If you live here, you already know the covered bridge, the cobblestones, and the smell of caramel apples drifting out of the Confectionery in October. That is the postcard. The actual downtown, the one you walk through on a Saturday morning, has quietly changed more in the last twelve months than in the previous five. Two storefronts came back to life this spring, a third is now a year in and finally feels permanent, and the fall event slate has shifted enough that even longtime residents should double-check the dates.
Here is what is worth your attention between now and the first frost.
The comeback most residents missed
The most interesting thing to happen on Old McHenry Road this year is not a new business at all. It is a returning one. The Olive Tap reopened on February 16 under owner Kelly Petrocelli, selling premium olive oils and balsamic vinegars alongside imported pastas, spices, jams, and sauces. The shop first opened in Long Grove in 2006, moved to a larger space across the street, then closed around 2021 when the original owners relocated to Colorado. Petrocelli lives in Long Grove and worked at the original store and the Colorado locations, and the family that founded the business are her best friend's parents.
That is the sort of biographical detail that matters. This is not a franchise plant. It is a hometown reopening by someone who grew up inside the business.
The same afternoon, a second storefront cut its ribbon a block away. Artistic Creations of Long Grove at 405 Robert Parker Coffin Road, a shop showcasing handmade and artisan goods, and The Olive Tap at 302 Old McHenry Road held a dual grand opening, both drawing community support and renewed optimism about the area's future. Owner Ellen Glassman spent nearly 40 years at Allstate before opening the shop, which carries photographs, jewelry, ceramics, blown glass, candles, wall art and wind sculptures by local artists from Buffalo Grove, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Mundelein and nearby communities.
Two openings on the same Sunday is not a coincidence in a downtown this small. It is a signal.
Where to actually eat this fall
If your default dinner rotation is Enzo & Lucia, Village Tavern, and pizza, you have three new-ish reasons to break the pattern.
Sorelle Italian Market & Cafe at 3976 IL-22 is the one everyone keeps calling new even though it is not. Reviewers note it has been around for over a year, with consistent quality and portions large enough to split. Dinner runs 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, and mornings begin with freshly baked bread, pastries, and desserts, with popular items selling out quickly. Show up before 10 a.m. for the croissants or accept the loss.
Enzo & Lucia Ristorante at 343 Old McHenry Road is still the anchor for a slow evening. The restaurant is housed in a former Victorian-style home erected in 1876, the signature cappellacci is made fresh daily and stuffed with seasonal ingredients, and the outdoor patio is bordered by flowers, a fountain, and live music on weekends. Fall is the last stretch to use that patio before it closes for the season.
The Village Tavern does not need an introduction, but the age still surprises people. Established in 1847, it is the oldest tavern and restaurant in continuous operation in Illinois, family owned for 60 years, known for half-pound custom-ground burgers and the shaved prime rib sandwich that took first place on the Food Network show "Eating America" with Anthony Anderson.
For a lighter stop, Covered Bridge Creamery is worth remembering. It was named best Ice Cream Shop in Illinois in 2019 and serves super-premium ice cream, coffee, and tea. Corked Wine Bar at 132 Old McHenry and High Tea with Gerri at 144 Old McHenry round out the block for anyone who wants something quieter than a tavern night.
The fall calendar, in the order it actually happens
The event lineup has shifted this year. A few dates to put on the fridge:
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2026 | Country Girls Night Out | Participating downtown businesses |
| Throughout October | October Days (scarecrow build, Great Pumpkin Celebration) | Covered Bridge Park and downtown |
| October 3, 2026 | Oktoberfest Half Marathon, 10K & 5K | Start/finish at Brothers' Field, 340 Old McHenry Rd |
Country Girls Night Out on August 20 is a new event at participating downtown businesses, described as an evening to round up friends, grab boots and hats, and head to the historic downtown.
October Days is the one to plan around if you have kids. The scarecrow-building session runs behind Fred Astaire Dance Studio at 342 Old McHenry Road, with builders bringing clothes, hats, shoes, and accessories to customize a scarecrow that gets displayed in the historic downtown; the fee is $10 per station donated to the business association, with a maximum of six people per station. The Great Pumpkin Celebration at Covered Bridge Park includes a pumpkin patch, a professional pumpkin carver transforming giant pumpkins into works of art, and a grand finale weigh-in where guessing the exact weight to the tenth of a pound wins $1,000.
If you have never stood next to a 900-pound pumpkin being carved on a residential street corner, October is your window. The Grand Finale weigh-in is at 5:00 p.m.
The Oktoberfest Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K return on October 3, 2026, running through downtown Long Grove and surrounding neighborhoods, with the half marathon and 10K starting at 7:30 a.m., the 5K at 7:55 a.m., and the Oktoberfest afterparty kicking off at 8:15 a.m. at Brothers' Field, 340 Old McHenry Road. Finisher perks include brats hot off the grill and one complimentary beer for 21-and-over runners. If you are not running, the afterparty is the actual reason to walk over.
Where the crowd ends up on a Saturday night
Brothers' Field has quietly become the center of gravity for weekend evenings downtown. Located in Historic Downtown Long Grove, it operates as Lake County's premier outdoor bar and event space, featuring a Tiki Bar, live music, dance nights, and a rotating lineup of food trucks, with seasonal festivals and community events. Check their food truck schedule before you commit to a dinner reservation elsewhere. Some weeks the truck lineup is the better call.
Steps away, Buffalo Creek Brewing stays the more sit-down option. Nestled along Buffalo Creek and the Historic Long Grove Covered Bridge, it is the downtown's craft brewery specializing in German and Belgian beers. The German lineup is the right seasonal fit heading into Oktoberfest weekend, particularly if you would rather drink beer than run through it.
For an afternoon detour, Valentino Vineyards sits just outside the downtown core. You do not have to take a trip to California to see a vineyard, and the tasting room pours award-winning wines produced on site.
What the pattern actually tells you
Here is the thesis, if you want it in one sentence. A downtown that lost tenants in the early 2020s is now getting them back, and the ones returning are being run by people with personal ties to the block rather than out-of-town operators testing a concept. Petrocelli grew up inside The Olive Tap. Glassman opened her shop after four decades at Allstate and picked the space because she passed it on the way to Pilates. Sorelle expanded from Long Grove to Glenview rather than the other direction. That is not typical suburban retail behavior. That is a downtown that residents and operators are choosing on purpose.
If you have lived here through the quiet stretch, this fall is the one to actually walk the block again. Bring cash for the scarecrow station. Guess low on the pumpkin.
When you are ready to talk about what this returning downtown has done for property values on the streets that feed into it, or when you simply want a candid read on the current Long Grove market, John Morrison and the Morrison Home Team are here for the conversation. Request Your Free Home Valuation any time at morrisonhometeam.com.