5 things to do in McHenry County: Strawberry picking continues plus brats and bands for Father’s Day

1. The Bowl For Kids’ Sake fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County – reenvisioned this year because of COVID-19 – is hosting its two of its bags events this week.

Bowling still is a part of the annual fundraiser but will not take place during one large event this year. Instead, participants can buy a bowling voucher – which includes bowling, shoe rental, pizza and pop – to be used at 3D Bowl & Sideouts, 4018 Roberts Road in Island Lake or Kingston Lanes, 1330 S. Eastwood Drive in Woodstock through Oct. 31.

The bags activities will take place 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday and 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County, 630 N. Route 31 in Crystal Lake. A Match Day with Bigs and Littles will be held noon to 2 p.m. June 27.

For information and to register go to p2p.onecause.com/bbbsmchenry.

2. Cap’n Funk and the Groove Train will play an outdoor concert Saturday evening at Bull Valley Golf Club, 1311 Club Road, Woodstock, as part of a fundraiser for Pioneer Center for Human Services.

The event kicks off at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour and music from Cap’n Funk and the Groove Train, followed by a chef-served dinner station at 7 p.m. More music and raffles will follow.

Event tickets cost $125 and raffle tickets are $20 each or six for $100. Raffle prizes include a seven-day vacation getaway, a five-course dinner party for eight, VIP concert tickets and foursome golf packages.

For information and to buy tickets go to www.pioneercenter.org/events/moonlight-music/.

3. The Quarry Cable Park will be celebrating Father’s Day this Sunday with beers, brats, burgers and bands.

The lakefront bar and grill, located at the cable wake park, 5517 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, opens at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

Joe and Rob from the Blue Shield Band will perform 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, and the chef will be cooking up some of his specialty Kaner BBQ featuring sauces and spices from JP’s Que.

The Quarry Cable Park also offers sand volleyball and baggo. For information, check out the Quarry Cable Park’s Facebook page.

4. It’s strawberry-picking season in McHenry County, but it won’t last long.

According to Visit McHenry County, the strawberry season typically peaks in early to mid-June locally and lasts a few weeks due to popularity.

The county tourism agency offered some tips for those venturing out to pick their own strawberries in a recent blog post, including the best way to get the easily bruised berries off the vine: Grasp the stem just above the berry between the forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion

Among some of the local farms that offer strawberry picking are Stade’s Farm and Market, 3709 Miller Road, southwest of Spring Grove; Tom’s Farm Market, 10214 Algonquin Road in Huntley; Cody’s Farm and Orchard, 19502 River Road, northeast of Marengo; and Heider’s Berry Farm, 1106 N. Queen Anne Road, northeast of Woodstock.

Check the stores’ websites and Facebook pages for the most-up-to-date information on hours and whether picking is being offered that day.

5. The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Fun Craft Night Out in conjunction with Makity Make, 328 S. Main St. in Algonquin.

The event will take place 6 to 8 p.m. June 24. Subs, snacks and water will be provided.

Registration can be completed at makitymake.com/collections/workshop or by calling 224-678-7090. The cost is $45 a person.

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