Summer and Fall in McHenry County are great times to head to the parks. And not just hiking and picnicking, but concerts in the park. Whether you are looking for simple concerts or an entire festival worth of music and fun, you can find what you are looking for across the county from pre-summer to pre-winter.
No matter your schedule, you are sure to find a concert in the park that works for you, whether weeknights work best or weekends. But finding concerts can be a real challenge! Like many events in McHenry County, they often got mixed in and lost among all of the other burbs’ and even Chicago events. But not here because we only feature events in McHenry County!
Our Concerts in the Park Guide is all about the music. From relaxing on a blanket with a picnic in a park to sitting around one of the historic town squares, McHenry County has a packed schedule for live music lovers.
Most are completely free, and many will be featuring food trucks and vendors if you’d rather “pick” than “pack” a meal! Of course, some, especially the larger festivals, may charge for admission, so be sure to check the specific event listings.
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All information is subject to change and we always recommend contacting the specific locations to verify conditions and availability, especially those that are weather dependent.
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Algonquin
Summer Concert Series
Date: June 22 – August 10, 2023
Day: Thursday
Head to Towne Park in Old Algonquin Town on Thursday evenings for the Summer Concert Series.
Address: Towne Park, 100 Jefferson St, Algonquin, IL 60102
Phone: 847-658-2716
Information: Details
Algonquin Founders’ Days
Date: July 20 – 23, 2023
Day: Thursday
Head to Towne Park in Old Algonquin Town on Thursday evenings for the Summer Concert Series.
Address: Spella Park, 2610 Harnish Dr, Algonquin, IL 60102
Phone: 847-242-1589
Information: Details
Cary
Concerts in the Park
Date: June 15, 22, & July 6, 13, 2022
Day: Thursday
Enjoy an evening of music in the park.
Address: Lions Park Rotary Bandshell, 1200 Silver Lake Rd, Cary IL 60013
Phone: 847-639-6100
Information: Details
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Crystal Lake
Concerts in the Park
Date: May 30 – August 8, 2023
Day: Tuesday
Pack dinner, grab a blanket, and head to Main Beach to enjoy music by the lakeside.
Address: Main Beach, 300 Lakeshore Dr, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-410-4475
Information: Details
Lakeside Festival at The Dole
Date: June 29 – July 2, 2023
Day: Thursday – Sunday
Head to The Dole for great food, drink, carnival rides and games, and lots of fun.
Address: The Dole, 401 Country Club Rd, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-455-8000
Other Live Music Opportunities
In addition to Concerts in the Park, McHenry County features many other venues and opportunities for live music, from concerts to farmers markets or just dinner or a drink.
Arts On The Green
Date: July 8, 15, 22, 29 & August 26, 2023
Day: Saturday
Note: this is a paid Raue Center for the Arts event. See details for specifics and purchasing tickets.
Address: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 210 McHenry Ave, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-356-9212
Information: Details
Fox Lake
Celebrate Fox Lake Music
Date: July 1, 2023
Day: Saturday
Enjoy live music at Lakefront Park and close out the night with fireworks.
Address: Lakefront Park, 71 Nippersink Blvd, Fox Lake, IL 60020
Phone: 224-225-1404
Information: Details
Friday Night Concert Series
Date: June 2 – August 25, 2023 (except 6/30 & 8/11)
Day: Friday
Kick off your weekend at the Community Garden Green with music ranging from Irish to Pop!
Address: Community Garden Green, 17 E School Ct, Fox Lake, IL 60020
Phone: 224-225-1404
Information: Details
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Huntley
Concert in the Square
Date: June 27, July 11, 18, 25, August 1, 8, 15 2023
Day: Tuesday
Head to the Huntley Village Square for free summer concerts.
Address: Village Square, 11700 Main St, Huntley, IL 60142
Phone: 847-515-5200
Information: Details
1st Friday Nights on the Square
Date: July 7 & August 8, 2023
Day: Friday
Head to the Huntley Village Square for free summer concerts.
Address: Village Square, 11700 Main St, Huntley, IL 60142
Phone: 847-515-5200
Information: Details
Lake in the Hills
Rockin’ Rib Fest
Date: July 6 – 9, 2023
Days: Thursday – Sunday
Four action-packed days to kick off your summer! Sunset Park in LITH is the place to be for ribs, music, rides, and an all-around good time!
Address: Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Rd, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156
Phone:
Information: Details
Summer Sunset Festival
Date: September 1-3, 2023
Days: Friday – Sunday
What better way to wrap up summer than heading to Summer Sunset Festival over Labor Day weekend for live music.
Address: Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Rd, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156
Phone: 847-960-7400
Marengo
Day in the Park
Date: July 8, 2023
Day: Saturday
Enjoy live music as part of the Day in the Park event.
Address: Indian Oaks Park, 825 Indian Oaks Trail, Marengo, IL 60152
Phone: 815-568-5126
Information: Details
McHenry
Pearl Street Market Concerts
Date: May 18 – September 14, 2023
Day: Thursday
Enjoy friends and good music after the weekly farmers market with these free concerts in the park.
Address: Veteran’s Memorial Park, 3400 Pearl Street, McHenry, IL 60050
Phone:
Information: Details
Fiesta Days
Date: July 13 – 16, 2023
Days: Thursday – Sunday
Enjoy live music as part of McHenry Fiesta Days.
Address: Petersen Park, 4300 Peterson Park Rd, McHenry, IL 60050
Phone:
Information: Details
Bands, Brews & BBQ
Date: August 18 – 20, 2023
Days: Friday – Sunday
Enjoy live music, brews, and BBQ with the McHenry Area Rotary.
Address: Petersen Park, 4300 Peterson Park Rd, McHenry, IL 60050
Phone:
Information: Details
Ringwood
First Fridays Concerts
Date: June 2, July 7, August 4, September 1, 2023
Day: Friday
Head to the Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park for First Fridays Concerts with the McHenry County Conservation District.
Address: Glacial Park Lost Valley Visitor Center, 6705 State Rte 31, Ringwood, IL 60072
Phone: 815-338-6223
Information: Details
Woodstock
Sundays on the Square
Date: June 25 – September 3, 2023 (except 7/16)
Day: Sunday
Spend Sunday evening around the Historic Woodstock Square with this summer concert series.
Address: Historic Woodstock Square, 121 West Van Buren St, Woodstock, IL 60098
Phone:
Information: Details
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President and Founder of Identity Developments, LLC, the parent company of the McHenry Life website. My hope for McHenry Life is to create a resource and destination for the residents and businesses of McHenry County alike. A place where residents can discover new places to explore, fun events and ways to spend time, and then share those experiences with others. A place where businesses can connect with existing and potential customers, and not simply market their businesses, but share their own unique stories.
