Colorful Wauconda Fest draws diverse crowd on first of four days Thursday

  Mack Wojo, 2, works on a corn dog at the first day of Wauconda Fest in Cook Park in Wauconda on Thursday, June 25, 2026. He was with his dad, Fred, of Island Lake. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

  Madi Augustine, 7, plays her newly won horn while her twin, Lea, and little sister, Emmy, 4, watch. They all won prizes at the fishing hole game on the first day of Wauconda Fest in Cook Park in Wauconda on Thursday, June 25, 2026. At right is Peter Kasin, of Kasin Amusements of Grayslake. The girls were with their grandmother Jan Augustine and grandfather Rick Schwass, both of Wauconda. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

  Isabelle Baranska, 10, and Nancy Considine spin on the midway on the first day of Wauconda Fest in Cook Park in Wauconda on Thursday, June 25, 2026. Isabelle was visiting her grandmother from South Carolina. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

  Proprietor Paul Kasin watches a customer’s shot swish through the basketball hoop on the first day of Wauconda Fest in Cook Park in Wauconda on Thursday, June 25, 2026. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

  Rides, including the Ferris wheel, and games and food for young children are fenced in the foreground while faster rides, more challenging games and food, beverages and live music await the older crowd in the background on the first day of Wauconda Fest in Cook Park in Wauconda on Thursday, June 25, 2026. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com