people in need who could benefit from the many available services. And save the date – next year’s People in Need Forum returns to MCC on Jan. 31, 2026.

Shop and dine local this Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is almost here – and there’s no shortage of ways that McHenry County‘s small businesses can help you make the day special.

Whether it’s a romantic dinner at a local restaurant, candy from one of our local chocolatiers, fresh-cut flowers, or a special gift for that impossible person to shop for, you’ll find great ideas on the website of our friends at Naturally McHenry County.

Check out their website at www.naturallymchenrycounty.com, and scroll the top bar to find everything you need. Oh, and they’ve been posting a lot of great Valentine’s Day ideas and events on their Facebook page – be sure to visit if you need some inspiration.

Everybody’s Irish at Sham-ROCKS the Fox!

The annual St. Patrick’s Day bash begins Friday, March 14, with the annual parade and dyeing of the Fox River on Saturday, and the fireworks show closing out the festivities on Sunday.

Click here to learn much more – we’ll remind you of the event as it draws closer!

If you like what you see, you can help us reach more McHenry County residents and businesses by sharing it!

Follow Us On Social Media

Staying connected and informed is more important now than ever! Follow McHenry County on social media to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

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.