# Candlelight Hike & Ski at Rush Creek Conservation Area — Harvard

> Event for families in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin area (IL / IN). Times are Central Time.

- When: Fri, Dec 11 (+1 more date) · 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Where: Rush Creek Conservation Area, 20501 McGuire Road, Harvard, IL 60033
- Ages: All Ages
- Price: FREE
- Organizer: McHenry County Conservation District
- Official page: https://www.mccdistrict.org/visit___explore/places_to_go/find_a_site/rush_creek.php
- Last checked: Tue, Oct 27

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 2, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-01), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/candlelight-hike-and-ski-at-rush-creek-conservation-area-harvard--listing-78efc8023599d21bf6639306

## About

The McHenry County Conservation District lights the trails at Rush Creek Conservation Area near Harvard with candles for two evenings, Friday, December 11, and Saturday, December 12, from 5 to 9 p.m. If there are at least 4 inches of snow, the trails are groomed for cross-country skiing; skiers of every age and experience level are welcome but must bring their own equipment. Without enough snow, families leave the skis at home and enjoy a candlelight hike instead. Rush Creek covers 726 acres of upland forest, oak and hickory woodland, wetlands and sedge meadows, with about 2 miles of looped hiking trails. The event is free for all ages and drop-in, with no registration. No pets are allowed, and the district may cancel when wind chills fall below 20 degrees.

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