Downtown Crystal Lake / Main Street

09/04/2026

Don’t forget to pick up a wooden apple this weekend to help us decorate the downtown for the Johnny Appleseed Festival!

You can pick one up at Wear Did U Get That, COLOR ME MINE Crystal Lake, Countryside Flower Shop & Nursery, Marvins Toy Store and tomorrow only, you can also pick one up at the Crystal Lake Farmers Market!

All wooden apples need to be painted and returned by 9/10

09/04/2026

The Johnny Appleseed Festival is powered by over 100 volunteers across multiple shifts. Without them (without you 🫵), there is no festival! Would you consider donating a portion of your time and energy to bring this annual tradition to life? Sign up at downtowncl.org/volunteer. (Scroll to “current opportunities.”)

Perks include:
🍎 An awesome shirt you can wear all year
🍎 An invitation to a volunteer bash at the Downtown House on October 22, with pizza from Georgio's Chicago Pizzeria (thank you, Georgio’s!)
🍎 A warm fuzzy feeling of community service

Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers!!!

09/03/2026

Save the Date for Downtown Crystal Lake’s first ever Shop & Sip!

Tickets are $20 and include: five 3 oz. pours of wine, mocktails, and bites + deals & discounts at 15 participating downtown retail shops.

Grab a friend and enjoy live music down the downtown streets on a perfect October evening all while shopping fall specials!

Tickets go on sale on 9/17 and will be available at downtowncl.org/shop-sip

09/03/2026

September is a little bananas at the Downtown Crystal Lake office. 🍌🙃🍎🍎🍎

Want to join in the Johnny Appleseed fun? You can…
🍎 Visit downtowncl.org/johnny-festival to plan ahead
🍎 Sign up to volunteer for a shift at downtowncl.org/volunteer
🍎 Email [email protected] for a list of remaining sponsorships
🍎 Text GBR to 33100 to buy your Great Ball Race tickets!

Thanks to Christopher Dowell for stopping by to help us shoot this!

09/02/2026

The Judith Svalander School of Ballet is a ballet school that honors the teaching of classical ballet and have been doing so since 1972!

They use techniques founded in the major classical ballet styles of the Italian and French to begin; as training advances, the school incorporates the English, Danish (Bournonville), and Russian methods.

Interested in learning more? Visit svalanderschool.org today! 🩰

09/01/2026

September means… Johnny Appleseed Festival! The countdown begins today! 🍎

Presented by: Home State Bank

downtowncl.org/johnny-festival

08/29/2026

We’ll see you at the DTCL Farmers Market this morning! Thank you to Pique Technologies for sponsoring this morning’s live music with Brandon Reisdorf!

08/27/2026

Cheers to five years, Cheshire Cakes!

They’re celebrating with deliciously sweet deals (like 20% off macaron packs!), so make sure to stop in today!

08/27/2026

On the blog today: A - Z Interiors! What an absolute gem this is in our downtown. It's full of beautifully curated furniture, art, and accents to help create a home you love... plus lovely cards and gifts that feel custom and personal. Read our short interview with this shop and design studio owner, Amy Zakoian, and stop into A-Z soon to see what's new for the season!

We asked Amy Zakoian about her shop and interior design studio, A-Z Interiors, which has been in business in Downtown Crystal Lake for about six years.