With long days and warm nights, summer weekends are made for exploring. Whether you’re staying local or venturing out, here are a few events worth adding to your calendar.
Make Summer Memories at Lake County Fair
A county fair in the height of summer just feels right! Lake County’s annual bash brings all the essentials: a classic midway with rides and carnival games, live music, livestock barns, demolition derbies, and enough funnel cake to make you forget any diet. Stroll the grounds for old-school fun, test your aim at the ring toss, then grab a lemonade and watch the tractor pulls rumble through. Bring the kids or just tap into your own inner-child for an afternoon of sweet corn and Ferris wheel nostalgia.
Date: July 25-27
Time: Fri & Sat 12PM-11PM; Sun 10AM-8PM
Cost: $15
Location: Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E Peterson Rd, Grayslake
More Info: lcfair.com
Head to Out of Space
This annual open-air concert series transforms suburban nights into intimate jam sessions under the stars. This year’s Out of Space lineup is especially stacked: Shakey Graves and Joy Oladokun get things rolling Friday. Saturday brings Rodrigo y Gabriela’s guitar wizardry, while The Decemberists headline Sunday alongside Kevin Morby.
Date: July 25-27
Time: 6PM-10PM
Cost: $65+
Location: Illinois Science + Technology Park Field, 4900 Searle Pkwy, Skokie
More Info: outofspaceconcerts.com
Hunt for Treasures at Vintage Days
Long Grove’s Vintage Days is a treasure hunt dressed up as a weekend fair. This annual outdoor market transforms the village’s quaint downtown into a pop-up bazaar of antiques, repurposed finds, and handmade goods. Between browsing reclaimed furniture and retro trinkets, take a hayride, catch live music, or grab a bite from one of the local food stands.
Date: July 26-27
Time: Sat 10AM-6PM; Sun 10AM-5PM
Cost: Free
Location: 145 Old McHenry Rd, Long Grove
More Info: longgrove.org
Get Inspired at Art at the Glen
If you love outdoor art fairs, Glenview’s Art at the Glen is a must. Over 100 artists will display everything from striking sculptures to intricate jewelry, with plenty of chances to chat up the makers themselves. Stop by the Kids Art Zone for spin art and face painting, or take in a live painting demo. With live music, festival snacks, and the shops and restaurants of The Glen Town Center just steps away, this is one summer art walk that’s more than worth the trip.
Date: July 26-27
Time: 10AM-5PM
Cost: Free
Location: 2030 Tower Dr, Glenview
More Info: amdurproductions.com
Party Poolside at Adults Night Out
Who says kids get to have all the waterpark fun? Adults Night Out is a splashy reminder that grown-ups deserve pool floats and snow cones, too. For one night only, the park opens after hours just for the 21+ crowd, complete with food trucks, a DJ, and poolside games that get more fun as the sun goes down. It’s a no-kids, all-good excuse to cannonball your way through the dog days of summer.
Date: July 26
Time: 6PM-10PM
Cost: $15
Location: Turtle Creek Waterpark, 635 N Aspen Dr, Vernon Hills
More Info: vhparkdistrict.org
