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1. A number of farmers and other markets will be operating around the county this weekend.
Among them are:
- Pearl Street Market, which runs 4 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Veterans Memorial Park, 3400 Pearl St. in McHenry;
- Crystal Lake Farmers Market, which runs 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in Depot Park, 25 W. Crystal Lake Ave. in downtown Crystal Lake;
- Woodstock Farmers Market, which goes 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the historic Woodstock Square; and
- Open Air Farmers Market+ at the Dole, which goes 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Dole, 401 Country Club Road in Crystal Lake.
2. A mother-daughter splash is being hosted by the Huntley Park District 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 30, at Stingray Bay Family Aquatic Center, 12219 Lois Lane in Huntley.
The event, which is open to all ages, will feature a live DJ. The cost is $7 for Huntley Park District residents and $9 for nonresidents.
For information or to register, go to huntleyparks.org.
3. Stand-up comedian Julian McCullough will perform Friday evening, July 30, at the McHenry Downtown Theater, 1208 N. Green St., which will then host the band Broken Robots Saturday evening, July 31.
McCullough has appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Conan,” NPR’s “This American Life,” and Comedy Central’s “This is Not Happening,” according to a biography provided by McHenry Downtown Theater. His Comedy Central special “Maybe I’m a Man” aired earlier this year and he also has a podcast “Julian Loves Music.”
Tickets still are on sale for the 7 p.m. show for $30. The 9 p.m. show was sold out as of Wednesday.
Broken Robots was formed in December 2017 when Kat Baker, a former folk singer-songwriter, and Tony Baker, a former audio engineer, musician, actor and vocalist, began releasing single tracks on SoundCloud about their experiences with death, mental illness, addiction and redemption, according to a biography.
They later compiled these tracks into their debut album, “Home Is Not a Place,” and then were joined bass player Lonnie Phillips for their second release, “The Escape Artist.”
For information or to buy tickets, go to mchenrytheatergiftcard.com or call 815-271-5010.
4. An auto show – free to participate in and free to attend – will be hosted by the Cary United Methodist Church this Saturday, July 31, in the church’s parking lot at 500 N. First St.
Registration to show a vehicle runs 9:30 to 10 a.m. and public viewing is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees can vote for their favorites and awards will be presented starting at 1:15 p.m.
Show is open to muscle cars, antiques, electric and hybrid vehicles and others. The event is family friendly.
For information, go to caryumc.org.
5. The McHenry County Fair – featuring a carnival, live entertainment, livestock shows and Miss McHenry County pageant – starts Tuesday, Aug. 3, and continues through Aug. 8 at the fairgrounds, 11900 Country Club Road in Woodstock.
Among the events first on the lineup at the grandstand are a draft horse pulling contest at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; the Illini State Pullers Wednesday with antique and stock tractors at 1 p.m., a veterans salute at 5:30 p.m. and truck and tractor pulls at 6 p.m.; and the Monster Truck Racing League Aug. 5 with a pre-show meet and greet at 6:30 p.m. and the show at 7 p.m.
A season pass good for all six days of the fair can be bought for $25. Otherwise, daily admission costs $8 for those 13 and older; $5 for those 60 and older, veterans with an ID and children 6 to 12 years old. Children 5 and younger are free.
Most grandstand events require additional tickets, although the draft horse pulling contest is free after admission.
For information, go to mchenrycountyfair.com.