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McHenry County Fair 2026

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Do you have a special talent? Here's your opportun

Do you have a special talent? Here's your opportunity to show it off!

2026 McHenry County Fair Talent Show!
August 7, 2026 | 7:00PM

Step into the spotlight at the McHenry County Fair’s thrilling talent contest! Show off your skills, dazzle the crowd, and seize your moment of fame on stage. Join us for a celebration of talent and creativity like no other! For over 60 years the McHenry County Fair Talent Contest has shown off the great skills, passion, creativity, and uniqueness of our community's youth.

For more information or to register, visit https://mchenrycountyfair.com/talent-contest/

2026 Quad Racing at the Fair! Thursday, August 6th

2026 Quad Racing at the Fair!
Thursday, August 6th | 6:30pm

The following classes have been announced for this year's flat-track quad racing event at the fair!

$20 per class entry

And just a reminder, these events are open to EVERYONE! Pros, amateurs, anyone in the community can bring in a machine and race it!

Classes
- Kid's Quads
- Utility Quads
- Powder Puff Quads - Open
- SXS
- 4-Cycle Sport Quads
- 2-Cycle Sport Quads
- 2 & 4-Cycle Sport Quads - Open
- Golf Carts
- Zero-turn Mowers
- Power Wheels

For more details or to sign up to race, reach out to Greg Marsch At (217) 825-3256 and marsch8211@yahoo.com. Or Kathy Painter At (217) 494-5122 and kathy4388@yahoo.com

Happy Fourth of July from the McHenry County Fair!

Happy Fourth of July from the McHenry County Fair!

Today we celebrate freedom, community, and the traditions that bring us together. We hope your day is filled with family, friends, great food, and plenty of fireworks!

And the celebration doesn't stop there... we're just 30 days away from the 2026 McHenry County Fair!

The countdown is on, and tickets are available here: https://mchenrycountyfair.com/tickets/

Have a safe, fun, and happy Independence Day! ❤️🤍💙

🐑 HOLD ON TIGHT… Mutton Busting registration ope

🐑 HOLD ON TIGHT... Mutton Busting registration opens June 15! 🐑

Think your little cowboy or cowgirl has what it takes to hang on and ride for glory at the McHenry County Fair? Registration for this year's Mutton Busting competition opens June 15, and spots are limited to the FIRST 20 riders!

Before registering, be sure to review all rules and requirements here:
https://mchenrycountyfair.com/mutton-busting/

Want a reminder when registration goes live? Comment below and we'll make sure you're notified!

Demolition Derby returns to the McHenry County Fai

Demolition Derby returns to the McHenry County Fair on Sunday, August 9!

Presented by 4WD Promotions, this fan-favorite event brings together fearless drivers, hard hits, and nonstop action as competitors battle it out for derby glory. The rules are simple: keep moving, keep hitting, and be the last vehicle running!

Whether you're a longtime derby fan or experiencing the excitement for the first time, this is one grandstand event you won't want to miss.

Grab your friends, grab some fair food, and join us for one of the loudest and most exciting nights of the fair!

Tickets are on sale now. Get yours before they're gone!

USE CODE: FAIR26 to get $5 off per ticket for a limited time!

https://mchenrycountyfair.ticketspice.com/demo-derby-2026

Did you know your artwork can get you into the fai

Did you know your artwork can get you into the fair for FREE?

Simply download one of our McHenry County Fair coloring pages, color it in, and bring it with you to the fair! Children who bring a completed coloring page will receive FREE admission with a paid adult admission.

It's super easy:
• Download your coloring page here: https://mchenrycountyfair.com/fair/free-child-entry-coloring-book-page/
• Color it however you like
• Bring it to the fair and enjoy free admission with a paid adult

The countdown to fair week is on, and this is the perfect way to get the kids excited for all the rides, animals, fair food, exhibits, and family fun waiting August 4-9!

See you there!

Registration for all 2026 McHenry County Fair exhi

Registration for all 2026 McHenry County Fair exhibitions is officially OPEN!

Whether you're showcasing livestock, displaying your photography, baking your favorite recipe, exhibiting homegrown produce, or entering one of the many other fair competitions, now is the time to secure your spot.

Find exhibitor information, premium books, rules, and registration details here:
https://mchenrycountyfair.com/exhibitors/

Entries close July 19, 2026. Don't wait until the last minute!

The McHenry County Fair community is saddened to h

The McHenry County Fair community is saddened to hear of the passing of Orion Samuelson, a true voice of rural America.

For decades, Orion shared the stories of farmers and agricultural communities through his work on WGN Radio, always championing county and state fairs and the traditions they represent.

Orion made several visits to the McHenry County Fair over the years, and in 2023 we were honored to dedicate Building D in his name in recognition of his lifelong support of agriculture and rural communities.

His voice and passion for agriculture will be deeply missed.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the entire agricultural community.

⏰ Don’t forget… we’re springing forward this Sunda

⏰ Don’t forget… we’re springing forward this Sunday! ⏰

Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 AM on Sunday, so be sure to set your clocks ahead one hour before you head to bed Saturday Night.

Longer days mean we’re one step closer to fair season and those late summer nights at the McHenry County Fair.

Set those clocks and get ready to spring into brighter days! 🌷

New year, New Fair. Happy new year to everyone out

New year, New Fair.
Happy new year to everyone out there!

We had an amazing fair last year and we're gearing up for 2026 to be our best year yet!

Mark your calendars for the 2026 McHenry County Fair, August 4th - 9th, 2026 (Only 213 days away!)

Oh, and sign up for our email newsletter on our website to be notified when anything new gets added to this year's agenda.

Cheers to 2026!

Happy first day of fall! What better way to soak i

Happy first day of fall! What better way to soak in the season then with a homemade apple pie, like this "Winning Apple Pie" recipe from The Farmer's Almanac. Full recipe in the comments.

Think you got a better recipe? Share it with us. Better yet, bring it to The McHenry County Fair next year and compete in our Foods exhibition — open to all ages and types of bakers!

LEARN MORE about our Open Foods and Jr. Foods exhibitions and all exhibitions at mchenrycountyfair.com/exhibitors

Next Saturday is a late night flea market by Zurk

Next Saturday is a late night flea market by Zurko Promotions. Open 3 PM to midnight, stop by to check out all the unique offerings and maybe even come home with something truly one-of-a-kind!

Today, we pause to remember and honor those we los

Today, we pause to remember and honor those we lost on September 11, 2001. We also want to thank and honor all first-responders who showed up that day and every day.

Happy National 🐓 Month to all of our poultry farme

Happy National 🐓 Month to all of our poultry farmers!

Did you know that in 2024 Illinois produced 1,910 MILLION eggs ?!?! 😮 As a top 20 egg producing state those chickens and other poultry keep our farmers busy. So make sure to make time this month to say thank you!

Happy Labor Day from everyone at the McHenry Count

Happy Labor Day from everyone at the McHenry County Fair! We know this holiday is bittersweet as it feels like the final weekend of summer. But actually it just means it's time to hibernate and for our Fair Board to get busy planning the next McHenry County Fair.

See ya next summer!

We hope the 2025 McHenry County Fair left a smile

We hope the 2025 McHenry County Fair left a smile on your face! Let us know how we did and what you liked or disliked by filling out our annual Fair Survey.

LINK TO SURVEY: https://form.jotform.com/252374277439062 or find the survey on our website.

Best friends, both two-legged and four-legged, are

Best friends, both two-legged and four-legged, are made at the McHenry County Fair.

THIS SATURDAY the Woodstock Truck’n Food Show retu

THIS SATURDAY the Woodstock Truck’n Food Show returns for its 2nd year and it’s just bigger and better! This year we added tractors to join the all the great semis, food truck eats, live music, and activities fun for all ages!

All the fun happens next Saturday, August 23. Get your tickets today online or pay cash at the gate.

ADMISSION
$10 adults/13 & up
$5 kids 6-12 years, seniors, and military/first responders
FREE kids 5 & under

GET TICKETS: https://mchenrycountyfair.ticketspice.com/2025-woodstock-truck-n-food-show

My first McHenry County Fair! Little Gentry exper

My first McHenry County Fair!

Little Gentry experienced his first McHenry County Fair this year. He LOVED the tractors from @ahw_llc and made friends in the Goat Barn. Not a big surprise since his mom has worked with goats at the fair for years, and now she gets to pass the "fair magic" onto her son:

"Creating these memories with him at the McHenry County fair means so much to me and brings me back to my childhood as I’ve been attending the fair every year since I was a kid!"

Thanks for sharing Gentry with us, Mom!

Do YOU remember yours or your kids first McHenry County Fair? Tell us about those "first fair" memories.

#ThrowBackThursday to our Saturday, August 2 conce

#ThrowBackThursday to our Saturday, August 2 concert with Dylan Scott. Dylan took time before his show to meet some of his biggest fans, including some of our board members!

@dylanscottcountry

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CONTACT

Address
P.O.Box 375
11900 Country Club Road
Woodstock, IL 60098

Phone Number
815-338-5315

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