Things To Do This Weekend August 19-21, 2022
By: Nick Borowitz 08/18/2022
While summer may be drawing to a close, there's still plenty of opportunity to celebrate. These are the things to do this weekend August 19-21, 2022.
Volo Museum is open all year long. Jurassic Gardens is always a hit with the kids.
School has started for some and soon for others. Don't miss any of the back to school deals still going on.
Get out and enjoy the sun at a festival, eat delicious BBQ or kick back with a cold craft beer. Here are the things to do this weekend August, 19-21, 2022.
Celebrate the life and legacy of Waukegan-born author Ray Bradbury on his 102nd birthday this Saturday in the City of Progress. Start the day with the “Imagination on Fire” exhibit at the Ray Bradbury Experience Museum. Stand next to life-size images of some of the prominent characters in his novels like Guy Montag in “Fahrenheit 451” and Jim Nightshade from “Something Wicked This Way Comes.” Tap on a typewriter just as the Pulitzer Prize-winning author did and listen to submissions from writers who entered their works for the annual Ray Bradbury Writing Contest. After taking in the writer’s history, visit Bowen Park for the Dandelion Wine Arts and Music Festival to celebrate summer’s end drawing near. This Waukegan Park District, Bradbury-themed free festival began in 1999 and showcases local artwork, a reading of “Dandelion Wine,” short skits about the Green Town author and performances from various local musicians on three outdoor stages. Head over to downtown Waukegan in the evening after the festival for ArtWauk. You can peruse offerings from businesses and artisans. Galleries, shops, eateries, artisans and various participating businesses provide myriad activities during the monthly Waukegan Art Council celebration. Don’t forget to visit Bradbury-themed establishments and staples like Green Town Tavern, Green Town on the Rocks, Lake County Libation Trail partner Nightshade and Dark’s Pandemonium Brewery, muralist Everett Reynold’s “Dream Big” mural and more.
Saturday, August 20; “Imagination on Fire”: 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Dandelion Wine Festival: noon-4 p.m., ArtWauk: 5-9 p.m. Admission: $5 for adults, children free at the Ray Bradbury Experience Museum. Dandelion Wine Festival and ArtWauk free admission. Ray Bradbury Experience Museum, 13 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Bowen Park, 1800 N. Sheridan Rd., Waukegan. ArtWauk, various locations in downtown Waukegan.
Celebrate community and the last days of the season at the Grayslake Summer Days. The two-day fest features fare for purchase, local vendors selling their wares, business booths area, arts and crafts activities and bingo all day Saturday. Music Saturday includes Slam Funk, the winner from the Grayslake Chamber’s Battle of The Bands in July, Fool House and rock music cover band Sixteen Candles. Lake County Libation Trail partners Light the Lamp Brewery and Glunz Family Winery of Grayslake and Black Lung Brewing Co. of Round Lake Beach will be selling craft beer and wine in the beer tent. Simply Elton, Boy Band Review and Hi Infidelity rock the night away on Friday. Be sure to find a good spot on Seymour Avenue Saturday for the Bike and Pet Parade at noon and the Summer Days Parade at 6 p.m. Compete in the pie eating contest or shimmy at the fest’s new Silent Dance Party Saturday afternoon.
Friday-Saturday, August 19-20; Fri.: 5-11 p.m., Sat.: noon-midnight. Admission: free. Food, beverages and souvenirs cost extra. Various downtown Grayslake locations, Whitney Street, Grayslake.
Be sure to arrive hungry when attending Little Bear Ribfest this weekend. The celebration of smoked meat is held at Century Park in Vernon Hills on Friday and Saturday. Festival goers can purchase fare from BBQ’d Productions of Grayslake and Lake Zurich, Smokin BBQ on 45 of Mundelein, Brothers’ BBQ food truck and City Barbeque of Deerfield and Vernon Hills. There is a beer tent serving both beer and wine that requires ID to enter and to buy drink tickets. The Chicago Experience, a tribute to classic rock band Chicago and “Blues Brothers” cover act Jake and Elwood grace the stage Friday. Live music on Saturday has an R&B soul theme with Funky Mojo Daddy opening the stage, Laura Rain and The Caesars after and Shawn Holt and the Teardrops as the closing act for the evening. The fireworks display is at 8:30 p.m. on Friday night, between band sets. Admission to the festival is $5 for adults and free for kids ages five and younger.
Friday-Saturday, August 19-20; Fri.: 6-11 p.m., Sat.: 4-11 p.m. Admission: $5, free admission for kids ages five and under. Parking: free at Hawthorn Mall. Food, beverages and souvenirs cost extra. Century Park, 1001 Lakeview Pkwy., Vernon Hills.
Watch the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) perform the Tchaikovsky Spectacular at Ravinia Festival on Sunday. Concert goers will hear some of the late composer’s most well-known pieces, including "Battle of Poltava,” “Cossack Dance” and “Violin Concerto." The CSO is also performing “Orchestral Suite No. 3" and adding its own themes and variations to the composition. The performance includes cannons that fire with the “1812 Overture.” Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed musical pieces that have been featured in “The Nutcracker,” “Swan Lake” and other theatre performances from the past two centuries. Emil de Cou is conducting the evening performance, and violinist Inmo Yang is a featured soloist.
Sunday, August 21; 5 p.m. Admission: $15-$145. Food, drinks and merchandise cost extra. Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park.
Celebrate the second anniversary of Liquid Love Brewing Co. this Saturday in Buffalo Grove. The Lake County Libation Trail partner is releasing a Märzen-style Oktoberfest lager and a barrel-aged sour for the sudsy occasion. Take a chance at the raffle for a variety of different prizes. There is a BBQ food truck selling delicious smoked grub all day long. Enjoy live music while you sip your craft beer and eat smoked fare. General admission for the family-friendly party opens at 2 p.m. Their VIP Mug Club members are allowed early access between 1 and 2 p.m. While there, support the brewery by purchasing new merchandise or join their Love Club for member-exclusive benefits.
Saturday, August 20; 1-9 p.m. Admission: free. Beer, food and merchandise cost extra. Liquid Love Brewing Co., 1310 Busch Pkwy., Buffalo Grove.
The performing arts have returned to Lake County. Find a show for your family here.
Summer isn't over yet. Make the most of the season while it lasts!
For more things to do this weekend August 19-21, click here.
