35th Annual Heritage Fair returns to the Good Ol' Days

UNION – The McHenry County Historical Society & Museum will host its 35th Annual Heritage Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 10, at the museum, 6422 Main St.

This year’s theme, “Return to the Good Ol’ Days,” underscores people’s craving to get back to a pre-COVID world when they could enjoy things in a way they used to – something we’ve come to appreciate more and more. And that includes Heritage Fair!

Highlights include a colossal Garden Glitz plant sale – courtesy of Countryside Flower Shop & Nursery, The Gardens of Woodstock, Harvard Nursery, Hoffie Nursery, Hubbs Greenhouse, Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, Kolze’s Corner Gardens, Red Buffalo Nursery, The Growing Scene and Tom’s Market. Please patronize these supporters of local history.

Animal House shelter in Huntley will be on site with adoptable animals from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Magician Kevin Sarnwick from Crystal Lake will be performing around the grounds, for young and old alike, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Children’s activities, including a cakewalk and old-fashioned games. A White Elephant sale, featuring one-of-a-kind items, will be accompanied by the return of our popular vintage clothing sale, a bake sale and a pie-baking contest.

Pies will be sold by the slice immediately following the judging at the Heritage Fair’s bake sale. The grand champion will receive a trophy and his/her name engraved on a permanent trophy at the museum. For rules, visit GotHistory.org.

A vintage book sale returns in a big way at the Washington Street annex. Signature items include Sears, JC Penney and Marshall Field & Co. catalogs; Civil War, Vietnam War and Abraham Lincoln books; early schoolbooks and 1890s cookbooks. All priced to sell!

Silent auction items include a number of county history books, an 1872 and 1908 county atlas, local author books, Woodstock postcards, high school yearbooks, a 1905 Lake County atlas, vintage Boy Scout handbooks and an array of military ephemera.

Musician Dave Martin will share his unique blend of history and storytelling on Eckert Hall stage starting at 2 p.m. Martin’s “Miscellany and Mirth of the Midwest” uses traditional and original songs to take audiences on a good-natured romp through America’s heartland. Hear tales of true crime and imagine yourselves as 21st century pioneers.

The 10th annual Heritage Fair Car Show returns along downtown Main Street in front of the museum along with DJ Jose Ramos spinning “oldies.” As in the past, the free show will feature sports, classic and antique cars. Twenty cars will receive trophies, including one for Best of Show. A one-of-a-kind, handmade People's Choice trophy and door prizes also will be presented. For information, call Tony at TJ's Klassics, 847-515-8110.

The day also features free admission to the museum, 1895 West Harmony School and 1843 Gannon log cabin. A master gardener docent in period costume will be available to answer questions about the Pioneer Garden planted and maintained by the University of Illinois Extension.

Food vendors include Tacos Express, Boy Scout Troop 153, Kona Ice and Kettle Corn Cookery. For additional information, visit www.gothistory.org or call 815-923-2267.