Things To Do This Weekend August 7-9, 2026

By: Stephanie Stang 08/03/2026

Whether you are looking to spend your weekend humming along to Sondheim under the stage lights, strolling alongside therapy miniature horses or watching fireworks light up the night sky, Lake County is serving up a stacked lineup of local flavor and entertainment. From classic rock tributes on the lakefront to decades-old fire engines parked at a local brewery, there is no shortage of ways to soak up the final weeks of summer across the northern suburbs. Here is a look at six can't-miss events happening across the area this Friday through Sunday.

Let's look at Lake County's top five things to do this weekend, August 7-9, 2026

1. Gurnee Days

A parade Saturday morning. Fireworks Saturday night. A car show and a softball game Sunday. Gurnee Days does not waste a single hour of the weekend. The annual festival returns with three days of food, live music and community celebration anchored by one of Lake County's largest fireworks displays. Attendees will enjoy live music, food trucks, car shows, softball games and more throughout the weekend. For a full schedule of events, visit gurneeparkdistrict.com.

Friday through Sunday, Aug. 7-9; Friday: 1 to 10 p.m.; Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Sunday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free admission. Viking Park, 1001 Kilbourne Road, Gurnee.

2. "A Little Night Music" at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire

Love makes fools of us all. The Marriott Theatre is happy to prove it. The Tony Award-winning "A Little Night Music" is set in turn-of-the-century Sweden. The musical follows the romantic affairs surrounding actress Desirée Armfeldt and the men hopelessly devoted to her. The score includes "Send in the Clowns," one of the most strikingly beautiful songs in American musical theater. Tickets are available at marriotttheatre.com.

Friday through Sunday, Aug. 7-9; Friday: 7:30 p.m.; Saturday: 4 and 8 p.m.; Sunday: 1 p.m. Tickets start at $80. Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire.

3. "Walk with Me" with SOUL Harbour Ranch Therapy Animals at Deer Park Town Center

SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program returns to Deer Park Town Center for another season of its "Walk with Me" program in partnership with Pet Partners. Each session begins on the sidewalk under the maple trees across from Pottery Barn. Participants join the therapy teams — registered miniature horses and dogs — for a 20- to 30-minute walk around the shopping center, followed by a 30-minute visit and photo opportunity with the animals. Sessions are weather permitting; preregistration required at shopdeerparktowncenter.com.

Sunday, Aug. 9; 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Free admission. Deer Park Town Center, 20530 N. Rand Road, Deer Park.

4. Mainstreet Libertyville Lunch in the Park

MainStreet Libertyville's Lunch in the Park series pairs local food vendors with live entertainment in the heart of downtown, supplying a midday escape that works equally well for a leisurely lunch with friends or a quick outdoor break from the workday. Lunch in the Park will feature music by Bluewater Creek Band for your listening pleasure. For further details, visit mainstreetlibertyville.org.

Friday, Aug. 7; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free admission. Cook Park, 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville.

5. Live at the Lake in Lake Zurich

An evening by the water and two of rock's most beloved catalogs. Live at the Lake continues with a triple-bill evening of live music opening with Heart2Hearbreaker, followed by Simply Billy and Simply Elton, a back-to-back tribute pairing that covers Billy Joel and Elton John's combined decades of anthems underneath the open sky. For more information, visit lakezurich.org.

Saturday, Aug. 8; 5 p.m. Free admission. Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich.

6. Antique Fire Truck Show at Tighthead Brewing Company

There is something about a beautifully preserved antique fire truck that stops people cold, drawn in by the chrome and the history and the sheer scale of the thing. Tighthead Brewing Company hosts the Antique Fire Truck Show, bringing out Mundelein's Old Number One alongside dozens of restored antique trucks for a free, all-ages afternoon on the brewery grounds. Food, drinks and live music round out the event. Details are at mundelein.org.

Saturday, Aug. 8; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free admission. Tighthead Brewing Co., 161 N. Archer Ave., Mundelein.

For more things to do this weekend, August 8-10, 2026, click here.