There's nothing quite like fair week in Woodstock. For six days every August, the McHenry County Fairgrounds fill up with the sights, sounds, and smells that make this county what it is: 4-H kids leading their calves through the show ring, funnel cake stands doing brisk business, and the roar of the grandstand crowd echoing out over Country Club Road. This year, from August 4th through 9th, Kunes CDJR of Woodstock is proud to stand alongside the McHenry County Fair Association as a sponsor of this 78-year tradition.
For most of us who work and live around Woodstock, the fair isn't just an event on the calendar. It's a marker of the season, a place where neighbors run into each other, and a chance for local kids to show off a year's worth of hard work in the barns and exhibit halls. That's the kind of community moment worth putting our name behind.
A Full Week of Fair Favorites
This year's fair packs in something for every member of the family. The grandstand lineup alone is worth the trip, headlined by classic rock icons 38 Special performing their hits "Caught Up In You" and "Rockin' Through the Night," with Tommy DeCarlo of Boston opening the show. Next Level Pro Bull Riding returns for another edge-of-your-seat night, and fans of horsepower and chaos won't want to miss the monster trucks, tractor and truck pulls, and the demolition derby that's become a McHenry County Fair signature.
Beyond the grandstand, there's a full slate of classic fair fun: draft horse pulls, open class exhibits, a petting zoo, a talent show, a hay bale throwing contest, live music, a beer garden, and carnival rides running throughout the week. Mother-daughter and father-son contests bring out some of the sweetest moments of fair week, and the Miss McHenry County pageant crowns a new representative to carry the fair's name through the year ahead.
And underneath all of it, the heart of the fair beats in the livestock barns. McHenry County 4-H members spend the whole year preparing for this week, and it shows. Beef, dairy, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, and rabbits all make their way through the show ring, alongside the open class exhibits where local crafters, bakers, and growers compete for premiums. It's hard work made visible, and it's worth a walk through the barns even if you don't have a horse in the race.
General admission to the fairgrounds is complimentary, so getting in the gate and soaking up the atmosphere costs nothing at all. From there, wristbands and grandstand tickets let you tailor the visit to whatever your family's looking for, whether that's an afternoon at the midway or a night under the lights at the grandstand.
Why Kunes Supports the Fair
Kunes CDJR of Woodstock has been part of this community for years, and sponsoring the McHenry County Fair is one more way of showing up for the people who make it what it is. Fairs like this one run on volunteers, 4-H families, and local businesses who've been coming back year after year, and we're glad to play a small part in keeping that tradition going strong for another season.
If you're heading out to the fairgrounds this August, stop by and say hello. And if you're due for an oil change before a week of driving back and forth to the fair, or you're thinking about upgrading to something with a little more room for hauling coolers, lawn chairs, and maybe a prize-winning goat, our team at Kunes CDJR of Woodstock would love to help.
Fair Details
- Dates: August 4–9, 2026
- Location: McHenry County Fairgrounds, 11900 Country Club Road, Woodstock, IL
- Admission: Complimentary general admission to the fairgrounds
- Tickets & Schedule: mchenrycountyfair.com
We'll see you at the fair.
