McHenry held the first Pearl Street Market of the 2024 season at Veteran’s Park on May 16.

McHenry has come together to hold the first Pearl Street Market of the 2024 season. Almost 30 vendors attended the market to sell their merchandise. McHenry citizens came to shop, eat, listen to music and enjoy the atmosphere.

“The Pearl Street Market offers a community,” Mariah Koleno of Wild and Free Organics says. “It’s a place for people to meet and share interest in farms, fresh produce and inspire other people to create things and be entrepreneurs. It’s a perfect place for people to gather, have fun and enjoy the atmosphere every week.”

For the past ten years The Pearl Street Market has been taking place, but even before that, the city would hold a concert with a few vendors which was a similar yet smaller version of the market. The tradition of the market dates back to the 1950s and 1960s. This market season stretches all the way to Sep. 19.

“The Pearl Street Market offers something local and fun for families,” Crystal Downey of MJ’s Coffee Bar says, “but, it also offers something for local businesses like food trucks and vendors to come out and benefit from, while bringing the people of McHenry together.”

The Pino Farina Band started the big show at 7 pm. The concert always starts with a patriotic number so they said the pledge of allegiance first, and then performed until sunset.

“Everyone in town, and even surrounding areas should come.” Dorothy Wolf from McHenry says, “It’s free and It’s a community coming together. Plus, It brings business to the vendors and the surrounding restaurants.”