I arrived here on a Saturday afternoon to see Trace Adkins in concert. Neat facility, albeit and…read morelittle congested. Parking was free but you had to drive a mile into what appeared to be a former working field to be hand parked by several people who where obviously hot and tired of parking cars. Entry fee was $6, which is cheap, in my book. They had all the traditional 4-H animals, food vendors, rides and games. The people watching was well worth the price of admission! I adored the small venue for the concert. Grand standing/assigned seats is the way to go! Departing was a bit of a disaster because at 10p at night there was no one there to direct traffic. That was a mess! All and all, a fun place, just plan to go without any time restrictions on where/when you need to be some place else.

30th Annual Fall Diddley Craft Show was a HUGE HIT!…read more Always nicely done, well laid out and organized.. It is perhaps one of the cleanest & most inclusive outdoor craft shows I have ever met... My sister's and I happily attend this EVERY year and while it is waayy out in Belvidere...it is always worth the drive.. Its a festive way to introduce the upcoming holidays, yet another year... This event was held Oct 11th & 12th (held once every year in October).. We went opening day, Saturday and arrived around 2:00pm.... Hours held: 9-5 on Sat. & 9-4 Sun. YES, it was super crowded, but it was a gorgeous day to be outside...just perfect for walking around the outdoor tents where you will find OVER 300 VENDORS showcasing some of the most unique, hand crafted original designs....everything from pottery, jewelry, soaps, naturally scented lotions, quilts, Fall, Halloween & Christmas decorations not to mention your favorite sports team, children & baby items...to any and all things dog and cat related; treats, warmers...candles, essential oils and aromatherapy rocks..the list is endless...its a great way to pickup a "gift" or treat yourself....They can even personalize various arts.... There is an outstanding display of folk art, wood carving, dried florals, painted and appliqued clothing, fine art, small local artesian shops selling chocolates, infused vinegars, jams, sauces, etc...to local designers with hand made scarves, ponchos, sweaters....an array of beautiful wood work designs....Vendors come from all over Illinois including Chicago.... All the displays are nicely organized and "eye catchy"...there is PLENTY of room to walk in between vendors & ailes, so although it is a popular event - you will not be "mobbed" or trampled over...Everyone is so friendly here.... We have ALWAYS found something we couldn't live without (and at times really didn't need), because EVERTYHING is hand made or crafted - you simply cannot leave without finding something you will fall in love with....There are treasures to be found here.... Many of the vendors have business cards ready to hand out - so if you find a designer you absolutely love - many times you can order through their website or phone since they can sell out of items here rather quickly...however, they do "stock" up for this event... The Festival also has numerous outdoor stalls to grab a "bite" while you sit at the nearby picnic tables...They have Funnel Cake stands, Kettle Corn, Cream Puffs, Cheese Curds, Kebobs, Homemade pies and coffee cakes for sale..Burgers, Dogs...something for everyone's palette while satisfying hunger.....You will see SOME kids and strollers here too - fyi. After coming here for years, we have found you can pretty much check out NEARLY all vendors within 2 hrs (or less). There are many "repeat" vendor's here we noticed, so it gets quicker, the more familiar you are coming here... We never pass up the Roasted Nut stand - candied too - with a variety of Walnuts, Almonds, Cashews...Sooo good.... There is a $6.00 admission fee, however, ALL proceeds from shows benefit McHenry County agencies concerned with mental health services..SO, YOU ARE SUPPORTING A CAUSE! If you have missed it this year - MARK your calendar's for next year!! It's a great way to spend a day, support your communities and spend money from some very TALENTED artists....

This is one of the best public art fairs I've been to. Held the last weekend in June, 200 artists…read moreand crafters line the main street of spring green, making it easy to stroll the half-mile or so exhibits of very high quality art, crafts, photography and fabrics. Set up as it is in the middle of town, you still have access to other local businesses, bars, restaurants, and the best bookstore ever, and there is a common area as well with lots of seating and live music. It's easy to spend the better part of the day here between the art, the entertainment, and the food and drink options, like The Shack, Freddy Valentine's, and the Spring Green General Store. Fun people watching and doggie-watching, too!

LOVE this Arts & Crafts Fair!! No other like it. Have been attending the last full weekend in June…read moresince the late 70's. Keep it up....

Best ever fireworks! Didn't get a chance to do any of the other activities but heard that Drag…read moreQueen Bingo was a big hit with great prizes.

Great food and family fun! It would be a tragedy if this were the last festival. It is really…read moreour city's crown jewel.

A historic corner tavern since 1880 in New Glarus . During Oktoberfest we stopped in for lunch…read more Service was quick and friendly. It reminded me of an old time diner . My husband had cheese curds and chicken bacon ranch wrap with fries. The wrap was generous and chicken was tender and fried. I had the chicken salad sandwich with fries. I have not had a chicken salad sandwich in a very long time and was not disappointed. The chicken was chunky, complimented with sweet cranberries and served on wheat toast. The coziness, friendliness and food options gave off a small town feel. If in the area a good option for food.

A small little pub located in New Glarus offers an easygoing atmosphere serving up burgers,…read morechili,local brews with outdoor dining and beer garden. Super friendly service serving food that tastes great! Started with the Frickles...crispy breaded pickle chips served with ranch...not greasy and cooked just right. I had a cup of their New Glarus chili which is made fresh daily with New Glarus beer loaded with beef,tomatoes,beans and spices. Topped with sour cream and local cheddar cheese. I skipped the diced onions. It was so good I wish I ordered a bowl! My wife had their homemade chicken salad sandwich on a gluten free bun (1.00 extra). The chicken salad had dried cranberries and pecans which made it super delicious. For a side she had their homemade bean salad. A great place to stop to try local beers and homemade food while enjoying the small town of New Glarus!

Everyone that has been to the Shitty Barn loves it and now I know why. Bring your favorite picnic…read morefood, grab a beer, place your folding chair in a line to the entrance in order of arrival, (simple and organized), then enjoy an intimate show with 80-100 others. Proof of vaccine or negative test required and masks on indoors. We saw the Ratboys and Wild Pink which were Excellent!! A true gem of a venue. Thank you to the owner for keeping this establishment open, supporting live music, and making folks in the area very happy. Just go.

The Shitty Barn is everything BUT a shitty barn! It's truly a magical venue for live music. Arrive…read moreearly to get a good seat, although there really isn't a bad seat in the barn. I recommend bringing a lawn chair to sit on. They do have a few stadium style seats on the right side but it's recommend to have your own. There is one thing I want to say, please be respectful and bring a small chair, there is limited seating and it's flat. I've been a few times and there is always someone with an obnoxiously oversized chair that makes it hard for people behind them to see. Before the show you can get delicious farm fresh food from Enos Farm. I look forward to their tacos every show! You can also enjoy a cold beer, or wine, but make sure to bring cash as its cash only and no ATM on site. We always have a great time and are loo forward to going back each year!

Great day for the festival. Games, tournaments, food and beverages. Even desserts featuring Sassy…read moreCow ice cream. Canoes and kayaks available to rent for a donation to the Maunesha River Alliance.

A large and diverse art fair on the square around the capitol. We found things at various price…read morepoints and bought several pieces. The one issue is that being mid-July and held on asphalt streets, it was scorching HOT. The benefit to being near the Capitol building is that it is open so you can go inside and cool off, use the restroom etc (though the ingress/egress was ridiculously inaccessible, which for a government building is just nonsense.) Given how hot Midwestern summers now are, perhaps consider shifting the schedule.

We stopped here for something to do because we were in the area and it was a nice summer day for an…read moreoutdoor activity. The square has a lot of restaurants and bars in the area so we would do a couple things before moving on. AFOS is basically an outdoor event where artists from all styles show their work and hope to sell some so they display and show it all off. It's free to enter as a prospective buyer and walk around looking at some neat art works. It's like a mini outdoor museum and some of it is really neat to look at. This is definitely a cool stop if your in the area when it's happening.