Summer Field Day: The Landscape & Snow Expo

Landscape Illinois’ oldest event is getting a nostalgic return to its roots as Summer Field Day comes back with the spirit of a day at the county fair. Join us for an afternoon of networking, nostalgia, and friendly competition, including: a classic car show, tours of Prairie Crossing, exhibits, networking, lively Lincoln-Douglas debates, lunch, College of Lake County Farmstand, and a pie eating contest. Mark your calendars for this fun summer gathering that celebrates both our association’s history and the Landscape Illinois community today!

At Summer Field Day, attendees are invited to take a short tour of Prairie Crossing, a nationally recognized conservation community located nearby. The tour will highlight the sustainable and ecological landscaping practices that guide Prairie Crossing residences, including native landscaping, biodiversity, stormwater management, and the community’s broader commitment to preserving open space. Prairie Crossing was developed with more than 60% of its site preserved as open space, making it a unique nearby example of conservation-based community design. A morning tour and an afternoon tour will be offered. Register for Summer Field Day to grab your spot on the bus!

Inspired by the historic Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Summer Field Day will feature a series of lively, good-natured debates where two participants take opposing sides on a green industry topic. Each debate will be short, fast-paced, and designed more for entertainment than education, with debaters making their case, offering rebuttals, and closing before the crowd chooses a winner by applause.

We’re looking for volunteers to step up, think on their feet, and bring the fun as one of our debaters.

Container Wars is returning with two unique container challenges that showcase both artistry and expertise of landscape professionals. Join us from 9:00-10:00 a.m. as landscape designers showcase their stunning, finished containers inspired by this year’s County Fair theme. Each participant will have 3-5 minutes to share the story behind their creation, their plant selections, maintenance considerations and more!

Then, in the afternoon, it’s an all out plant showdown! Participants will be challenged to create a container on-site using a pre-selected assortment of plant material. Creativity, speed and design skills will be put to the test as contestants battle for prizes and bragging rights!

No county fair is complete without a little shine, nostalgia, and friendly competition. Our classic car show will showcase vehicles from around Landscape Illinois and offer a fun chance for fellow car enthusiasts to connect, swap stories, and enjoy a little peer networking when they’re not on the job. Have a car you’d like to show off?

Our committees are going head-to-head in a pie eating contest – that includes our Board of Directors! A designated representative from each of the 24 Landscape Illinois committees will be chowing down on a 9-inch fruit pie, in a winner takes all competition! Who is going to take down our Committee of the Year (Membership)? Will it be Young Professionals? Or will they get owned by the Owners & Senior Managers Committee? Come find out!