You're invited to join our upcoming Telephone Town Hall meeting on June 20 at 7 p.m. During the Telephone Town Hall, Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor will discuss our current priorities, and you will be able to share your thoughts and ideas to make Lake County a better place.

Participants will be able to provide input in a variety of ways as Chairman Lawlor will answer questions from residents during this live interactive discussion. If you would like to take part in this event, make sure to sign up to receive a call!

Summer is around the corner, and there is so much to do right here in Lake County. In this video, get a sneak peek inside the new Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee and find out all of the “Must-Do’s” in Lake County this summer. Also, learn how tourism is big business with more than 10,000 tourism-related jobs and adding more than $1 billion to our local economy annually. Watch now.

The boom of cannons, the crack of rifles and the galloping of horse hooves welcomes you at the annual Civil War Days encampment. Wander the camps to see soldiers, civilians and tradespeople at work. Watch as union and confederate forces collide in battle. A large-scale battle can be viewed on both Saturday and Sunday. Visit the 1863 Summer Fair, meet President Lincoln and shop Civil War-era vendors. Kids enjoy period crafts, games and more. 

Daily schedule and coupon

Shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, baked treats and more while supporting local businesses at one of Lake County’s farmers markets. Check out our Farmers Market Finder to find a farmers market near you.

I recently joined more than 500 Lake County business and civic leaders to celebrate 20 years of driving economic growth as Lake County Partners hosted its annual “Big Event.” The Big Event focuses on giving companies and communities the tools they need to fuel economic development. This year’s focus was on business growth and innovation. In his remarks, Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor reflected on where we’ve been and where we are going, affirming that Lake County is stronger than ever before!

Through the “Lake County Workforce Ecosystem” established in recent years, Lake County Partners has teamed with Lake County Workforce Development, the College of Lake County, the Lake County High Schools Technology Campus and others to meet with company leaders, identify and address critical marketplace needs and help attract top talent. 

This summer, the Lake County Health Department reminds you to take action to protect yourself from illness and prevent the spread of germs when swimming. Here are ways to protect yourself from illness at pools and water parks.

The Health Department monitors lake water for bacteria in over 100 Lake Michigan and inland lake beaches to ensure that the water is acceptable for swimming. Through Labor Day, beach closure information can be found on the Health Department’s Beach Advisory web page, which is updated daily by 10 a.m. 

Lake County, along with the Lake County Opioid Initiative is working to combat the increasing opiate problem. Hear from Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim and Bill Gentes, who talk about what is being done to combat the opioid epidemic and learn about programs such as prescription drug disposal boxes and the “A Way Out” program, which are part of the county-wide effort to prevent opioid abuse, addiction, overdose, and death. Watch Now

Those who struggle with substance abuse now have two more locations they can go to seek help 24/7 as part of the “A Way Out” Program. With the additions of Waukegan Police Department and Lake Zurich Police Department, there are now 13 “A Way Out” police entry points in Lake County. Individuals, who possess narcotics or paraphernalia, enter a participating police department and tell an officer they are requesting help will avoid criminal charges as long as the participant seeks assistance. Learn more

Much of the infrastructure owned and maintained by Lake County Public Works is underground. In order for Public Works to monitor and evaluate the condition of the overall system, they need to see what’s going on underground. In this video, travel along the pipes and learn more about the process for televising and inspecting the sewer lines. This inspection identifies areas in need of repair and sets in motion the planning and engineering needed to maintain the infrastructure. Public Works uses this information to develop a multi-year maintenance schedule to make sure they are investing in the system at the right time and in the most efficient way.

Forest Preserve News

Events in the Plaza Summer Concert Series
Events in the Plaza is Independence Grove's outdoor summer concert series featuring live music. Performances will be held Tuesday evenings to Aug. 7 (excluding July 3). View the 2018 entertainment line-up.

Family Fun Fridays
The beach at Independence Grove in Libertyville gets better Friday afternoons with games, contests and prizes around a different theme each week. Everyone can participate in the fun. Prizes awarded in age categories for kids 15 and under. Programs are FREE with beach admission. No registration is required. Learn more

Battling Buckthorn

Learn about our efforts to eliminate buckthorn, one of the area’s most invasive plants at this program June 21. Experts will share identification and removal tips. Let us inspire you to join the effort and make Lake County a buckthorn-free zone. Learn more

Senior Series: Gardening with Native Plants
Discover the benefits of using native plants to create habitat for local birds and butterflies at this program on June 27. Plant selection and identification, habitat requirements and maintenance will be discussed. A tour of the Welcome Center's native landscaping will follow an indoor presentation. Learn more

Annual Fund Spotlight
When you give to the Annual Fund, you help us do more. The Preservation Foundation board recently approved a $24,000 grant from the Annual Fund to monitor the population and health of Blanding’s turtles this summer–data that directly strengthens our ongoing Blanding’s Turtle Recovery Program.  Learn how you can help.