The night before Thanksgiving is known as 'Drinksgiving,' where old friends reunite at local bars. Check out these award-winning bars and pubs in northern Illinois.

Visit these award-winning coffee shops on National Espresso Day Saturday, Nov. 23.

This weekend offers a fun way to recycle your pumpkins in Cary and Lake in the Hills, more indoor farmers markets, a historical harvest experience or a Sinatra one, and a chance to learn how to live green.

Trick-or-treating events are popping up all over McHenry County this week. Here are a few options.

Halloween events are planned across McHenry County, including Dog Walk of the Dead in Lake in the Hills, Haunted Trails in Huntley, downtown trick-or-treating and a movie in Algonquin, and Haunted Forest in Fox River Grove, as well as Witches and Wizards of Woodstock.

On tap this weekend is the Pub in the Park festival in Lake in the Hills, the annual Autumn Drive in rural Woodstock and Marengo, wine walks in Algonquin and Woodstock, the final farmers market of the season for Spring Grove and an ABBA tribute band in Crystal Lake.

This week's 5 Things to Do in McHenry County include Marengo Settlers Day, Woodstock Rail Fest, Vintage Shop Hop across the region, a “Hocus Pocus” screening outside in Lake in the Hills and an indigenous storytelling event in Crystal Lake.

So many festivals on tap in McHenry County this weekend, including the Woodstock Ale Fest, the Spring Grove Storytelling Festival and Cider Fest at the McHenry County Historical Society and Museum in Union.

Among the fun to have in McHenry County this weekend: Huntley Fall Fest, Johnny Appleseed Festival in Crystal Lake, Oktoberfest celebrations in both Island Lake and Spring Grove, the McHenry County Farm Stroll, and Woodstock High School's 100th anniversary open house.