McHenry County Lifestyle
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Six Flags Great America to mark 50th anniversary with a summer-long partyMar 19, 2026 5:05 pm - Since opening as Marriott’s Great America in 1976, millions of visitors over generations have seen the theme park east of Interstate 94 and south of Grand Avenue in Gurnee evolve and expand.
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Meet the ducks that nest in treesMar 18, 2026 2:16 pm - Early spring is a good time to see local tree ducks, both of which have nested at Stillman Nature Center in Barrington -- the wood duck and hooded merganser.
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Scenic strolls: Favorite places for a walk or hike in the Tri-CitiesMar 18, 2026 1:05 pm - Through the years, it has often been mentioned in this column which parks, paths and neighborhood routes my wife and I walk. Here are a few of our favorites.
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DuPage youth jazz ensemble chasing New York gloryMar 18, 2026 12:50 pm - The jazz stars of tomorrow can be found in DuPage County. The Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage will put its chops on display at the 31st annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival in New York City April 30-May 2.
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Egg hunts for kids, dogs and adults across the suburbsMar 18, 2026 12:11 pm - Grab your baskets and get ready to hunt for eggs and meet the Easter Bunny at events across the suburbs now through April 11.
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From plastic bags to park benches: Huntley church’s recycling initiative benefits communityMar 17, 2026 7:53 pm - Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church in Huntley has collected over 2,000 pounds of plastic bags through the NexTrex Recycling program in less than a year, earning two park benches made from recycled materials.
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Home & garden calendar, March 17-28Mar 17, 2026 3:27 pm - Upcoming gardening club meetings and events in the Chicago suburbs, covering topics like container gardening, native pollinators, rethinking horticulture, and more.
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Take a ride to check out these Bicycle Friendly CommunitiesMar 12, 2026 12:04 pm - The League of American Bicyclists recognized eight Chicago metro areas as Bicycle Friendly Communities, with Aurora, Batavia, Elmhurst and Niles achieving bronze status while Evanston maintained its silver ranking, the highest in the region.
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Catholics are invited to confession during Be Reconciled Day March 25Mar 10, 2026 10:25 pm - The Diocese of Rockford is again setting aside a day specifically for confession so Catholics can prepare their souls for the hope and joy of Easter. This year, “Be Reconciled Day” will be held on Wednesday, March 25.
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Home & garden calendar, March 10-21Mar 10, 2026 3:05 pm - Upcoming gardening club meetings and events in the Chicago suburbs, covering topics like soil, native pollinators, long-blooming perennial gardens, and more.