Kicking Off America's 248th Birthday-- Part 2: A Festival and Fireworks

SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2024

Inn the afternoon, I drove over to McHenry for the Taste of McHenry on Main Street festival which ran from 11 to 5 p.m.  I met my biddy Glenn there at Ye Olde Corner Tap on the corner of Main Street and Illinois Highway 31 and we had a drink there before walking out on Main Street which was blocked off for the event.

They had food trucks plus the restaurants on the street had booths offering their food as well.  We stayed away from the arts and crafts areas as both of us need to be getting rid of stuff as opposed to buying stuff.

We stopped for a couple $1.50 drafts at Moe's on Main and went outside afterwards and listened to solo performer Amy Yore.  Glenn had to leave, but I stuck around and saw a five-piece acoustic group put on a real fun show.  Their name was iPop.

Came home and at 8, drove to the Fox Lake American Legion and watched the Fox Lake fireworks display in Nippersink Lake from there.

So, I got my 4th of July's worth:  a parade, festival, bands and fireworks.

Happy Birthday America.  --RoadStarsandStripes

Kicking Off the 248th Birthday of the U.S.A.-- Part 1: A Parade

SATURDAY, JUNE 29

This morning, I drove over to Fox Lake, Illinois, for their annual 4th of July parade.  As Chevy Chase sang inn the movie "Vacation,'  "I love a parade."  And this one did not disappoint. Two things that I particularly like about the Fox Lake parade is ease of getting to it and park and the fact they have a first-class sound system at the judges table/mc spot.

And, unlike my village of Spring Grove, they don't close down every road within a five mile radius two hours before the parade.  That has kept me from seeing a lot of our parades.

This year's grand marshal is Chris Johnson, chairman and CEO of the Chicagoland Classic Cinema Corporation which has about 17 theatres and over a hundred screens.  They have a nice one in Fox Lake that I go to quite often.  The seats are all recliners and prices are $8 and less in Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Of course, we had the usual politicians out in force with elections coming up.  Plus, lots of local businesses and even the Grant Township High School Marching Band participated as did a lot of their athletes.  By far, my favorite part of any parade is the marching band.

Lots of candy was given out to the tykes of course.

Also, it is easy get to the parade parking and getting out of there.

A Parade.  An Annual Tradition for Me.  --Road4th