5 things to do in McHenry County near me: Women in space, fish fry and wiffle ball

1. Learn about “Women in Space Exploration,” the latest in a series of NASA@ My Library programs hosted at the Harvard Diggins Library.

Michelle Nichols, director of public observing at the Adler Planetarium, will teach about the various female trailblazers who have been traveling to space for decades and the women who have been involved in getting people to space and home safely.

The Harvard library was one of 60 libraries selected from the estimated 150 that applied for NASA@ My Library, an education initiative created to increase and enhance STEAM – or science, technology, engineering, arts and math – learning opportunities for library patrons, according to a news release.

The event will take place 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the library, 900 E. McKinley St. All ages are welcome.

The program is free. To register, call 815-943-4671 or send an email to adultservices@harvard-diggins.org.

2. The Woodstock Moose Lodge 1329 will host an open-to-the-public fish fry and meat raffle Friday evening.

The fish fry will take place 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the lodge, 406 Clay St., and the meat raffles will start at 6 p.m. A 50/50 raffle and game of Speedy Queen also will be offered.

Proceeds from the event will go toward improving and updating the kids’ play area in the lodge basement.

Buckets of beer will be on special with domestic bottles available six for $13 and premium bottles five for $13.

For information, go to facebook.com/WoodstockMoose1329.

3. Come see “A Night of Elvis, Live!” Saturday evening at the McHenry Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4600.

This event, hosted by the post’s auxiliary, will benefit a monthly food truck for veterans in need.

The cost is $10 and the evening runs 6 to 10 p.m. at the post, 3002 W. Route 120, McHenry.

For information, go to www.facebook.com/MchenryVfwPost4600.

4. The temperatures may be up and down, but the Winter Wiffle Ball contest at Lake in the Hills’ Sunset Park is set to take place this Sunday.

The event will take place 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Road. Wiffle ball and bats will be provided.

Registration costs $25 for a team of four or $12 per individual. Individual players are welcome to register, and teams will then be formed. Limited on-site registration will be available.

Participants ages 12 and older are welcome to play. Each team of four players must consist of one or more player who is at least 18 years old and who will be team captain.

First- and second-place finishers will receive a team and individual award. The fee includes a fire pit hospitality zone, hot lunch, and a commemorative item.

The event will be canceled if extreme weather conditions are present.

Registration can be completed at bit.ly/3mkGwXV.

5. A Breaking Up Winter festival is set for this Sunday afternoon at Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 Brandenburg Road outside Ingleside.

Previously known as Winterfest, the event will feature Ivy Ford, a singer, musician and entertainer born and raised in Waukegan. She plays piano, alto saxophone, drums, bass guitar and guitar, which are primarily self-taught.

In late 2012, Ford joined a local blues band, which in time evolved into Ivy Ford and The Cadillacs.

The event, which will take place from 1 to 4 p.m., also will include photo contest awards, winter-themed crafts, cookies, tours of the bog and hikes. If there’s snow, there will also be a snow sculpting contest and attendees are welcome to bring their own snowshoes and cross-country skis.

A suggested donation of $10 per adult is requested. Children are free.

The Volo Bog State Natural Area is home to the only open-water quaking bog in Illinois. It was dedicated as the 25th Illinois Nature Preserve in June 1970, and as the southernmost open water quaking bog in North America to exhibit all stages of bog succession, it was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974.

For information, go to https://bit.ly/Friends-of-Volo-Bog.

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