This summer's Lake County Fair is in a new location, has new events and plenty to offer for everyone. Yesterday during our webisode filming we enjoyed midway rides, delicious food, cute farm animals, and demonstrations. The most unforgettable part of the day, however was the Banana Derby... never heard of a banana derby? Watch our video and start planning your trip to the Lake County Fair!

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By Visit Lake County Contributor Denise Gentes

Ask anyone around and they’ll tell you that the best way to beat the heat isn’t anything special or difficult, just a refreshing swim in a local pool or lake! Here are our favorite local splashing grounds to help you cool off during all of this summer heat…

Gurnee Park District’s Hunt Club Park Aquatic Center is known for being the largest aquatic center in the county, with room for more than 1400 swimmers and guests! Enjoy slides, a waterfall, picnic area, and sand volleyball. There’s something here for the whole family.

The Round Lake Area Park District boasts a refreshingly cool zero-depth pool, to help accommodate swimmers of all ages and abilities. There is a kid’s pool for little swimmers, as well as designated “adult swim” time. Before and after public swimming hours the Round Lake Area Park District boasts a fantastic schedule of swim lessons, water aerobics, and adult skills classes.

Kick back in Mundelein Park District’s Barefoot Bay Lazy River, or find a friend to go down the tube slide with you. The facility has four different pools, with something for everyone! Barefoot Bay also features a plunge slide, as well as two body slides. Skip the picnic and eat inside the park at the shaded concession area.

For a more natural experience, take a trip over to Waukegan Municipal Beach. The beach is more than a mile long on pristine Lake Michigan shoreline. Enjoy sand volleyball, picnicking, sunbathing, and if you’re brave enough- a dip into cool Lake Michigan!

For more information about pool hours, admission, as well as more locations, please visit our website at visitlakecounty.org

[+/-] click to show/hide this post By Visit Lake County Contributor Denise Gentes

Ask anyone around and they’ll tell you that the best way to beat the heat isn’t anything special or difficult, just a refreshing swim in a local pool or lake! Here are our favorite local splashing grounds to help you cool off during all of this summer heat…

Gurnee Park District’s Hunt Club Park Aquatic Center is known for being the largest aquatic center in the county, with room for more than 1400 swimmers and guests! Enjoy slides, a waterfall, picnic area, and sand volleyball. There’s something here for the whole family.

The Round Lake Area Park District boasts a refreshingly cool zero-depth pool, to help accommodate swimmers of all ages and abilities. There is a kid’s pool for little swimmers, as well as designated “adult swim” time. Before and after public swimming hours the Round Lake Area Park District boasts a fantastic schedule of swim lessons, water aerobics, and adult skills classes.

Kick back in Mundelein Park District’s Barefoot Bay Lazy River, or find a friend to go down the tube slide with you. The facility has four different pools, with something for everyone! Barefoot Bay also features a plunge slide, as well as two body slides. Skip the picnic and eat inside the park at the shaded concession area.

For a more natural experience, take a trip over to Waukegan Municipal Beach. The beach is more than a mile long on pristine Lake Michigan shoreline. Enjoy sand volleyball, picnicking, sunbathing, and if you’re brave enough- a dip into cool Lake Michigan!

For more information about pool hours, admission, as well as more locations, please visit our website at visitlakecounty.org

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By: Lake County contributor Denise Gentes

As July temperatures are rising, Lake County has a lot of cool, indoor activities to offer, as well as refreshing outdoor events!

1. The place to be on Thursday nights is Deerfield Square for an evening concert. This week New Colony Six will play, and has been considered a “quintessential Chicago 60’s garage band.” Bring a blanket and enjoy some free popcorn, throwback music, and a gorgeous evening!
2. Perhaps the best spot for an extended lunch break on Friday is downtown Libertyville. More than fourteen vendors, as well as musical performers will be in Cook Park from 11am-2pm, giving you the perfect reason to take a lunch break and stay away from work for a while to enjoy the gorgeous afternoon.
3. The PM&L Theater in Antioch is running the hit musical, The Producers, all weekend as well as the next. Friday and Saturday night shows are at 8pm with a matinee show on Sunday at 2:30. Two down-on-their-luck Broadway producers scheme to produce a play that will surely fail, and in turn be rich from the money that was invested… little do they know that their terrible play will actually be a success!
4. If you’re a fan of U2 and are looking to see a fantastic live act this weekend, be sure to check out Viper Alley in Lincolnshire. Vertigo USA is hailed to be one of the best U2 cover bands, for their attention to detail, costumes and special effects. Tickets are from $6-15; a fun night out with Vertigo USA will cost far less than a tank of gas!
5. Sunday is International Bog Day, and festivities will be going on at Lake County’s Volo Bog. From noon until 4pm there will be musical entertainment, guided tours, a silent auction, as well as meet and greets with wildlife and children’s crafts and snacks for sale. The Volo Bog is a very unique feature to Illinois and the Midwest- it is the only bog in the state with an open water center.

Visit Lake County serves as the official destination marketing organization for Lake County, Illinois and partners with municipalities, hotels, attractions and hospitality related businesses to stimulate visitor spending throughout the county. Visit Lake County provides travel resources for visitors through 1-800-LAKE-NOW and www.VisitLakeCounty.org.

[+/-] click to show/hide this post

By: Lake County contributor Denise Gentes

As July temperatures are rising, Lake County has a lot of cool, indoor activities to offer, as well as refreshing outdoor events!

1. The place to be on Thursday nights is Deerfield Square for an evening concert. This week New Colony Six will play, and has been considered a “quintessential Chicago 60’s garage band.” Bring a blanket and enjoy some free popcorn, throwback music, and a gorgeous evening!
2. Perhaps the best spot for an extended lunch break on Friday is downtown Libertyville. More than fourteen vendors, as well as musical performers will be in Cook Park from 11am-2pm, giving you the perfect reason to take a lunch break and stay away from work for a while to enjoy the gorgeous afternoon.
3. The PM&L Theater in Antioch is running the hit musical, The Producers, all weekend as well as the next. Friday and Saturday night shows are at 8pm with a matinee show on Sunday at 2:30. Two down-on-their-luck Broadway producers scheme to produce a play that will surely fail, and in turn be rich from the money that was invested… little do they know that their terrible play will actually be a success!
4. If you’re a fan of U2 and are looking to see a fantastic live act this weekend, be sure to check out Viper Alley in Lincolnshire. Vertigo USA is hailed to be one of the best U2 cover bands, for their attention to detail, costumes and special effects. Tickets are from $6-15; a fun night out with Vertigo USA will cost far less than a tank of gas!
5. Sunday is International Bog Day, and festivities will be going on at Lake County’s Volo Bog. From noon until 4pm there will be musical entertainment, guided tours, a silent auction, as well as meet and greets with wildlife and children’s crafts and snacks for sale. The Volo Bog is a very unique feature to Illinois and the Midwest- it is the only bog in the state with an open water center.

Visit Lake County serves as the official destination marketing organization for Lake County, Illinois and partners with municipalities, hotels, attractions and hospitality related businesses to stimulate visitor spending throughout the county. Visit Lake County provides travel resources for visitors through 1-800-LAKE-NOW and www.VisitLakeCounty.org.

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The summer is upon us and Lake County is vibrant with events and activities for the whole family to enjoy this weekend. Here are our top 5 picks for area residents and visitors to experience.

1. Vernon Hills Summer Celebration happening all weekend at Century Park in Vernon Hills. Residents will enjoy free entertainment, carnival rides, food vendors, a beer tent and much more.
2. ArtWauk in Downtown Waukegan on Saturday at 5pm. Enjoy live music, visit local art galleries, speak with artists and explore Downtown Waukegan.
3. Antioch’s Taste of Summer is happening all weekend in Downtown Antioch. There will be carnival rides, specialty treats from area restaurants, live entertainment at the Bandshell, sidewalk sales and much more.
4. 2^nd Annual Bloody Mary Fest in Highwood on Sunday. In addition to dozens of vendors and a Bloody Mary contest, there will be mimosas, brunch recipe contest, live Blues music and the first annual Dine and Dash AKA Get Me A Bucket event.
5. Long Grove’s Summer Concert Series featuring Sones de Mexico this Sunday at 4pm at Fountain Square in Long Grove. Sones de Mexico is a unique ensemble of seasoned Mexican folk musicians and educators.

No matter what route you take, all roads lead to fun in Lake County this weekend. You will discover great dining, plentiful shopping, exciting attractions and much more. I hope everyone enjoys everything we have to offer and has a fantastic Lake County weekend!

- Anthony

[+/-] click to show/hide this post

The summer is upon us and Lake County is vibrant with events and activities for the whole family to enjoy this weekend. Here are our top 5 picks for area residents and visitors to experience.

1. Vernon Hills Summer Celebration happening all weekend at Century Park in Vernon Hills. Residents will enjoy free entertainment, carnival rides, food vendors, a beer tent and much more.
2. ArtWauk in Downtown Waukegan on Saturday at 5pm. Enjoy live music, visit local art galleries, speak with artists and explore Downtown Waukegan.
3. Antioch’s Taste of Summer is happening all weekend in Downtown Antioch. There will be carnival rides, specialty treats from area restaurants, live entertainment at the Bandshell, sidewalk sales and much more.
4. 2^nd Annual Bloody Mary Fest in Highwood on Sunday. In addition to dozens of vendors and a Bloody Mary contest, there will be mimosas, brunch recipe contest, live Blues music and the first annual Dine and Dash AKA Get Me A Bucket event.
5. Long Grove’s Summer Concert Series featuring Sones de Mexico this Sunday at 4pm at Fountain Square in Long Grove. Sones de Mexico is a unique ensemble of seasoned Mexican folk musicians and educators.

No matter what route you take, all roads lead to fun in Lake County this weekend. You will discover great dining, plentiful shopping, exciting attractions and much more. I hope everyone enjoys everything we have to offer and has a fantastic Lake County weekend!

- Anthony

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By Visit Lake County Contributor Denise Gentes

Charge up your cameras for this weekend and let your Facebook friends know what you’re up to because this is one for the books! If you’ve ever had dreams about sharing an afternoon with Elvis, or perhaps President Lincoln, your dreams can come true in Lake County!

Saturday kicks off the first day of the 20^th Annual Civil War Days at Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda. Throughout the day there will be battle reenactments, scavenger hunts, and children's crafts. Be sure to wander through the both the Confederate and Union camps before finding a spot to watch the narrated battle at 3 pm. President Lincoln will address the camp after the battle commences, an important historical speech not to be missed. Along with the President and his wife, Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman will be making appearances on both Saturday and Sunday.

When the sun has set on the Civil War and Saturday afternoon, take a trip to Ingleside and visit Dog n’ Suds and spend some time with Elvis himself! Miller’s Dog n’ Suds Drive In will be featuring its Classic Car Night, as well as 50’s style dining, complete with car hops, Coney dogs, shakes, and a picnic area. Grab some dinner and sing along with the King himself!

For more information, hours and directions for both events, please visit http://www.visitlakecounty.org/events.cfm

[+/-] click to show/hide this post

By Visit Lake County Contributor Denise Gentes

Charge up your cameras for this weekend and let your Facebook friends know what you’re up to because this is one for the books! If you’ve ever had dreams about sharing an afternoon with Elvis, or perhaps President Lincoln, your dreams can come true in Lake County!

Saturday kicks off the first day of the 20^th Annual Civil War Days at Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda. Throughout the day there will be battle reenactments, scavenger hunts, and children's crafts. Be sure to wander through the both the Confederate and Union camps before finding a spot to watch the narrated battle at 3 pm. President Lincoln will address the camp after the battle commences, an important historical speech not to be missed. Along with the President and his wife, Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman will be making appearances on both Saturday and Sunday.

When the sun has set on the Civil War and Saturday afternoon, take a trip to Ingleside and visit Dog n’ Suds and spend some time with Elvis himself! Miller’s Dog n’ Suds Drive In will be featuring its Classic Car Night, as well as 50’s style dining, complete with car hops, Coney dogs, shakes, and a picnic area. Grab some dinner and sing along with the King himself!

For more information, hours and directions for both events, please visit http://www.visitlakecounty.org/events.cfm

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