Top 10 Things To Do in June 2017
By: Jonathan Jones 05/31/2017
Lake County has a jam-packed schedule this June! If you're searching for some summer fun, you've come to the right place.
At this time of year, we pull out our summer garb (if it still fits) and head outdoors to bask in the warm Lake County sun.
Lake County heats up in the summer months with outdoor activities, concerts, festivals, nature exhibitions, great food, live theater, and so much more.
Let's take a look at Lake County's top 10 things to do in June 2017.
Shopping for produce at a farmers market is not only a great way to support Lake County, but it's an excellent opportunity to enjoy the beautiful summer weather with the family. Lake County farmers markets offer locally-grown produce, prepared eats, spices, meats, pastries, bread and so much more. Some of the farmers markets beginning in June include Antioch, Deerfield, Lake Zurich, Mundelein, Vernon Hills and more.
The Chain O’ Lakes are far from placid on Thursday nights during the summer. Thunder on the Chain features the unique world of drag boat racing from June-September hosted by Blarney Island on Grass Lake. If you have the need for speed on a 'school night,' witness these fearless racers competing in nine different classes from the Northern Illinois Drag Boat Association as they sprint for the gold. Thunder on the Chain fields races on June 8, 15, 22, and 29.
Thursday nights, June 1-August 30; 5:30-7:30 p.m. Blarney Island, 27843 W. Grass Lake Rd., Antioch.
Lake County is known as a suds sanctuary. These festivals are in a category of their own because they specifically focus on libation indulgence. Taste the flavors of all the marvelous brews, wine and spirits that Lake County has to offer. Cheers!
- Grayslake Annual Craft Beer Festival: Thirsty for a cold beer? Downtown Grayslake honors the art of beer by offering over 250 selections from more than 80 different breweries at their Fifth Annual Craft Beer Festival. Admission includes a commemorative glass and a festival program. The fest also features live tunes from bands like Kai Andersen & the Pickups, the Concrete Roots, Social Que, Achilles and more. Designated drivers are available for an extra $10. Saturday, June 3; Noon-5 p.m. Admission: $35-$65. Downtown Grayslake, 61 S. Whitney St., Grayslake.
- Antioch Summer Wine Walk: “Wine is bottled poetry,” stated by "Treasure Island" and "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" author Robert Louis Stevenson. Take a stroll through beautiful downtown Antioch for their Summer Wine Walk. While sampling on different vino flavors, visit the unique stores and restaurants Antioch has to offer. The event admission includes a commemorative wine glass, event menu, divine eats, a bottle of wine and entrance to a free drawing. Saturday, June 3; 1-5 p.m. Admission: $40. Downtown Antioch, Main Street.
- Mundelein Craft Beer Festival: Mundelein Community Connections and Tighthead Brewing Company join forces to host the Mundelein Craft Beer Festival. Admission for this event includes a souvenir tasting glass and brew samples from over 40 local breweries. The Mundelein brew fest also features live music and food trucks with bites for purchase. Designated driver tickets are available. Saturday, June 10; 1-5 p.m. Tickets: $40-$45. Village Hall Plaza, 205 N. Archer Ave., Mundelein.
4. Fantastic Festivals (June 1-30)
The weather is getting warmer, and our favorite community festivals are returning to rock your socks off. Take advantage of the beautiful works of art, live tunes, delicious dining options and plenty more with Lake County’s fantastic festivals. This list wouldn't be a proper "top 10 things to do in June 2017" list without these parties that invade the community streets.
***Stay tuned for Lake County’s summer festivals full schedule.***
Grab your bait, tackle and fishing rod and head to Paulus Park for the 25th Annual Lake Zurich Fishing Derby. This catch and release derby is a free registration event. Participants may fish from the shore of Paulus Park or by boat. Compete against your peers for a chance to capture the catch of the day.
Sunday, June 4; 9 a.m.-noon. Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Rd., Lake Zurich.
Get a glimpse of some of the best PGA golfers in the world as the Rust-Oleum Championship Pro-Am has made Lake County its new home at the Ivanhoe Club. Spectators will have the opportunity to see top players like Max Homa, John Mallinger and Josh Teater, who are currently in the top three positions in the FedExCup rankings. The event will field 156 competitors. The championship rounds run from Thursday-Sunday.
Monday-Sunday, June 5-11; Ticket price: $20-$30. Ivanhoe Club, 28846 N. Thorngate Dr., Ivanhoe.
John Legend is heading to Lake County to perform for 'All of You.' Ravinia Festival in Highland Park gives you the ‘Green Light’ to ‘Get Lifted’ and excited as Legend graces the Highland Park stage. The Ivy League grad (University of Pennsylvania) will be on his Darkness and Light Tour. Legend is not just, ‘Ordinary People,’ as he has earned 10 Grammy Awards in his career. Other top June performances include Chicago Symphony Orchestra (June 8), Willie Nelson (June 16), Aretha Franklin (June 17), La La Land in Concert featuring the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (June 18) Common (June 24), the Peking Acrobats (June 29) and more.
Continue here for full Ravinia Festival schedule.
Tuesday, June 10; 7:30 p.m. Ticket price: $52-$173. Ravinia Festival, 200 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park.
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Family Fun Fridays at the Round Lake Beach Cultural & Civic Center[/caption]
Round Lake Beach Cultural & Civic Center hosts Family Fun Fridays through August 4. Kiddies and their parents can explore the world of reptiles with a one of a kind hands-on experience at the June 16 installment of the summer series. Some of the cold-blooded critters in attendance include alligators, lizards, snakes and a tortoise. The June 23 session features "Bubble Wonders," while June 30 attendees will meet over 20 live reptiles and amphibians with the Frog Lady.
Friday, June 16; 1-2 p.m. Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center, 2007 Civic Center Way, Round Lake Beach.
Give summer a polite nod and hello at Waukegan Municipal Beach's Summer Solstice Celebration. The summer solstice begins at 11:24 p.m. in the northern hemisphere and there is no better place to celebrate it than along the shores of Lake Michigan complemented by a bonfire. Waukegan Park District and the City of Waukegan encourage attendees to bring a drum or borrow one from the drum circle facilitator Helen Bond of Medusa’s Musical Mysteries so you can sing, dance and party the night away on the longest day of the year.
Tuesday, June 20; 10-11:30 p.m. Waukegan Municipal Beach, 201 Seahorse Dr., Waukegan.
"She Loves Me," is a comedy-musical gem based off the book by Joe Masteroff is set in the 1930s in a Hungarian parfumerie and the store clerks. Amalia and Georg don’t see eye-to-eye at work but get jazzed up as they unknowingly write love letters to each other after responding to a lonely hearts advertisement. The original stage play won a Tony Award in 1964 for Jack Cassidy’s portrayal of Steven Kodaly. Just picture the drama that may occur on a reality show between employees with text messages (instead of love letters) and Tinder at a modern-day Sephora. The Marriott Theatre show runs through June 18.
June 1-18. Ticket Price: $52. Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire.
This stunning two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical features gorgeous, soulful music by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown (The Last Five Years, Parade, Songs for a New World). The story is based on a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman, who also wrote "The Secret Garden" and "The Color Purple." "The Bridges of Madison County" is a sweeping romance about the roads we travel, the doors we open and the bridges we dare to cross. The show runs until Sunday, August 13.
Wednesday, June 21-Sunday, August 13. Ticket Price: TBA. Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire.
Continue here to see more of Lake County's top 10 things to do in June 2017.
