Festival Events in the Crystal Lake Area
A calendar of 14 recurring events in the Crystal Lake area — with schedules, locations, and links to event websites.
Lakeside Festival
Crystal Lake's signature summer festival — carnival rides, live music, food vendors, and a fireworks show over the lake.
🗓️ Fourth of July weekend (annually)
📍 Main Beach, Crystal Lake · Crystal Lake
Snow Much Fun Festival
Winter community event with outdoor activities, ice sculptures, and warm treats.
🗓️ January or February (annually)
📍 Downtown Crystal Lake · Crystal Lake
Flannel Fest
Fall festival hosted by the park district featuring live music, a craft beer garden, food trucks, lawn games, and autumn activities. Tickets required and often sell out in advance.
🗓️ September or October (annually)
📍 Three Oaks Recreation Area, Crystal Lake · Crystal Lake
Cardboard Boat Regatta
Community event where teams build boats from only cardboard and tape, then race them across the lake. Most sink gloriously. Free to watch, registration required to race.
🗓️ August (annually)
📍 Main Beach, Crystal Lake · Crystal Lake
Cary Summer Fest
Multi-day community celebration with live music, carnival rides, food vendors, a beer garden, and fireworks.
🗓️ Mid-June weekend (annually)
📍 Lions Park, Cary · Cary
Founders' Days — Algonquin
Algonquin's largest annual festival with live entertainment, craft vendors, carnival rides, a 5K run, and fireworks.
🗓️ Last weekend of July (annually)
📍 Towne Park, Algonquin · Algonquin
Lake in the Hills Summer Celebration
Three-day festival with live bands, carnival rides, craft fair, food vendors, and a fireworks finale.
🗓️ Late June (annually)
📍 Sunset Park, Lake in the Hills · Lake in the Hills
Lake in the Hills Fall Fest
Autumn celebration with pumpkin decorating, hayrides, a bag toss tournament, and a chili cook-off.
🗓️ October (annually)
📍 Sunset Park, Lake in the Hills · Lake in the Hills
Huntley Fall Fest
Major annual festival with live entertainment, artisan vendors, a craft beer tent, kids' zone, and a chili cook-off.
🗓️ Second weekend of October (annually)
📍 Downtown Huntley, Town Square · Huntley
Autumn Drive
Annual seasonal destination event listed by Naturally McHenry County.
🗓️ Annual (see event website for exact dates)
📍 3600 Franklinville Rd · Woodstock
McHenry Fiesta Days
Signature community celebration with entertainment and festival activities.
🗓️ Annually (summer)
📍 1307 N Green St · McHenry
Harvard Milk Days
Long-running community festival in Harvard with family-friendly activities.
🗓️ Annually (early summer)
📍 Milkyway Park · Harvard
McHenry County Fair
Week-long county fair with livestock shows, carnival rides, demolition derby, live music, food vendors, and 4-H exhibits. A McHenry County tradition since 1949.
🗓️ First week of August (annually)
📍 McHenry County Fairgrounds, Woodstock · Woodstock
Marengo Applefest
Harvest festival celebrating the area's apple-growing heritage with apple cider, pie contests, craft vendors, live music, and a parade.
🗓️ October (annually)
📍 Downtown Marengo · Marengo