Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Lying along the shores of Lake Michigan between Chicago and Wisconsin, Lake County has 18 townships including cities, villages, and unincorporated communities. North Chicago, Wauconda, Libertyville, Lake Forest, Ingleside, Ivanhoe, and Park City are all included within the Lake County borders and attractions such as Six Flags Great America and the Volo Auto Museum are Lake County draw regular visitors. Fairs and festivals are held throughout the year and throughout the Lake County area, serving to raise money for charity or bring communities closer together.
The Schlader Recreation Center in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, plays host to the annual Winthrop Harbor Fun Fair. Held in late February or early March, this one-day, family-friendly event includes raffles, children's activities, and educational booths. Games such as darts, a cake walk, basketball shoot, and mouse race offer challenge for older guests while a moonwalk is available for kids. Refreshments are offered at food booths, and you can purchase snacks and gift items from a general store area.
This annual multi-day event is held at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Chicago. Over 100 vendors from the United States and Europe present botanical artwork and jewelry, as well as classical and contemporary garden furnishings, at booths located both indoors and outdoors in areas of the rose gardens and the Regenstein Center. Guest speakers give presentations on their areas of expertise while demonstrations on activities such as flower-arranging are scheduled throughout the time of the fair. Admission to the Antiques and Garden Fair is $15 at the gate, though children 16 and under are allowed in for free with a paying adult. Parking for the event at the Botanic Garden is $20 per day (as of 2011).
Each year on the first weekend of May, the town of Long Grove holds a multi-day festival in downtown to celebrate all things chocolate. Attendees can sample chocolate strawberries, donuts, and even martinis, as well as a selection of dark, white, and milk chocolate candies. Specialty chocolate items can be found at food stalls as well as in local restaurants and cafes in the area. Eating is not the only activity available, as there are also pony rides for the kids, fudge making demonstrations, workshops, and live music from over 30 bands playing on multiple stages. A $2 "donation" is asked for admission to the event and parking is free (as of 2011).
Presented by the Libertyville Civic Center Foundation as an annual multi-day fund-raising event, the Libertyville Days Festival held in the town of Libertyville includes a carnival, food vendors, beer gardens, musical acts, and an arts and crafts fair. These activities take place at a number of venues including Church Street, Sunrise Rotary Park, and Cook Park. A parade kicks the festivities off with balloons, marching bands, Shriner groups, clowns, and horses. The carnival is family-friendly with rides, games and food, and costs $22 per person per day for unlimited rides (as of 2011). There are food vendors set up along Church Street and a Beer Garden with wine, beer, and Mai Tais in the Civic Center Parking Lot.