Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Patch's Best 2026 Halloween Yard Haunts: Lake and McHenry Counties

Happening soon: The Wellness Retreat: A Festival Where Mind, Body, and Music Meet on the Crystal Lake Patch calendar

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Saturday October 10th Patch AM
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Good day Crystal Lake! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Explore the region's most over-the-top Halloween yard haunts this year
  • How Crystal Lake Central lost a double-overtime thriller at home

Also on today's calendar: The Wellness Retreat: A Festival Where Mind, Body, and Music Meet and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: How do billboards talk? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Warmer with clouds and sun, with a high of 78 and low of 55 degrees.
  • Sunday: Clouds giving way to sun, temps: high: 73, low: 59.
  • Monday: Breezy in the afternoon, with a high of 80 and low of 61 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Patch's Best 2026 Halloween Yard Haunts: Lake and McHenry Counties (patch.com) — Families in and around Crystal Lake can find several elaborate Halloween yard haunts across Lake and McHenry counties, including walk-through displays, animatronics, fog-filled cemeteries, and playful skeleton scenes. Patch is updating its 2026 tour every Friday through Halloween and inviting local residents, including those in Crystal Lake, to submit their own decorated yards for possible inclusion.
   

• Prairie Ridge rallies to beat Crystal Lake Central in double overtime, keeps playoff chances alive (shawlocal.com) — Crystal Lake Central football fans saw a double-overtime heartbreaker at home Friday night, as Prairie Ridge edged the Tigers 25-24 to keep its playoff hopes alive. Despite big plays and a gritty defensive start from Central, a late field goal and clutch kicks in overtime gave Prairie Ridge its first win, leaving Central still searching for a breakthrough.
   

📸 Around Crystal Lake

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Crystal Lake

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★ Featured events ★

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Other local events

📣 Crystal Lake Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Crystal Lake PatchAM possible:

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Session 2 of Crystal Lake Park District Youth Sports Programs Begin Soon —Crystal Lake Park District Read on Patch
  • Next Session of Crystal Lake Park District Itty Bitty Ballerina Begins Soon —Crystal Lake Park District Read on Patch
  • FREE Crystal Lake Park District Nature Center History Day —Crystal Lake Park District Read on Patch
  • MCDH to host final residential recycling event of 2026 on October 17
    Post Date: 10/07/2026 3:30 PM Media Contact: McHenry County Department of Health Nick Kubiak, Public Information Officer McHenry County Department… (Nextdoor College St)
  • Hi everyone,
    Does anybody know any handyman who knows how to install balusters on stairs railing & also flooring installation? If anybody knows anyone, plz share… (Nextdoor Woodscreek)
  • Dollar Tree posted a job opening for Assistant Manager I in Crystal Lake. Apply here.
  • Dick's Sporting Goods posted a job opening for Retail Bike Technician in Crystal Lake. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Crystal Lake here.

🗞 Nearby News

Lake in the Hills

  • Wakeman Law Offers Strong Support for LITH Parks & Recreation Department (shawlocal.com)

Cary

  • Cary man twice convicted of attempted murder pleads guilty to 6th DUI after hitting car and fleeing near Crystal Lake (lakemchenryscanner.com)

Algonquin

  • Patch's Best 2026 Halloween Yard Haunts: Lake and McHenry Counties (patch.com)

Ok Crystal Lake! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "How do billboards talk?" — Sign language (Thank you Ellen S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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