Things To Do This Weekend July 17-19, 2026

By: Stephanie Wylie 07/16/2026

Whether it’s the hum of tires winding along scenic lakeside highways, the savory aroma of multicultural street food wafting through downtown Highwood, or the surreal sight of fairies dancing around a woodland maypole, mid-July in Lake County is all about choosing your own adventure.

Now, let’s dive into the top five things to do in Lake County this weekend, July 17-19, 2026.

1. Lake County Road Trips

Lake County is a region defined as much by its water as its roads. Explore five distinct routes for travelers looking to travel the area by car, bike or on foot this summer. The Lake County Road Trips guide traces paths along some of the region's most scenic corridors: U.S. Routes 21 and 45, Illinois Route 83, U.S Route 41 and U.S. Route 12. Each route is its own proposition. Some follow the lake chains and forest preserves, while others thread through historic downtowns and local business districts. Visitors can also participate in two giveaways: a contest is conducted giving away four free tickets to Six Flags Great America. During this adventure, Visit Lake County encourages content creators and influencers (no matter your skill level) to participate in the Reel Lake County Challenge. Visitors are invited to capture your Lake County experience via vertical video this summer for a chance to win $300 or an overnight stay at Great Wolf Lodge Illinois in Gurnee. Find the full Lake County Road Trips guide at VisitLakeCounty.org. Lake County Road Trips run through mid-August. Let the ride take you to the land of lakes!

Friday-Sunday, July 17-19; Various locations in Lake County, Illinois.

2. Highwood Days and Taste of Highwood

The 59th annual Highwood Days and Carnival returns July 17-19, along with the second annual Taste of Highwood. This three-day, free admission festival combines carnival rides, live music, local food and a 5K into one of the North Shore's most anticipated summer weekends. The Highwood Days Carnival sets up in the downtown Metra Station parking lot, with rides and games. A block away, Everts Park hosts the Taste of Highwood, where local restaurants bring Highwood's multicultural dining scene outdoors for a weekend of samplings and live music. Saturday morning opens early with the Highwood 5K Family Fun Run, Walk and Stroll in the downtown area, benefiting the Oak Terrace Parent Teacher Organization. The festival runs rain or shine. Updates on the event are available at CelebrateHighwood.org.

Friday-Sunday, July 17-19; Fri.: 5 to 9 p.m., Sat.: 5K Family Run, Walk and Stroll: 9 a.m., Festival: 1 to 9 p.m. and Sun.: 1 to 7 p.m. Free admission. Food options and carnival have separate costs.  Downtown Highwood, Metra Station Parking Lot, 317 Green Bay Rd., Highwood.

3. Grayslake AuthorFest

Grayslake AuthorFest is back with a bang, featuring more than 50 authors, a full slate of panels, live poetry and community activities into a free, five-hour celebration of books and the people who make them. The free admission day opens with author sales and book signings running the full event, giving readers direct access to over 50 wordsmiths covering a medley of niches like fiction, nonfiction, young adult, poetry and beyond. Three panel discussions run through the afternoon inside the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum. Outside, the Grayslake Arts Alliance hosts an activities tent, and attendees can try erasure poetry, a magnetic word board, typewriter poetry and a community book exchange. The afternoon extends down the block to Andy's Records, where there's an open-mic poetry session. Details are at GrayslakeVillageCenter.com.

Saturday, July 18; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission. Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum, 164 Hawley St., Grayslake.

4. Vernon Hills Days

Vernon Hills Days gives you a reason to clear the whole weekend. One of Lake County's premier and free admission local festivals takes over Century Park and this year's lineup includes headliner and 1970 Grammy Award-winner for “Album of the Year” Blood, Sweat and Tears on Friday night. The James Barker Band closes out Saturday. And after both shows, the party keeps going under the tent until midnight with a DJ dance party. Windy City Amusements brings a full midway of myriad thrill rides to Century Park for the entire weekend, with unlimited-ride wristbands available at each session. The Kids Zone includes crafts, face painting, pony rides and a petting zoo. Twelve fare vendors spread across the park cover just about every craving imaginable: smoked brisket, street tacos, fresh pizza and more. The full schedule and ticket information are at VHDays.com. 

Friday-Sunday, July 17-19; Fri.: 4:30 p.m. to 12 a.m., Sat.: 1 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Sun.: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Windy City amusements and other activities include admissions. Century Park Arboretum, 1002 Lakeview Pkwy., Vernon Hills.  

5. Cottagecore Weekend at Bristol Renaissance Faire

Bristol Renaissance Faire just over the Lake County border hosts a party like it’s 1599 every weekend throughout the summer equipped with Queen Elizabeth, knights, minstrels, jesters, swordfighters, fairies, elves, wizards and so much more. This weekend embraces its enchanted side this weekend for Cottagecore Weekend. Two days of woodland attire, fairy magic, maypole dancing and handmade treasures invite visitors to slow down and explore. The weekend's centerpiece is the Cozy Crawl, a self-guided map available at the Guest Services Gazebo that leads visitors through the village to artisans creating handmade goods. A Cottagecore Maypole Dance welcomes the summer in style; toadstool enthusiasts have their own secret meetup to find; Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trivia offers original questions and more. The weekend closes each evening with the Fairy Frolic Drum Jam. Tickets and the full stage schedule are at RenFaire.com. 

Saturday-Sunday, July 17-18; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $48.00 for Adults. Children ages five to 12 years old admission: $23.00. Children ages four and under receive free admission. Bristol Renaissance Faire, 12550 120th Ave., Kenosha.  

For more things to do this weekend, July 17-19, 2026, click here.