With the dog days of summer upon Lake County — and school right around the corner — children and adults might be experiencing the doldrums. You can beat those hot summer blues by planning some last-minute seasonal fun, maybe even something a little out of the ordinary, like a pyramid house tour, an hour-long escape mystery in a mobile home or talking an evening stroll in a county forest preserve.
Here are some ideas of special events as well as activities to enjoy with families or as a special date night during the hot August days in Lake County before school and autumn arrive.
For Kids and Families
Meet Optimus Prime at Tilt Studio
11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Aug. 13
Tilt Studio at Rink Side Family Entertainment Center, 6152 W. Grand Ave., Gurnee Mills, Gurnee
Free
847-856-1064 or www.rink-side.com/
Children enamored with Optimus Prime, the powerful and honorable leader of the Autobots, can meet the robot when he makes three one-hour-long appearances in Gurnee. Children are encouraged to wear their Transformer gear, including hats, shirts and shoes, and each participant receives a free game of “Transformers.”
Teach Your Kids to Fish at Independence Grove
9 to 10:30 a.m. Aug. 17
Independence Grove Frost Preserve, 16400 W. Buckley Road, Libertyville
$2-$4
847-367-6640; lcfpd.org/IG/
Children ages 5 and older with adult supervision can borrow poles and bait from the Lake County Forest Preserves and get a quick lesson in fishing. No registration required. Meet at the North Bay Pavilion.
Create a Masterpiece with Lake County Artists
10-11 a.m. Aug. 18
Lake County Discovery Museum, 27277 Forest Preserve Road, Wauconda
$2.50-$5
847-367-6640; lcfpd.org/
Children ages 5 to 12, accompanied by an adult, can view and discuss art, artifacts and objects from the museum’s collection, then get help completing a related art project to take home.
Sunset Stroll at Rollins Savanna
6-7:30 p.m. Aug. 25
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20160 W. Washington St., Grayslake
Free
847-367-6640; lcfpd.org
Naturalists will take the family on an evening walk when the night-time animals begin to awaken. No registration required. Adult supervision required.
Walk on the Wildflower Side at Old School Forest Preserve
28285 St. Mary’s Road, Libertyville
10 a.m.-noon Aug. 27
$5-$7
847-367-6640; lcfpd.org
Children ages 8 and older with adults can learn to identify wildflowers found in Lake County as well as hear how plants were named and used as medicines, dye and food. Meet at the trails parking lot. Bring water, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and a wildflower guide if you have one.
Final Beach Bash
1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 28
Wauconda Park District Beach, 112 Park St. Wauconda
$6-$8
847-526-3610; waucondaparks.org/programs/special-events/
Celebrate summer’s end with a cookout at the beach. Families can participate in some crazy games and enjoy entertainment by a DJ. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Growing up in Lake County: Exploring History through the Stories of Children
Lake County Discovery Museum, 27277 N. Forest Preserve Road, Wauconda
10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday; 1-4:30 p.m., Sunday to Aug. 31
Museum admission is free in August
847-367-6640; lcfpd.org/
This is the last exhibit open before the museum closes its doors in Wauconda and prepares to move to Libertyville. Before hitting the books, children can explore the exhibit showing what life was like growing up in Lake County more than a century ago. They’ll also learn what life was like for a drummer boy during the Civil War, and visit a one-room schoolhouse. The museum will close on Aug. 31 and reopen sometime in 2017.
Sunday Tours at the Gold Pyramid House
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. tours Sundays in August
37921 Dilleys Road, Wadsworth
Adults $15; children, ages 17 and younger and military $10
847-244-7777; goldpyramid.com/
Families can take a one-to-two-hour-long tour through the gold pyramid house, built in 1977 by Jim and Linda Onan as their private residence, complete with a moat. Visitors can tour King Tut’s tomb and other parts of the pyramid.
Adults and Date Nights
Here are some events and things to do for adults — whether single or as couples or groups — can enjoy during the dog days of summer.
Lakes Area Swing Band and Classic Car Cruise Night
6-9 p.m. Aug. 13
Miller’s Dog N Suds Drive In, 517 Washington St., Ingleside
Free
847-587-6808; dognsudsdrivein.com
The Lakes Area Swing Band performs music of the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s during Classic Car Cruise Night. The band includes male and female vocalists, who will sing to the backdrop of cars pre-1973 cruising around town. Free parking and a picnic area are available. Root beer, sandwiches and other items are available for purchase.
Wine & Paint Class
7-10 p.m. Aug. 17
Round Lake Beach Cultural & Civic Center
2007 Civic Center Way, Round Lake Beach
$25
847-201-9032; il-roundlakebeach.civicplus.com/230/Cultural-Civic-Center
Learn to paint on glass with directions from local artist Daisy C. Perez, who will provide wine and margarita glasses and beer mugs. Bring your own beverage, including wine or beer. Perez also will supply the canvas, paint brushes, paint, a corkscrew and snacks.
Paint and Wine Tasting
6-8 p.m. Aug. 18
Vigneto del Bino Winery, 42150 Crawford Road, Antioch
$40, includes bottle of wine
847-204-7352; www.vignetodelbino.com/
Paint your individual design on a wine glass, taste some wine, then select your favorite bottle to take home.
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Bands in the Sand
7 p.m. Aug. 19: 5 p.m. Aug. 20
Sideouts, 4018 Roberts Road, Island Lake
$15-$75
847-526-7174; www.sideouts.com/
Listen to the country music of Bella Cain and headliner Jerrod Niemann on Friday. Reggae/hip hop band Matisyahu performs on Saturday. Sideouts is located on a sandy beach.
Film Festival in the Woods
6 p.m. Aug. 20
Brushwood Center, 21850 Riverwoods Road, Riverwoods
$10
847-968-3343; brushwoodcenter.org/Programs/Film/FilmFestival.html
A collection of short films inspired by nature will be shown outdoors. Films include the documentary “Everglades of the North: The Story of the Grand Kankakee Marsh” and “Moving the Giants,” an award-winning film about cloning ancient living things. Bring a picnic and lawn chairs or blankets.
Wine and Art Stroll 2016
5-9 p.m. Aug. 27
Waukegan MainStreet, corner of Clayton and Genesee streets, Waukegan
$20-$25
847-623-6650; waukeganmainstreet.org/was/
Get a souvenir glass, $10 gift certificate to use at a merchant and wrist band with a map on where you can taste wines and other beverages. The art galleries will be open.
Mobile Room Escape “The Laboratory”
Showtimes are daily. Call for times and rates
6116 Grand Ave., Gurnee
$325 for 12 persons
773-219-2922; mobileroomescape.com
Mobile Room Escape, based in Lincolnshire, will come to your place and open up the mad scientist’s laboratory, giving participants clues on how to escape and save the world. Some figure it out, some don’t, but they all have fun, the owner promises.
Music on the Esplanade
6-8 p.m. Tuesdays in August
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
$20-$25
847-835-5440; chicagobotanic.org/evenings/esplanade_evenings
Local musicians perform on the lawn. You can bring a picnic, including spirits, listen and dance if the mood suits you. Recession Seven performs Aug. 16; Cowboy Jukebox performs Aug. 23; and Kimberly Gordon Big Band performs Aug. 30.
Tempel Lipizzans
Various days and times to Sept. 11
17000 Wadsworth Road, Old Mill Creek
$12-$32
847-244-5330, tempelfarms.com
Witness artistry and history come to life as the Tempel Lipizzan stallions enchant audiences with their power, intelligence and grace.
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance writer.