The holiday season is just around the corner! As the streets begin to sparkle and merchants make preparations for crowds of shoppers, residents near Gerstad […]

The holidays are fast approaching, but there’s still time to go out with friends and family and enjoy the most wonderful time […]

The streets are beginning to sparkle as merchants prepare for the arrival of holiday crowds, but shopping isn’t all there is to look forward to in the coming months! Mark your calendars for these exciting holiday events near Gerstad Builders’ communities in McHenry, Poplar Grove, and Richmond, Illinois, as well as the new homes in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, and enjoy the spirit of the season without getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of traveling far from home!  […]

The recipe for a perfect Fourth of July calls for sunshine, fireworks and delicious smoked barbecue! In honor of this festive national holiday, we compiled a list of some of McHenry County’s best barbecue joints for your enjoyment. Hickory Pit.: Don’t let the casual ambiance fool you, Hickory Pit is considered to be one of the best barbecue restaurants in McHenry, located only minutes away from Gerstad Builders’ new home community in Liberty Trails. The professionals at Hickory Pit view cooking smoky, richly flavored barbecue as an art form. Their menu includes a range of items from pulled pork and brisket sandwich platters to American classics like burgers and sloppy joes. Having an event? A full-catering service is also available. […]

Homeowners in The Trails of Dawson Creek community in Poplar Grove will enjoy a host of options for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations this year. While Chicago is known for its top-notch St. Paddy’s Day festivities, Boone County residents can celebrate with friends and family close to home. Check out these five ways to have fun this weekend in Poplar Grove: St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Party. Rockford is hosting its 36th annual parade and party on Saturday, March 15 at 3:00 p.m. downtown. The City of Rockford Pipe Band […]

Credit: McHenry County Historical Society With December finally upon us, we know our residents are busy making plans to spend time with friends and family. However, finding something that will everyone will enjoy doing during the holidays can be difficult. Here is a list of family-friendly events that everyone will love near all of our communities: Bailey Estates Festival of Lights: On Friday, December 6, downtown Lake Geneva will light up for the holidays. Come out at 5:30 p.m. for holiday story time, and then stick around the tree lighting ceremony featuring Santa at 6:30 p.m. The next day, children are invited to visit with Santa, his elves and live reindeer from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lawn of Starbucks, and then watch the 38th Annual Great Electric Children's Christmas Parade at 5 p.m. […]

Bring in the New Year Close to Home You don’t have to venture far from your McHenry new homes to get a head start on your New Year’s Eve celebrations. Head over to the Woodstock Opera House on Friday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. for an evening of music and fun at Bryan White, “A White Christmas” presented by Erik Borman. Bryan White is an award-winning vocalist who has topped the Billboard’s Country Charts with 17 singles. He has joined forces with artists such as Shania Twain, and was named as one of People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People. For this performance, Bryan will be joined by special guest Anna Johnson. Tickets are $33 for all seats. You can find out more information about this show, and purchase concert tickets, by visiting the Woodstock Opera House website. Whether you choose the Poplar Grove homes at The Trails of Dawson Creek, the Richmond new homes at The Trails of Pheasant Ridge or the McHenry new homes at Liberty Trails as the location of your family’s next residence, you’ll find that you’re just minutes from the exciting concerts and events at the Woodstock Opera House. […]

Holiday Music Near Your McHenry New Homes One of the great things about the holiday season is all of the wonderful music you can find right around the corner from your Richmond, Poplar Grove and McHenry new homes. If you’re searching for a fun outing full of all of your holiday favorites, then you don’t want to miss Ed Hall’s Woodstock Christmas Guitar Night at the Woodstock Opera House on Friday, Dec. 23 at 8 p.m. This 16th annual event will gather four internationally acclaimed guitarists on one stage for unique and highly entertaining arrangements of your holiday favorites and classics. Those performing include Woody Man from New York, Jeff Friedlander from Colorado, Don Adler from Canada and Ed Hall from right here in Illinois. For more information about this exciting evening of holiday music, visit the Woodstock Opera House website. […]