McHenry County Calendar of Events August 25 – 31

Thursday, August 25

4 – 7:30 p.m.  FREE

Farmer’s Market

East side of Veteran’s Memorial Park (formerly Pearl Street Park) on the corner of Pearl Street and Court Street in McHenry, IL

Phone: 815-363-2159 Website: www.mchenry.il.us

Come visit and purchase an assortment of organic food, fruits, vegetables, local specialties and crafts. Held in conjunction with the City Concert Series.

Thursday, August 25

7:30 p.m.  FREE

McHenry City Concert Series

Saturday June Band

Veteran’s Memorial Park, one block north of Route 120 in McHenry, IL

Phone: 815-363-2160 Website: www.mchenry.il.us

Tonight the vendors will be Chain’O Lakes Brewing Company and TBD. Some seating is available but you are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

Thursday, August 25

7:30 – 9 p. m. FREE

Rebel Souls (Reschedule of the cancelled concert from July 21)

Algonquin Summer Concert Series

Riverfront Park, 201 N. Harrison Street, Algonquin, IL 60102

Phone: 847-658-2716 Website: www.algonquin.org/recreation

Parking is available on and around North Harrison Street. This week features live music from Rebel Souls and food from Best Truckin BBQ.

Thursday, August 25

12 – 1 p.m. FREE

Bring Your Lunch and Learn

McHenry Chamber Office, 1257 N. Green Street, McHenry, IL 60050

Phone: 815-385-4300 Website: www.mchenrychamber.com

“Changing Skin and Changing Lives “, Presented by Karla Zugg and Peggy Nielsen, Rodan + Fields. Come learn why Rodan and Fields is the fastest growing premium skincare in the U.S., second largest premium skincare line in the U.S., #1 Premium Brand Acne Treatment,  #1 Anti-Aging Treatment,  #1 Eye Cream in the U.S.,  Has won more awards than all other direct sales companies.

Thursday, August 25

5 – 8 p.m.  FREE

Stucky’s Cruise Night

4000 N. Johnsburg Road, Johnsburg, IL 60051

Phone: 815-331-8050 Website: www.stuckysbarandgrille.com

Thursdays are Cruise Nights in Johnsburg! Music provided by Jim Sieg.

Friday, August 26

3 – 6:30 p.m. FREE

LUREC Farm Stand

Loyola University Retreat & Ecology Campus, 2710 S. Country Club Road, Woodstock, IL 60098

Phone: 815-338-1032 Website: www.luc.edu

They have tables full of organically grown fruit and vegetables from right there on their property. Colorful heirloom tomatoes, super-hot peppers, squash, beets, lettuce, cut herbs, eggplant, potatoes; whatever is ready to harvest will be available to you. Freshly baked bread from their kitchen will also be available.

Friday, August 26

6 – 9 p.m. Cost: $5

4^th Friday’s Art Show

Starline Factory, 300 W. Front Street, Harvard, IL 60033

Phone: 815-347-8535 Website: www.starlinefactory.com

“4th Fridays” rocks the world of art events with our juried mixed art exhibit, juried photo contest, featured artist solo exhibit, vendor artists in the lower level, open Starline artist studios, People’s Choice voting, live music on all 3 levels and a cash bar for beer, wine and mixed drinks. This must-attend event brings in between 700 and 1,000 art enthusiasts each month traveling from as far away as Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison.

Friday, August 26

7 – 10 p.m. Cost: Starting at $35

Local Bands for Local Vets (Benefit for TLS Veterans)

Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Phone: 815-356-9212 Website: www.wsrep.org & www.rauecenter.org

TLS Veterans, based in McHenry County, has served homeless veterans and their families for twenty years. In celebration of their achievements, and to raise funds and greater awareness, the Raue Center is hosting an evening featuring the following local bands: Bourbon Country, What About This, Roger Reupert & Friends, The Blues Crew and Jimmy Nick.

Friday, August 26

9:30 p.m.

Sunset Strip

Firebar & Grill, 435 Angela Lane, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Phone: 815-459-3473 Website: www.enterthestrip.com

Rockford’s Ass Kicking 80’s Hairband Tribute.

Saturday, August 27

8 a.m. Cost: $11/adults & $8/10 & under

Breakfast Club Ride

The Bike Haven, 3318 Pearl Street, McHenry, IL 60050

Phone: 815-385-4642 Website: www.thebikehaven.com

You will meet at The Bike Haven at 8 a.m. then travel as a group to the bike path and then head to a half way point breakfast destination. There you will enjoy a breakfast style buffet and then ride back to The Bike Haven as a group. This is a very family friendly ride. You will pace between 5 and 10 mph and the ride will be no more than ten miles long.

Saturday, August 27

8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Cost: $1/admission

Fall Kid Stuff ReSale

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1023 S. McHenry Avenue, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Phone: 815-459-3096 Website: www.mchenrymothers.org

Admission is $1 at the door, which is donated to local food pantries. Strollers will not be allowed on the sales floor. Please bring a laundry basket or tote for your shopping convenience. Only closely supervised children are allowed on the sales floor.

Saturday, August 27

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Hosta Sale and Bolivian Arts & Crafts Fundraiser for Heifer International

Rich’s Foxwillow Pines Nursery, Inc., 11618 McConnell Road, Woodstock, IL 60098

Phone: 815-338-7442 Website: www.richsfoxwillowpines.com

A wide selection of hostas will be available. All proceeds benefit Heifer International. Sale of colorful Bolivian handicrafts benefits Manoa Mano International Partners. Refreshments will be served.

Saturday, August 27

12 – 3 p.m. FREE

Re-entry Support Luncheon (For those returning to the community after being incarcerated)

First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake, 461 Pierson Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Phone: 708-287-3268 Website: www.mchenrycountyliving.com

Guest Speaker: Thomas Faber, Business Representative, McHenry County Workforce Network; Community Resource Information; Wellness Recovery Action Plan Introduction, a self-help guide promoting personal wellness; Celebration of the Spirit and the Future.

Saturday, August 27

12 – 2 p.m. FREE

Author of “Dean Man on Campus”,  E.M. Kaplan

Read Between the Lynes, 111 E. Van Buren Street, Woodstock, IL 60098

Phone: 815-206-5967 Website: www.readbetweenthelynes.com

EM Kaplan returns with the newest book in her snarky Josie Tucker mystery series. A stalker, a liar, and a dead man. A mysterious letter-writer causes havoc on the idyllic Bader University campus. After a professor receives numerous poison pen letters more and more threatening in nature, Josie Tucker is on the case…grudgingly. All the grumpy food blogger wants is to be left in peace with her dog, her man, and her laptop. She certainly doesn’t need her own gang of meddling kids. Now, she’s the leader of their pack.

Saturday, August 27

5 – 8 p.m. Cost: $45/event t-shirt and 5 drink tokens

Helping Paws Animal Shelter 3^rd Annual Paw Crawl

Public House of Woodstock, 101 N. Johnson Street, Woodstock, IL 60098

Phone: 815-338-4400 or 815-404-6698 Website: www.helpingpaws.net

The following nine businesses are participating and supporting this great event: Public House, Liquid Blues, Ortmann’s, Corner Pub & Grille, Main Street Pour House, Brickstone, D.C. Cobbs, The Cabin and Benton Street Tap.

Saturday, August 27

6 – 10 p.m. Cost: $50

Party with a Purpose (Fundraiser for The Pioneer Center)

Crystal Lake Country Club, 721 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Phone: 815-459-1237 Website: www.pioneercenter.org

The live auction will include: Sporting event tickets, Ireland trip, a week stay at the Ritz Carlton, dinner for a year, wine tasting for 20 and other exciting items! The dinner will be farm-to-table cuisine with assigned seating.  The evening’s entertainment will be by the Aunt Janet Band. A great outdoor event with country club casual attire!

Saturday, August 27

9 – 10 p.m. Cost: $20

Close Encounters: Final Show with Joe Diamond

Dole Mansion, Paranormal Studio, 215, 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Phone: 815-347-5481 Website: www.joediamondlive.wellattended.com/events/close-encounters

Joe Diamond is the Mystery Performer everyone is quietly talking about. Some call him a mind reader, others call him psychic, and still more call him a magician. You now have the chance to decide for yourself, up close and personal! Only 13 people will be admitted to his studio in the ‘supposedly haunted’ Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake for this unique experience. Minds will be read. Predictions will be made. The rest is a mystery… WARNING: All 13 people will be given a quick personal “reading” during the show! As short as these are, they can be quite in depth and personal.

Saturday, August 27

8 – 10 p.m. Cost: $23

Galactic Cowboy Orchestra

Woodstock Opera House, 121 W. Van Buren Street, Woodstock, IL 60098

Phone: 815-338-5300 Website: www.woodstockoperahouse.com

The band features four fun-loving musicians, who don’t take themselves too seriously, and performs music that excites them and appreciates and aspires to superior musicianship while combining their love of a good riff, hummable melody and groovy jam… It all culminates in an intensely energetic live performance!

Sunday, August 28

8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. FREE

“Strut Your Stuff” Sunburst Corvette Club Car Show

Martin Chevrolet, 5220 Northwest Highway, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Phone: 815-459-4000 Website: www.sunburstcorvetteclub.com

Raffles, a silent auction held 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., refreshments are available, door prizes, entertainment provided and there will be up to three awards in each category.

Sunday, August 28

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Cost: $119/resident & $134/non-resident

Adult Short Game Studio

Red Tail Golf Club, 7900 Red Tail Drive, Lakewood, IL  60014

Phone: 815-459-0680 Website: www.crystallakeparks.org

Are you struggling to shoot lower scores, be consistent or three putting? With 65% of your score determined within 75 yards of the green, you cannot afford to struggle with your short game! After attending this 3 hour class and applying the tools on the range, you will be scoring better and gaining confidence with your game. Program includes: Instruction, Video Short Game Guide, Short Game Quick Tips, Bag Tag and bottled water.

Sunday, August 28

1 – 4 p.m. FREE

Monarch Family Fun Fair

Crystal Lake Main Beach Pavilion, 300 Lakeshore Drive, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Phone: 815-678-4532 Website: www.mccdistrict.org

Learn how you can help the monarch butterflies and their miraculous migration across the North American continent. Ongoing: activities, games, face painting, arts, nature trunks, info on planting butterfly gardens and numerous partner booths sharing the work to support Monarchs.

Sunday, August 28

2 – 3 p.m. FREE

Wanders at Wingate Prairie

The Nature Center, 330 N. Main Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Phone: 815-455-1763 Website: www.crystallakeparks.org

Their natural area volunteers gather to share their love of Wingate Prairie and its residents with anyone who wants to better understand and appreciate this precious place.

Sunday, August 28

2 – 4 p.m. FREE with museum admission

Seneca Ladies Literary Society History

McHenry County Historical Museum, 6422 Main Street, Union, IL 60180

Phone: 815-923-2267 Website: www.mchenrycountyhistory.org

The society will talk about its history and new book, “The Seneca Ladies Literary Society – Learning and Laughing Together since 1855,” during a special presentation at the McHenry County Historical Museum.

Sunday, August 28

2 – 4 p.m. Cost: $25/includes wine, beer & cheese vendors, and light hors d’oeuvres

St. Vincent de Paul Society of Woodstock Wine & Beer Tasting Fundraiser

Mixin Mingle, 124 Cass Street, Woodstock, IL 60098

Phone: 815-338-3377 Website: www.mchenrycountyliving.com

The event features wine and beer tastings provided by Garfield’s Beverage Warehouse in Crystal Lake and cheese samplings by Prairie Pure Cheeses of Marengo. Tasty appetizers will be served that will include suggested food pairings for the beverages. There will also be a Feel Good Silent Auction (no need to carry items home!) and a 50-50 raffle.

Sunday, August 28

3 – 5 p.m. Cost: $10/RaueNOW members & $15/non-member

Artful Women: Elizabeth Berg

Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Phone: 815-356-9212 Website: www.rauecenter.org

Celebrated author, Elizabeth Berg, shares personal stories that served as inspiration for her books. Berg will read selected passages from her award-winning novels and take questions afterward.

Monday, August 29

5 – 9 p.m. FREE

Green Street Cruise Night

Corner of Green Street and Route 120, Green Street Municipal lot in downtown McHenry, IL

Phone: 815-728-0404 Website: www.anpac.com

Green Street Cruise Night is the largest and longest cruise night in McHenry County! Hundreds of classic and show-quality vehicles cruise into downtown McHenry on Monday Nights.

Monday, August 29

6 – 8 p.m.

Auditions for “The Heidi Chronicles”

McHenry County College, Black Box Theatre, Bldg E, Room 122, 8900 U.S. Highway 14. Crystal Lake, IL 60012

Phone: 815-455-8746 Website: www.mchenry.edu

Auditions will be held on Monday and Tuesday, August 29 – 30, from 6 – 8 p.m. Please provide a 2 -3 minute contemporary serious or comedic monologue. Callbacks will be held Thursday, September 1, 6 – 10 p.m. “The Heidi Chronicles” has roles for five women and three men. Rehearsals will begin on Monday, September 12 and will meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday. “The Heidi Chronicles” will run November 3,4,5,10,11,12,17,18, 19 with all performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. Copies of the script will be on reserve in the MCC Library.

Tuesday, August 30

8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Cost: $52/resident & $57/non-resident. Ages 18 & up

Maxson Riverboat & John Deere Historical Site – Oregon, IL

Bus departs & returns to Park Place, 406 W. Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Phone: 815-457-0680 ext.1219 Website: www.crystallakeparks.org

Travel to Oregon, IL for a cruise on the The Pride of Oregon, a true paddlewheel boat offering a one of a kind eco friendly cruise on the Rock River. On the cruise, we will experience lunch provided by Maxson Restaurant. Following the boat ride we will head off to John Deere Historical Site in Grand Detour, IL where we will experience a working blacksmith shop and tour Deere’s home. Trip includes boat ride, lunch, and tour.

Tuesday, August 30

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. FREE

Music at the Market

Woodstock Square Historic District, 205 W. Todd Avenue, Woodstock, IL 60098

Website: www.woodstockfarmersmarket.org

Today’s entertainment begins at 9 a.m. with Suzy Schwartz, 10 a.m. is Pete Jonsson and finally at 11 a.m. Rich Prezioso will play.

Tuesday, August 30

5 – 7 p.m. FREE

McHenry Chamber Mixer

Grandma’s Wine Bar & Deli, 28924 W. Route 120, Lakemoor, IL 60051

Phone: 815-385-4300 Website: www.mchenrychamber.com

Great networking opportunities. Complimentary hors d’ oeuvres and beverages.

Tuesday, August 30

6 – 8 p.m.

Auditions for “The Heidi Chronicles”

McHenry County College, Black Box Theatre, Bldg E, Room 122, 8900 U.S. Highway 14. Crystal Lake, IL 60012

Phone: 815-455-8746 Website: www.mchenry.edu

Auditions will be held on Monday and Tuesday, August 29 – 30, from 6 – 8 p.m. Please provide a 2 -3 minute contemporary serious or comedic monologue. Callbacks will be held Thursday, September 1, 6 – 10 p.m. “The Heidi Chronicles” has roles for five women and three men. Rehearsals will begin on Monday, September 12 and will meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday. “The Heidi Chronicles” will run November 3,4,5,10,11,12,17,18, 19 with all performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. Copies of the script will be on reserve in the MCC Library.