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1. McHenry’s Fiesta Days moves to downtown McHenry and Veteran’s Memorial Park this week with the Art and Street Fair and annual parade.
The first event of the week is a concert in the park from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Veteran’s Memorial Park, 3400 Pearl St., which will include a special recognition ceremony at 7 p.m. for this year’s parade marshal with the concert to follow. Food and beer vendors will be available.
Arts and Crafts in the Park will feature “some of the Midwest’s finest hand crafters,” including florists, potters, photographers, woodworkers and jewelers, according to the festival’s website. It will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Veteran’s Memorial Park.
A series of free craft stations along Pearl Street will give kids a chance to create art of their own from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Student Art Show, which runs through July 31, also will be featured in the windows of downtown McHenry businesses. The juried show features the work of sixth- through 12-grade students, as well as currently enrolled college students younger than age 25.
Other events Saturday include the DamYak Challenge, a 4.8-mile kayak event from 7 to 10 a.m. at Miller Point, that will raise money for Kids In Need McHenry County; the Duck Derby at 11 a.m. at Green Street Bridge at Boone Creek; and the Dream St. Chalk Fest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Neumann Park.
Festivities will culminate at 1:30 p.m. Sunday with the Fiesta Days parade.
2. The annual Environmental Defenders of McHenry County garage sale is set from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the Algonquin Township Road District office, 3702 Route 14 in Crystal Lake.
The sale will be in the Building B garage at the back of the property.
Proceeds from the event go to the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, which seeks to help preserve, protect and educate about the environment.
3. The Warp Corps’ Summer Concert Series, designed to “give a platform for local artists to showcase their talents,” will take place at 5 p.m. Saturday at Ethereal Confections in Woodstock.
The Summer Concert Series will happen outside on the block in front of 140 Cass St., right on the historic Woodstock Square. Music begins at 5 p.m.
Proceeds from the donations-based concert series will go toward a community center that Warp Corps hopes to open, which could include a skate park, ninja warrior gym, music venue and art gallery. Warp Corps is a low-profit limited liability company that provides “positive, prevention-based programming” aimed at combating mental health issues, substance use disorder and homelessness.
For information, go to warpcorps.org.
4. Just beyond the McHenry County line will be a Brew at the Zoo event to support the Randall Oaks Zoo, a Dundee Township Park District-run petting zoo with alpacas, goats, mini horses, sheep, emus, reptiles and more.
Beers from Black and Gray Brewing Company will be for sale, and Mario’s Cart and Que Pasta food trucks will be on hand. Live acoustic music will be performed by Staiger Leigh.
The event, which will run from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the zoo, 1180 Randall Road in West Dundee, also will feature a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, photo booth, souvenir table and lawn games.
Tickets cost $25 for zoo members and $30 for nonmembers. Designated driver tickets are available for $15.
For information, go to Northwest Herald’s community calendar at shawlocal.com/northwest-herald/local-events/ and following the Eventbrite link.
5. The 36th annual Woodstock Folk Festival will take place virtually starting at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Performers this year include Ashley & Simpson, Meghan Cary, Cielito Lindo Family Band, Fendrick & Peck, Joe Jencks, Pete Morton, and Jon Shain and FJ Ventre, according to the festival’s website.
A suggested donation of $25 is being requested and reservations are needed just for the post-festival Zoom conversation, which will take place at 4 p.m. Reservations for the Zoom conversation are required by Thursday and can be made by emailing info@woodstockfolkfestival.org.
For information, go to woodstockfolkfestival.org.