What better place is there to celebrate the birthday of America than with the Navy as Naval Station Great Lakes celebrates its birthday as well?
Since 1911, Navy recruits have been going through the Naval Station Great Lakes to receive training, go through boot camp, and go from civilians into sailors. The Naval Station Great Lakes will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year with a huge Fourth of July celebration. Since the end of Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s, Great Lakes is the only base in the country to train Naval recruits.
This Fourth of July the base will be celebrating its incredible history with a weekend-long celebration. The event kicks off on Saturday, July 2nd with a carnival, live boxing matches, a puppet show, Sweet Tomatoes sponsored eating contest, a performance from the Navy band, and more food than your stomach will know how to handle. Throughout the weekend there will also be bingo, a craft show and historical tours. Sunday, July 3rd will feature a 5K run/walk in the morning, as well as a performance from Saving Abel later in the evening. A motorcyle stunt show will perform multiple times in the afternoon, and at approximately 9:30pm the fireworks will begin. Finally, on the 4th of July, bands covering the likes of John Mellencamp, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Cash and the Beatles will perform, and the night will end with an even bigger firework display than the evening before.
Admission to the base is free all weekend, and this is one celebration that can only happen once every 100 years, so why miss it? For more information, be sure to look for the event's page on facebook "Naval Station Great Lakes July 4th Celebration" or check on our website visitlakecounty.org.
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June is National Candy Month- Celebrate in Lake County!
June is National Candy Month, a holiday all of us are more than willing to enjoy! There are a lot of “sweet” places right here in Lake County where you can celebrate this summer, no trip to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory necessary. The Long Grove Confectionery Company offers free tours on Saturday afternoons, with tours leaving on the hour. Any chocolate lover will be in paradise seeing live production of the gourmet treats, and the trip can be completed with a visit to the outlet store to score some discounted chocolate! The Popcorn Factory in Lake Forest is another great stop to stock up on sweets. The factory has cookies, candy, nuts, and of course- popcorn! The Popcorn Factory will have a booth at the Mundelein Farmers Market this summer, on Fridays from 3-7pm in downtown Mundelein. No candy-lover’s life in Lake County is truly complete until a visit to the Jelly Belly Factory, however. Just over the border in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, visitors can receive free tours through the Jelly Belly Factory and stop in the gift shop to stock up on their favorite flavors, and even “Belly Flops” or imperfectly shaped beans at a discounted price. July 7-11th Jelly Belly is celebrating their 10th anniversary in Pleasant Prairie and is having a celebration for the whole family! The first 200 to arrive on the 7th receive a gift bag, and there will be carnival rides, face painting, tours and a live radio broadcast from 102.3 WXLC.
Coming up in July is National Hot Dog Month, what are some great locations in Lake County to find some delicious hot dogs?
June is National Candy Month, a holiday all of us are more than willing to enjoy! There are a lot of “sweet” places right here in Lake County where you can celebrate this summer, no trip to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory necessary. The Long Grove Confectionery Company offers free tours on Saturday afternoons, with tours leaving on the hour. Any chocolate lover will be in paradise seeing live production of the gourmet treats, and the trip can be completed with a visit to the outlet store to score some discounted chocolate! The Popcorn Factory in Lake Forest is another great stop to stock up on sweets. The factory has cookies, candy, nuts, and of course- popcorn! The Popcorn Factory will have a booth at the Mundelein Farmers Market this summer, on Fridays from 3-7pm in downtown Mundelein. No candy-lover’s life in Lake County is truly complete until a visit to the Jelly Belly Factory, however. Just over the border in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, visitors can receive free tours through the Jelly Belly Factory and stop in the gift shop to stock up on their favorite flavors, and even “Belly Flops” or imperfectly shaped beans at a discounted price. July 7-11th Jelly Belly is celebrating their 10th anniversary in Pleasant Prairie and is having a celebration for the whole family! The first 200 to arrive on the 7th receive a gift bag, and there will be carnival rides, face painting, tours and a live radio broadcast from 102.3 WXLC.
Coming up in July is National Hot Dog Month, what are some great locations in Lake County to find some delicious hot dogs?
American Eagle coaster at Six Flags celebrates 30 years!
By Visit Lake County blog contributor Denise Gentes
Recent developments in roller coaster technology have sparked a great debate: which is scarier, metal or wood coasters? Metal coasters can hurl you upside-down, back and forth, but in the end it is the wooden coasters than are the most terrifying. The clicking of the coaster as it climbs the first hill, the shaking of the wooden structure as you fly down the first big drop… wooden coasters have it all. Six Flags Great America’s American Eagle has been a local favorite for years, and is celebrating its 30th birthday this summer! Despite being thirty years old, the American Eagle boasts four world records for being the longest, fastest, and tallest wooden roller coaster in the world. Be sure to check out this video of the American Eagle being constructed back in 1981, it will give you a newfound appreciation for the awesome coaster! If you are looking for summer savings visit our coupons for $20 off Six Flags Great America.
Recent developments in roller coaster technology have sparked a great debate: which is scarier, metal or wood coasters? Metal coasters can hurl you upside-down, back and forth, but in the end it is the wooden coasters than are the most terrifying. The clicking of the coaster as it climbs the first hill, the shaking of the wooden structure as you fly down the first big drop… wooden coasters have it all. Six Flags Great America’s American Eagle has been a local favorite for years, and is celebrating its 30th birthday this summer! Despite being thirty years old, the American Eagle boasts four world records for being the longest, fastest, and tallest wooden roller coaster in the world. Be sure to check out this video of the American Eagle being constructed back in 1981, it will give you a newfound appreciation for the awesome coaster! If you are looking for summer savings visit our coupons for $20 off Six Flags Great America.
After a long winter and an even longer spring, it seems like no one can hide their enthusiasm about the warm weather. To some, this means switching from the treadmill to outdoor trails, or sneaking outside at lunch to eat in the parking lot instead of in front of a desk. Propane tanks are being filled and grills across the county are getting fired up. Tis the season to do things outdoors, and that’s just what our theme is this month- all outdoors!
The best part about summertime is getting to eat meals outside, either on the back porch at home or on a restaurant patio perhaps overlooking one of the many lakes that Lake County is named for. The Silo in Lake Bluff now has its front patio open, a perfect spot for a date or even a family pizza night. Nothing beats their Chicago-style pan pizza, but eating outside definitely makes it an even better experience. If you’re in the mood for something from our neighbors to the south, El Puerto is the best choice for al fresco Mexican dining. Located at Leisure Point in Fox Lake, El Puerto can be reached by boat or by car. All of their dishes are to die for, but if you’re short on time, a margarita is an unbeatable choice.
While you’re out on the lake, Blarney Island should be your next stop. To some, the Island is the closest thing to Key West in the Midwest. Trick yourself into thinking you’re in the Caribbean on Sunday, June 12th and catch Mr. Myers performing at 2pm with steel drums, limbo contests and all your favorite songs by Marley, Buffet and more. Blarney Island can be accessed by a shuttle boat from the Port of Blarney on Grass Lake Road, or by personal boats.
For the cultural and artistically minded, Saturday, June 18th promises two very unique art festivals in Waukegan and Grayslake. Grayslake will be featuring artists from all over the Midwest, specializing in anything from ceramics to watercolor painting. Located in the historic downtown, there are plenty of options to stop for snacks and drinks, especially down the road at Miller’s Dog ‘n Suds for some famous root beer or a shake. Waukegan’s Juneteeth Celebration will feature a celebration commemorating the abolition of slavery. Musical performances will happen throughout the day, as well as food and merchandise booths, and the College of Lake County History Tent.
Not surprisingly, most events and activities through the Lake County Forest Preserve are featured outside. On Saturday, June 11th there will be a Paddle at Dusk event held at Independence Grove. Paddlers of any skill level are welcome to test out the calm waters from 6:30-9pm on a gorgeous summer Saturday night. Pre-registration on the Forest Preserve website is required. For those seeking an even bigger challenge, the Des Plaines River Trail is 31 miles long and runs through the whole county, starting just below the Wisconsin border and traveling into Deerfield. We’d suggest not doing the whole trail in one day, since once you get to the end point in one direction, you have to come back! This is something our summer intern frequently forgets while biking!
