Alpacas added to show at McHenry County Fair

WOODSTOCK, Ill. — Exhibitors will bring alpacas to show for the first time this year at the McHenry County Fair, Aug 2-7.

Additional livestock shows during the 74-year tradition in northern Illinois will include beef, dairy, sheep, dairy goats, swine, poultry and rabbits.

In addition to the livestock shows at the Hansen Pavilion, a talent show is planned for 7 p.m. Aug. 5 and a hay bale throwing contest at 5 p.m. Aug. 6.

Nightly events will be held at the grandstand, starting with the Miss McHenry County Fair Pageant on Tuesday, Aug. 2, and admission to this event is free. It is Family Fun Day on Tuesday, with a special admission price of $5 per person to enter the fair.

Truck pulling, a rodeo and demolition derby are additional events planned for the grandstand during the six-day fair. Big & Rich with special guest Sara Evans will perform Saturday evening.

New for 2022 is the ATV Big Air event on Aug. 4, starting at 7 p.m.

Several grounds events are planned for the fair, including the Allstar Barnyard Review and pig races and the All American Lumberjack Show.

During the fair, the lumberjacks do an interactive camp so those attending the fair can do things like learning to log roll.

A chainsaw sculptor will complete works of art daily during the fair and another new addition to the fair is a mobile glass blowing studio.

Both items from the chainsaw sculptor and the glass blower will be offered for sale during an auction on Aug. 7.

In Conservation World, the butterfly house will be open for visitors to walk through and interact with butterflies.

In this area, information will be available to learn how to improve habitat and save threatened and endangered species.

Many more fun activities are planned for the fair including pedal pulls, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit Demonstration, and the barnyard buddies, which also features a scavenger hunt.

Admission to the fair is $10 for adults and $5 for children 6 to 12 years old and children 5 years old or younger are free. Seniors 60 years and older and veterans are $5 per person. A season pass is available for $30.

For more information about the McHenry County Fair, go to www.mchenrycountyfair.com.