Top 10 Things To Do in February 2022
By: Jonathan Jones 01/27/2022
February brings the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, Black History Month, the Academy Awards, Fat Tuesday, Groundhog Day and, of course – everyone’s favorite day: National Plum Pudding Day (Feb 12). Finally, last but not least,
National Drink Wine Day (the convention and visitor bureau’s favorite holiday on February 18).
Speaking of wine, take a walk on the Lake County Libation Trail as month two is a cheers to our favorite adult beverages: Lake County Libation Trail Month/Check-in Challenge. Check and taste all of the rich grapey tastes our makers offer in the vino department Glunz Family Winery and Cellars in Grayslake, Lynfred Winery in Wheeling, Pazzo di Vino in Highwood, Valentino Vineyards in Long Grove and Vigneto del Bino and Winery in Antioch. Continue here for a full list of our brewery and distillery partners.
And speaking of wine and eats, don’t forget to mark your calendars from April 1-9 as Visit Lake County throws Lake County Restaurant Week: Ten Days to Savor. This delectable event enables foodies and libationers to support their local cuisine and spirit makers, find new favorites, sample local cuisine and share their social media experiences via indoor, alfresco and/or take-out dining.
After you peruse what to do this February, take a look at some of the exceptional shots from the #LetsSnapLakeCounty Photo Contest, and where to go sledding and tubing in the land of lakes. Stay tuned for our Valentine's Day blog coming soon.
So without further adieu, stay warm and peruse your top 10 things to do in February 2022!
Let’s toast to the
Lake County Libation Trail! “It’s five o’clock somewhere,” as suds aficionados, vino connoisseurs and spirit enthusiasts will be elated with these glasses of “liquid courage.” The Lake County Libation Trail is highlighted by 30 of the most delectable flavors from locally-sourced ingredients. Whether your adult beverage is an ice-cold frothy lager, a dry red merlot or an old-fashioned on the rocks, Lake County has precisely what you need to make your taste buds dance. This
Check-in Challenge runs all of February. When craft drinkers arrive at a participating location, they check in using their mobile pass to show they’re in attendance. If libation-ers check in to five or more participants of the Lake County Libation Trail by February 28, they are entered into a sweepstakes to win a prize. Get Trail Hoppin’!
The Black Community has deep roots in Lake County. The influence of African American culture is vibrant and resonates in all facets of tourism throughout the land of lakes. In February, we look at Black pioneers, minds, art and movement. Here’s a list of Black History Month programming happening in the land of lakes.
- Waukegan History Museum Pop-up Exhibit on display (Feb. 1-28) INFO»
- African American Historical Sites Self-Guided Tour on the Waukegan History Museum Companion App (Feb 1.-28) INFO»
- Fourth Annual Lake County's HIstory Makers: "State of the Black Male: Changing the Narrative at College of Lake County (Feb. 3) INFO»
- (Virtual) 39th Profiles in Excellence - The Past, Present and Future of the Black Church hosted by the Lake County Forest Preserve District (Feb. 6) INFO»
- (Virtual) Why Black History Matters by College of Lake County (Feb. 8) INFO»
- "Who am I" at the Janes Addams Center in Waukegan (Feb. 17) INFO»
- Soul Food with Sylvia at the Jane Addams Center (Feb. 19) INFO»
- Poetry Slam at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts (Feb. 25) INFO»
- 32nd Annual Black History Program at Zion-Benton High School (Feb. 26) INFO»
From exploring a Lake County winter wonderland to playdates with cold-blooded creatures to escaping reality gazing at stunning snowy murals to hunting underwater dwellers and a slew of celebrations, Lake County is the place to indulge in frosty festivities. Here are your February festival highlights:
- Alpine Biergarten at Buffalo Creek Brewing Co. (through late March) INFO»
- Lake County Libation Trail Month/Check-in Challenge (All February) INFO»
- Fifth Annual Cocoa Crawl in Long Grove (Feb. 5) INFO»
- Street Scenes Student Show at Carmel High School (Feb. 10-12) INFO»
- 95 WIIL Rock Valentine's Dinner and Comedy Show at Holiday Inn Gurnee (Feb. 12) INFO»
- Chain O'Lakes Fishing Derby and Winter Festival in Antioch (Feb. 12-13) INFO»
- Orchids After Dark at Chicago Botanic Garden (Select Thursdays Feb. 12-Mar. 27) INFO»
- ArtWauk in Waukegan (Feb. 19) INFO»
- Lake County Craft Beer Festival at Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center (Feb. 26) INFO»
- Winter Fest at Volo Bog State Natural Area (Feb. 27) INFO»
Whether you want to giggle to eternity, view thespians singing and dancing, rock out to a boom-boom, squiggy beat or just receive arts and culture in your life, the land of lakes is the place to be. See who's gracing our fair county's stages through February (remember to try and plan the perfect date night with one of these shows as everyone's favorite Hallmark holiday is just around the corner).
- "West Side Story" at Marriott Theatre (Feb. 2-Mar. 27) INFO»
- Guys on Ice the Musical at Genesee Theatre (Feb. 4-5) INFO»
- "How a Lipizzan Stallion Learns to Dance" Presentation at Tempel Farms (Feb. 5) INFO»
- "That Golden Girls Show! A Puppet Parody" at Genesee Theatre (Feb. 6) INFO»
- Cool Cluster Dog Show at the Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center (Feb. 9-12) INFO»
- Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood: Scared Scriptless at Genesee Theatre (Feb. 10) INFO»
- Street Scenes Student Show at Carmel High School (Feb. 10-12) INFO»
- "Outside Mullingar" at the Citadel Theatre (Feb. 11-Mar. 13) INFO»
- 95 WIIL Rock Valentine's Dinner and Comedy Show at Holiday Inn Gurnee (Feb. 12) INFO»
- Thalea String Quartet at Orlin Trapp Auditorium (Feb. 12) INFO»
- America with Special Guests, The Buckinghams at Genesee Theatre (Feb. 12) INFO»
- Hairball at Genesee Theatre (Feb. 18) INFO»
- Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood Live at Genesee Theatre (Feb. 19) INFO»
- Collective Soul at Genesee Theatre (Feb. 20) INFO»
- '80s Night Out at Genesee Theatre (Feb. 24) INFO»
- Grand Funk Railroad at Genesee Theatre (Feb. 25) INFO»
- Waukegan Symphony Orchestra Presents Young People's Concert at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts (Feb. 26) INFO»
Roses are red; violets are blue. Orchids range from gray, purple, pink and red, and the Chicago Botanic Garden is hosting a show of it, too. The Chicago Botanic Garden Orchid Show, a one-of-a-kind display in the Chicago area, features a forest full of wild flowers. More than 10,000 brilliantly beautiful and unusual orchids from around the world will extend throughout the Regenstein Center, including lush presentations within the greenhouses. There are several unique events during the show including a preview,
Orchids After Dark, live music and more.
Did you know that Lake County has over 30 ice skating locations? On a beautiful winter’s day, there’s no better place to be scooting over frozen water. It is time to make your best U.S. Olympic Figure Skater Bradie Tennell triple axel impression. It’s an opportunity to slap shot like Chicago Blackhawk’s star Jonathan Toews. Whatever your favorite activity is on the ice, be sure to invite friends and family to create memories on the twirl, twizzle and triple lutz on the Lake County ice.
"Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down. Never gonna run around and desert you." However, you celebrate the Hallmark holiday with your significant other, show your love and appreciation with one Valentine's Day things to do. Stay tuned for the full blog:
- Lake County Libation Trail Month/Check-in Challenge (All February) INFO»
- Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood: Scared Scriptless at Genesee Theatre (Feb. 10) INFO»
- Orchids After Dark at Chicago Botanic Garden (Starting Feb. 10) INFO»
- Galentine's Day Heart's and Heart Breaker's Edition in Long Grove (Feb. 10) INFO»
- "Outside Mullingar" at the Citadel Theatre (Feb. 11-Mar. 13) INFO»
- 95 WIIL Rock Valentine's Dinner and Comedy Show at Holiday Inn Gurnee (Feb. 12) INFO»
- Thalea String Quartet at Orlin Trapp Auditorium (Feb. 12) INFO»
- '80s Prom at Ravinia Brewing Co. (Feb. 12) INFO»
- Valentine's Dinner and Dance Class at Oaken Bistro and Bar (Feb. 12) INFO»
- For the Love of Nature at Ryerson Woods (Feb. 13) INFO»
For those who can't conjure the powers to be a snowbird headed southbound, take on the world-class eats of the land of lakes. It could give you a headstart in planning your schedule for the upcoming Lake County Restaurant Week: Ten Days to Savor (April 1-10). Dine at the eldest restaurant in the land of lakes like Village Tavern in Long Grove, grab a slice of pie at Bill’s Pizza & Pub in Mundelein or Slyce Coal Fired Pizza in Vernon Hills, Wauconda and Highwood, taste the southern hospitality provided by Bluegrass Restaurant, bite into a spicy meatball from Mambo Italiano in Mundelein or Primo Italian American Cuisine in Gurnee, sink your teeth into a juicy steak from Wildfire in Lincolnshire, eat the scrumptious Asian bites from D’angela’s Dumplings in Libertyville, experience farm to table from Zin GastroPub in Lake Zurich and so many more.
Art is everything, especially in Lake County. Whether it’s a mural sketched on our favorite store or installations popping up all around town, the knack for art is fluent in the land of lakes. With the weather being a little bit chillier, head to one of these featured art exhibits in February.
- "Ansel Adams: Early Works" at Bess Bower Dunn Museum (through Mar. 27) INFO»
- "The of Aruna Sarode" at Volo Bog State Natural Area (through Feb. 27) INFO»
- "Snowmen on the Chain" in Antioch (Feb. 5) INFO»
- Mona J. Phiffer Art Showcase at the Dandelion Gallery (Feb. 12) INFO»
- ArtWauk in Waukegan (Feb. 19) INFO»
- Feeling Blue: Annual Juried Exhibition at Blue Moon Gallery (Feb. 26) INFO»
Dive in headfirst as brave souls take a dip in the frozen waters and chill out at Fox Lake’s Polar Plunge. The proceeds of this plunge help raise money for the Special Olympics Illinois. After a breezy walk in Nippersink Lake, a warm lunch will be provided for plungers for $5 (benefits go towards the Special Olympics). Depending on how many funds you and/or your team build, ice divers can win prizes. Be sure to dress to impress by wearing your best costume to take on the frigid waters. To register for the Fox Lake Polar Plunge, visit
Soill.org/polar-plunge. #BeBoldGetCold.
For more winter activities besides the listed top 19 of February, continue here. Click here to learn more about the Lake County Libation Trail/Check in Challenge.
