Top 10 Things To Do in July 2023
By: Jonathan Jones 06/28/2023
Rockets will burst in air, folks will sprawl out in the sand, schooners will speed through lakes, festivals will be lit and that only scratches the surface in July.
July is the summer’s warmest month. Find your adventure this summer at Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor Chicago, a community festival, one of the serene bodies of water Lake County offers and more.
This summer, don’t just take a road trip, Let the Ride Take You to the beauty, history, nature and discovery of the land of lakes. Click here to learn more about Lake County Road Trips, continue to scroll down to see Lake County’s top 10 things to do in July.
"Oh, the places you'll go" and explore, and those sites, sounds and feels will leave you and the family with memory makers. Lake County Road Trips showcases five different experiences via car, bike or hoofing to create an adventure on the land of lakes' arterial highways: Illinois Route 21, U.S. Route 45, Illinois Route 83, Illinois Route 41 and U.S. Route 12. So this summer, don't just take a road trip. Explore, explore, explore!
The sun is out; the streets are vibrant with live Spotify sounds; the foodies are exploring their palate with enchanting eats and drinks, the thrill-seekers are craving carnival rides and so much more. Let's take a look at the July Festivals.
- Flavors of the World Food Festival at Six Flags Great America (select days through July 23) INFO»
- Celebrate Fox Lake (July 1) INFO»
- Beach Fest in Round Lake Beach (July 1) INFO»
- Coca-Cola July 4th Fest at Six Flags Great America (July 1-4) INFO»
- Mundelein Community Days (July 1-4) INFO»
- Red, White & Boom! 4th of July Celebration in Lincolnshire (July 3-4) INFO»
- 60th Annual Deerfield Days (July 3-4) INFO»
- We Are Highland Park 4th of July Events (July 4) INFO»
- Lake County Greek Fest in Libertyville (July 7-9) INFO»
- Scoop Waukegan (July 7-8) INFO»
- Vernon Hills Days (July 13-16) INFO»
- Antioch Taste of Summer (July 13-16) INFO»
- MainStreet Libertyville Sidewalk Sales (July 14-15) INFO»
- Harborpalooza at Harbor Brewing Co. Biergarten (July 14-16) INFO»
- ArtWauk in Waukegan (July 15) INFO»
- World Music Fest in Highland Park (July 15) INFO»
- AlpineFest in Lake Zurich (July 21-23) INFO»
- Grayslake AuthorFest (July 22) INFO»
- 94th Annual Lake County Fair (July 26-30) INFO»
- Long Grove Vintage Days (July 29-30) INFO»
Ravinia is a staple of Lake County. Since 1905, the Highland Park fest has featured the top musicians in various genres, making it the oldest outdoor festival in U.S. history. Continue scrolling to see some of July's headliners. Click the info button to see July's schedule and beyond.
- Carlos Santana (July 1) INFO»
- Ne-Yo (July 7) INFO»
- John Fogerty (July 9) INFO»
- Heather Headley performs with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (July 16) INFO»
- Breaking Barriers: Women Composers (July 21-23) with Marin Alsop and the CSO (July 21-23) INFO»
- The Trailblazing Music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Carly Simon with the CSO (7/29) INFO»
“Hurrah for the flag of the free. May it wave as our standard forever,” (cue the wicked piccolo solo). You’ll be humming everyone’s favorite Sousa “smash single,” (Stars & Stripes Forever) as you scour through our 2023 Fourth of July guide. We all live for that moment when we look to the sky and anxiously await our favorite brand of boom and color spatter from a 4th of July Lake County fireworks show. Celebrate the ol' U.S. of A, land of lakes-style.
Even if you don’t own a DeLorean, you can take a trip back to the past to experience the 16th-century English Elizabethan era just over the Wisconsin border. The renowned Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha features sword fighters, maidens, minstrels and jesters. There are many photo opportunities for having the chance to meet and greet with legendary celebrities such as Queen Elizabeth and Robin Hood. The Faire also offers games, rides, arts and crafts, eats, live music and one-of-a-kind encounters with a spectacular cast of characters.
It's called Lake County for a reason. Summer is on the horizon! Grab your towels, pull out your aqua toys, apply the sunscreen, find a good spot on the sand, kick back and relax, because, sometimes life's a beach. Swim through this guide to Lake County beaches.
The Lincolnshire production takes you back to 1956 when Holly first hit the scene and the following three short years that helped cement his legacy in rock music. You'll hear all the classics and the stories behind them. Holly's raw rock 'n' roll style inspired many, including the Beatles and The Rolling Stones. The Texan was among the first artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him no. 13 in its list of "100 Greatest Artists". The show also visits "the day the music died," when Holly, Richie Valens and "The Big Bopper" boarded that fateful plane in Mason City, Iowa.
"I want to ride my bicycle, races are coming your way." - Queen. The Lake County village hosts a new event this year called the Mundelein Grand Prix. This pedal to the metal event is a professional and amateur bike race. The Mundelein race are a piece of the nationally-renowned Intelligentsia Cup race series that runs from July 21-30. Cyclists compete on a short circuit racecourse in downtown Mundelein featuring tight turns and fast straightaways. The Grand Prix is also highlighted by a pop up beer garden, kiddie games, a Mundelein Park District-hosted community ride, live tunes, artsy activities and more. The event is hosted by VLC partners Lake County Forest Preserves, the Dunn Museum, DoubleTree by Hilton Libertyville-Mundelein and Lake County Libation Trail partner Tighthead Brewing Co.
Do you wake up nights in a cold sweat after a nightmare with the aroma of funnel cakes? That’s either a serious medical condition or you have withdrawal from the Lake County Fair. Your wait is over as the Grayslake staple returns. For nearly a century, the Lake County Fair has provided a great family experience for members, young and old, spanning generations. The annual six-day event in Grayslake turns 94 years old this year. This Lake County staple will include entertainment, food vendors, live farm animals, carnival rides, games, motor crossing, a demolition derby, a flower show, the Miss Lake County Pageant and so much more. Learn more about the fair at lcfair.com.
The "Monsters of the Midway's" training camp has returned for its third year at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. The training camp sponsored by the Illinois Office of Tourism will be open on select days to the public between July 26-August 14. The NFL organization will allow fans to enter the Lake Forest facility to view practice for 9 days between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tickets are free, but must be secured online and will be made available on Thursday, July 6. Bears fans can select up to four training camp tickets for each event. Camp visitors will park at Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills and will be shuttled to and from Halas Hall.
For more things to do in July, continue here. To view the land of lakes kid's summer fun guide, click here.
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