“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” – Billy Shakes (or William Shakespeare if you’re looking for a government name source).
Are we past the summer’s midway point? Not entirely, but August is jam-packed full of splendid warm-season events for you and the family to put on the docket.
The festivals reign supreme in Lake County. To find a full schedule of the summer party sessions, continue here.
"Oh, the places you'll go" and explore, and those sites, sounds and feels will leave you and the family with memory makers. Lake County Road Trips showcases five different experiences via car, bike or hoofing to create an adventure on the land of lakes' arterial highways: Illinois Route 21, U.S. Route 45, Illinois Route 83, Illinois Route 41 and U.S. Route 12. So this summer, don't just take a road trip. Explore, explore, explore!
Ahhhwooooo! The wolf has risen. Your little slip-and-sliders can have summer fun in the Great Wolf Lodge Illinois. Whatever the temperature may be outside, it’s always a comfortable 84 degrees in the Gurnee resort. Your woodsy adventure starts and ends with the 80,000-square-foot facility with water slides, a river to be lazy on, a wave pool, a kiddie area and so much more. Great Wolf Lodge is also highlighted by mini-golf, an arcade, a bowling alley, fun and games with Wolf characters and so much more. Venture to the Gurnee facility for a fam glamping experience. Mosquitos aren’t invited. Summer Camp-in runs daily through August 27. To book your overnight stay, head to GreatWolf.com. Summer Camp-in runs through August 27.
The Volo Museum, located in Volo, Illinois, is a 36-acre museum that features over 10,000 mechanical marvels, including classic cars, Hollywood vehicles, planes, trains, boats, bikes, scooters, a 15,000-square-foot animatronic dinosaur park called Jurassic Gardens, an antique mall with over 300 vendors and more. The museum boasts over 45 exhibits, including the Military Museum, Crime and Punishment Museum, the Disney Exhibit, the Titanic exhibit, and Jurassic Gardens, highlighted by over 30 different dinosaurs. There are plenty of photo opportunities, including General Lee from "The Dukes of Hazzard," automotives from the "Fast and the Furious" franchise, the Mystery Machine from "Scooby-Doo," the Disney double-decker bus, the Batmobile from the Batman DC Comics franchise, the van from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," the station wagon from "Ghostbusters" and so much more. The renowned collection has been featured on The Travel Channel, History Channel, and Discovery Channel. On Saturday, the Lake County museum hosts its Supercars for Charity Car Show, highlighted by incredible cars in collaboration with Chitown Exotics, delectable eats, an RC race track, and more. The proceeds go to the Kitties Warriors Foundation – an organization supporting cancer patients undergoing treatment. The museum is open year-round.
Even if you don't own a DeLorean, you can travel back to the past to experience the 16th-century English Elizabethan era just over the Wisconsin border. The renowned Bristol Renaissance Faire opens its drawbridge for the season featuring sword fighters, maidens, minstrels, and jesters. There are many photo opportunities for having the chance to meet and greet legendary celebrities such as Queen Elizabeth and Robin Hood. The Faire also offers games, rides, arts and crafts, eats, live music, and one-of-a-kind encounters with a spectacular cast of characters. Bristol Renaissance Faire is open on weekends through Labor Day. For more information, go to RenFair.com/Bristol.
In the summertime where the Lake County weather's fine, you can experience myriad potions when browsing ninety-nine bottles of libations on the wall. The Lake County Libation Trail options for our marquee season are sure to pique your interest. We make our own here in Lake County. So take your taste buds out for a treat as we recline, relax and loosen up with summer libations in Lake County. Cheers Lake County. You've earned the time to let your hair down as you take back a few Lake County summer libations.
The sun is out; the streets are vibrant with live Spotify sounds; the foodies are exploring their palate with enchanting eats and drinks, the thrill-seekers are craving carnival rides and so much more.
Live entertainment always gets your juices flowing when you’re looking for a new tune to hum. Here are some must-see concerts in the land of lakes. Visit our events page for a full lineup, but here are some of the heavy hitters for August.
If you’ve been under a rock in the last decade, mobile eateries are sweeping the nation. However, believe it or not, the Chicagoland area was one of the late adopters. Not that there weren’t food trucks available out here, but these cuisine-making vehicles were forced to prepare their eats at a commercial kitchen. Since 2012, these mobile chefs received the right to cook onboard a truck, according to the Chicago Tribune. As a result, Lake County hosts four exceptional eating events throughout the summer:
Based on the story of Rose Evangeline Hovick, a real life burlesque artist from the 1920s. "Gypsy" follows an ambitious stage mother who will stop at nothing to make her daughters stars. From town to town, the mother takes them through the unsuspecting world of vaudeville. This comedic and heartwarming adaptation explores the relationship between mothers and daughters. Rose's love for her daughters is fierce but is also suffocating. She pushes them to the brink of their limits, and she never seems to be satisfied with their success. The musical features songs like "Everything's Coming up Roses," "Let Me Entertain You," "Some People" and "Together Wherever We Go." The Lincolnshire show runs on select days from August 13-October 15.
The land of lakes is home to over 200 lakes and miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, which means the beaches are abundant. Searching for an adventure in one of the Great Lakes? Illinois Beach State Park in Zion or Waukegan Municipal Beach is your destination. Taking your little guppies for a more youngster-friendly environment? Lake Zurich’s Paulus Park Beach has lifeguards and a water playground. So take a dip and cool yourself off this summer along one of Lake County’s relaxing shorelines. So kick back and relax, and remember, life’s a beach!
For more things to do throughout August, continue here. To learn more about Lake County Road Trips, click here.
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