5 choice things to do in McHenry County

1. The 10th annual Blues, Brews & BBQ at McHenry’s Petersen Park will kick off Friday and run through the weekend with plenty of live music, barbecue and beverages.

Kicking things off at 5 p.m. Friday will be the John Todd Band, a local group that has launched the fest for each of its 10 years. Headlining Friday night will be Kevin Purcell and the Nightburners, starting at 7:15 p.m.

Saturday’s lineup includes Howard and the White Boys starting at 4 p.m., Jimmy Nick at 6:30 p.m., and The Blooze Brothers at 9 p.m. Ivy Ford kicks things off at 1 p.m. Sunday, with Toronzo Cannon taking the stage at 3 p.m.

Also returning this year will be longtime master of ceremonies Greg Easterling, a radio personality and member of the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame.

Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Friday, 3:30 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday. The fest closes at 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $12 for single-day admissions at the gate; free for those 12 and younger. Other ticket options include a three-day pass for $20 or a VIP pass for $50. The latter includes four beer or wine tickets, a barbecue dinner ticket, run-of-fest admission and entry to the VIP tent, open Friday and Saturday only.

For information, go to mrbbb.com.

2. Do yoga with alpacas Saturday morning at Magic Meadows Alpacas, 9502 Thayer Road in Wonder Lake.

The class, which runs 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. with Dana of Sweet Feet Yoga, will come with a chance to meet the alpacas and learn about the farm, according to the event page.

The event – as well as another class offered Aug. 28 – currently is for participants age 16 and older, but a family “yogapaca” class could be coming soon.

The cost is $30 per person, and registration is required.

For information or to register, go to sweetfeetyoga.com/classes/workshops/.

3. Richardson Adventure Farm opens this weekend for its first-ever Sunflower Festival, featuring 24 varieties of sunflowers planted in a flower pattern over 13 acres.

The festival will run 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the farm, located at 909 English Prairie Road in Spring Grove, according to its website. The festival will then return Wednesday through Aug. 29, with the same hours. Last tickets are sold at 6 p.m. each day.

The cost is $10 for those ages 4 and up and free for those 3 and younger. The admission fee includes a free, single stem sunflower to take home and live music by the Thompson Duo on weekend afternoons, plus a 30-horse carousel and outdoor games like giant Jenga and Connect 4.

A beer and wine tent will be available, as well as an ice cream truck and food trucks.

The sunflower fest ends Aug. 29; the farm will close to the public until Sept. 11, when the 20th anniversary corn maze celebration is set to begin.

For information, go to richardsonadventurefarm.com.

4. Cars from all years are welcome at the annual Woodstock Square Car Show this Saturday.

The car show will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the historic Woodstock Square, according to the event page. Trophies will be awarded to the top 20 vehicles.

Spectators can attend for free, but cars cost $15 to register.

For information, go to realwoodstock.com/events/annual-woodstock-square-car-show.

5. The second night of Music Under the Trees – a fundraiser for the Dole – will take place Wednesday with a lineup of performers.

First up will be Brad Mathis, a singer, songwriter and member of the band Uncalled Four, who plays a mix of originals and covers, from 6 to 6:30 p.m. He’ll be followed by Cathy Grochowski, who will perform from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Grochowski is a guitarist, vocalist and recording artist. The final act of the night will be BB & The Honey from 8 to 9 p.m.

The event will take place outside the Dole, 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake. Groups are limited to six people and attendees should bring their own chairs and blankets. Julie Ann’s Frozen Custard and Brother Ribs will be the night’s food vendors.

Online ticket sales will end at midnight Tuesday. The cost is $20 in advance, and $25 at the gate, if available.

For information, go to thedole.org/music-under-the-trees/.