Free Local Background Scenics

2018 Harvard Balloon Fest

Gregory Shaver for Shaw Media A helicopter giving rides flies into the sunset at the 2018 Harvard Balloon Fest Saturday evening, Sept. 1, 2018, at Milky Way Park in Harvard. The festival that continues through, Sunday Sept. 2, from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00 and kids under 42” are free. The scheduled hot air balloon launch window depending on weather is from 6:30 a.m. until AM-7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a night glow at dusk.

Whitney Rupp for Shaw Media A group of boaters drives under the Pearl Street Bridge Saturday, March 17 after the river was dyed green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

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A map of McHenry County from 1862 is framed and on display inside the historic 1838 barn at the House of Seven Gables, 10308 Route 14, on Friday, March 30, 2018 in Harvard. The historic 1838 house and barn will be open for an upcoming Springtime on the Prairie event April 6-8 and 13-15.

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Dozens of pelicans search for their next meal while at Griswold Lake on Friday, April 13, 2018 in Holiday Hills.

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Dozens of pelicans search for their next meal while at Griswold Lake on Friday, April 13, 2018 in Holiday Hills.

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Dozens of pelicans search for their next meal while at Griswold Lake on Friday, April 13, 2018 in Holiday Hills.

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Dozens of pelicans search for their next meal while at Griswold Lake on Friday, April 13, 2018 in Holiday Hills.

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Dozens of pelicans search for their next meal while at Griswold Lake on Friday, April 13, 2018 in Holiday Hills.

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The new Crystal Lake Mariano's features a build-your-own 6-pack wall shown here Monday, April 30, 2018.

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The barn at 2819 West Johnsburg Road is incinerated during a controlled burn for the filiming of the upcoming movie "The Letter: A Lovecraftian Tale " on Friday, June 1, 2018 in Johnsburg. The movie is still in production but is expected to be finished around August with a release date near Halloween.

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A Canada goose swims through the pond as dark storm clouds roll in overhead at Emrickson Park on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 in Woodstock.

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A stop sign at Emrickson Park is reflected in raindrops after a brief storm Wednesday, June 6, 2018 in Woodstock.

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A hood ornament sits atop a 1946 Ford at the Green Street Cruise Night Monday, June 11, 2018 downtown McHenry.

Over 170 area residents turned out Saturday, June 16, 2018 at the 2018 Hooked on Fishing event held by the McHenry County Conservation District at The Hollows Conservation area in Cary. KKoontz- For Shaw Media

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The clock tower at Cornish Park, a landmark for the Village of Algonquin, is photographed on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in Algonquin.

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The clock tower at Cornish Park, a landmark for the Village of Algonquin, is photographed on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in Algonquin.

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Water rushes under a closed walking bridge at Towne Park on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 in Algonquin.

Cary's Summer Celebration

Gregory Shaver for Shaw Media Children play with glow sticks as the fireworks explode Friday evening, June 29, 2018, during Cary's Summer Celebration at Lion's Park.

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Autographed baseballs are reflected in a shadowbox of other autographed baseballs on Sunday, July 1, 2018 at Club 400 in Lake in the Hills. Schwarber was promoting his "Neighborhood Heroes" campaign, which recognizes first responders, and is one of more than 20 current and former Cubs players to have visited Club 400, an extensive "man-cave" owned by Stewart McVicar, who opened the site in 2014 with a motto of "Cubs fans helping Cubs fans."

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Children play on the shore of Main Beach before the annual fireworks show Saturday, July 7, 2018 in Crystal Lake.

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Fireworks accompanied by music by the Crystal Lake Community Band are seen from Main Beach Saturday, July 7, 2018 in Crystal Lake.

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Fireworks accompanied by music by the Crystal Lake Community Band are seen from Main Beach Saturday, July 7, 2018 in Crystal Lake.