# Things to do with kids in McHenry County, IL

> 13 upcoming family events and 0 places and ongoing programs in McHenry County, IL, in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin area. Listings whose address ZIP code is in this county (Census Bureau ZIP-to-county file). Dates and times are Central Time. Today is Mon, Nov 2.

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/counties/mchenry-county-il

## Events ahead

- [PuzzlePalooza Jigsaw Race — Crystal Lake](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/puzzlepalooza-jigsaw-race-crystal-lake--listing-41f267db2c3a1f732b4b6108) — Sun, Nov 15 · 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM · Grand Oaks Recreation Center, Crystal Lake · From $45 · checked Oct 24. Teams of two or four race other teams to finish the same 500-piece jigsaw puzzle at Grand Oaks Recreation Center, with two sessions to choose from (10 a.m.–noon or 1:30–3:30…
- [Wolfpack 5K: The Great Turkey Chase — Crystal Lake](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/wolfpack-5k-the-great-turkey-chase-crystal-lake--listing-dd6728115c6db7f3decbcfa8) — Sun, Nov 22 · 10:00 AM · Prairie Ridge High School, Crystal Lake · All ages · From $45 · checked Oct 30. An inaugural 5K run/walk from Prairie Ridge High School through the Squaw Creek neighborhood, where runners try to finish ahead of the costumed 'poult' for an extra prize. Kids…
- [Grinch N' Greet at the Old Courthouse — Woodstock](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/grinch-n-greet-at-the-old-courthouse-woodstock--listing-ec270a30901e408e49f73d24) — Fri, Nov 27 · 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM · Old Courthouse Center — Upper Floor, Woodstock · All ages · Free · checked Oct 27. Before Woodstock's Lighting of the Square, the city turns the upper floor of the Old Courthouse Center into Whoville, where children can meet the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who. The…
- [Happy Holiday Railway at the Illinois Railway Museum](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/happy-holiday-railway-at-the-illinois-railway-museum--listing-c36bbdc6ae8fda5a4751b82e) — Fri, Nov 27 (+9 more dates) · 11:30 AM · Illinois Railway Museum, Union · All ages · From $25 · checked Oct 20. The Illinois Railway Museum in Union runs its Happy Holiday Railway on ten dates in 2026: Friday through Sunday, November 27 to 29, the weekends of December 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20…
- [Lighting of the Square — Woodstock](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/lighting-of-the-square-woodstock--listing-408f8f6b59d56ced1ca9b8d9) — Fri, Nov 27 · 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Park-in-the-Square (Woodstock Square) · All ages · checked Oct 27. Woodstock's holiday season officially begins on the Friday after Thanksgiving, when the City of Woodstock switches on tens of thousands of lights in the trees of the…
- [Luminaria Walk at Veteran Acres — Crystal Lake](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/luminaria-walk-at-veteran-acres-crystal-lake--listing-0d411dcf718fdc0701977e31) — Wed, Dec 2 (+3 more dates) · 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM · Veteran Acres Park, Crystal Lake · Free · checked Oct 24. Crystal Lake Park District lights a trail through Veteran Acres for an evening stroll under the stars on four nights in early December. Wednesday through Friday (Dec. 2–4) are…
- [Candlelight Hike & Ski at Rush Creek Conservation Area — Harvard](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/candlelight-hike-and-ski-at-rush-creek-conservation-area-harvard--listing-78efc8023599d21bf6639306) — Fri, Dec 11 (+1 more date) · 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Rush Creek Conservation Area, Harvard · All ages · Free · checked Oct 27. 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…
- [Holiday at Grandma's House — Powers-Walker House, Glacial Park](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/holiday-at-grandma-s-house-powers-walker-house-glacial-park--listing-0b6e3a72e5fd80fef40b2ef7) — Sat, Dec 12 · 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Powers-Walker House, Glacial Park Conservation Area, Ringwood · All ages · Free · checked Oct 27. On Saturday, December 12, from noon to 4 p.m., the McHenry County Conservation District opens the restored 1854 Powers-Walker House in Glacial Park, Ringwood, for Holiday at…
- [Nature's Ornaments at Lost Valley Visitor Center — Glacial Park](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/nature-s-ornaments-at-lost-valley-visitor-center-glacial-park--listing-98afa84ee71e7807ad04ff51) — Sat, Dec 12 · 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Lost Valley Visitor Center, Glacial Park Conservation Area, Ringwood · All ages · Free · checked Oct 27. On Saturday, December 12, from noon to 4 p.m., the McHenry County Conservation District sets up several self-guided stations at the Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park…
- [Saint Lucia: A Swedish Holiday Tea at the Colonel Palmer House](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/saint-lucia-a-swedish-holiday-tea-at-the-colonel-palmer-house--listing-a43657500fbc315a98b40582) — Sat, Dec 12 (+1 more date) · 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Colonel Palmer House, Crystal Lake · Ages 5+ · From $45 · checked Oct 24. A family holiday tea in Crystal Lake's historic Colonel Palmer House celebrating the Swedish Saint Lucia customs behind many familiar Christmas traditions. Guests sample featured…
- [PJs, Popcorn and The Polar Express — Crystal Lake](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/pjs-popcorn-and-the-polar-express-crystal-lake--listing-c7c1978654101f9269e9fd94) — Fri, Dec 18 · 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Main Beach, Crystal Lake · Ages 5+ · From $15 · checked Oct 24. A family holiday movie night at Crystal Lake's Main Beach building: children wear their favorite Christmas pajamas, bring a cozy blanket, make Christmas crafts, visit a hot cocoa…
- [Welcome Winter Celebration at Lost Valley Visitor Center — Glacial Park](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/welcome-winter-celebration-at-lost-valley-visitor-center-glacial-park--listing-fd2dc3b74c6d5020e5dd5731) — Sat, Dec 19 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Lost Valley Visitor Center, Glacial Park Conservation Area, Ringwood · All ages · Free · checked Oct 27. The McHenry County Conservation District marks the winter solstice with a free, multi-cultural Welcome Winter Celebration at the Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park…
- [Candlelight Hike & Ski at Prairieview Education Center — Crystal Lake](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/candlelight-hike-and-ski-at-prairieview-education-center-crystal-lake--listing-21f84d38c0491bbffc478f7f) — Fri, Jan 8 (+1 more date) · 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Prairieview Education Center, Silver Creek Conservation Area, Crystal Lake · All ages · Free · checked Oct 27. The McHenry County Conservation District's Candlelight Hike & Ski returns in January at the Prairieview Education Center in Silver Creek Conservation Area, Crystal Lake, on…

## Recently ended

- [Halloween On the Square — Woodstock](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/halloween-on-the-square-woodstock--listing-cdb82fff93157159f3a91c7c) — ended Sat, Oct 31
- [Truck or Treat — Crystal Lake Main Beach](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/truck-or-treat-crystal-lake-main-beach--listing-a36b3dee28d6214e7d3e367c) — ended Sat, Oct 24

## Nearby

- Towns in McHenry County, IL: [Crystal Lake, IL](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/towns/crystal-lake-il) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/towns/crystal-lake-il.md), [Ringwood, IL](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/towns/ringwood-il) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/towns/ringwood-il.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Chicago](https://grassyknees.com/chicago) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago.md)
- [This weekend in Chicago](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/this-weekend.md)

Town pages are listed once a town has 3 current listings, county pages at 10.