Boat Show Near Fox Lake, Illinois
Boaters from Fox Lake and the Chain O'Lakes can shop new pontoons, tritoons, fishing boats, bowriders and wake boats at the Lake County Fall Boat Show — about fifteen minutes south in Grayslake. The Lake County Fall Boat Show takes place at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake, September 26–27, 2026, with free admission and free parking.
If you keep a boat on the Chain, the show is the one weekend each fall when the region's dealers, closeout pricing and trade-in buyers are all under one roof — no need to spend Saturdays driving between dealerships along 59 and 120.
Getting to the Show from Fox Lake
Getting there from Fox Lake is simple: head south on IL 59 toward Grayslake, or take Rollins Road / IL 120 east and follow the signs to the Lake County Fairgrounds at 1060 E Peterson Rd. The trip is roughly ten miles and takes about 15 minutes in typical traffic, so many Chain boaters come both days.
Boating Around Fox Lake
Fox Lake sits at the heart of the Chain O'Lakes — the connected waterway of Grass Lake, Lake Marie, Channel Lake, Bluff Lake and Pistakee Lake that makes this corner of Lake County one of the busiest recreational boating areas in the Midwest. Weekend pontoon traffic, waterfront destinations like Blarney Island, and drag boat racing on Grass Lake with the Northern Illinois Drag Boat Association are all part of the local culture.
That variety is exactly why the show works for Fox Lake boaters: the same weekend covers tritoons built for crossing big open water, fishing rigs for the Fox River and the Chain's panfish and walleye bites, and surf boats for the quiet early mornings before the traffic starts.
What Fox Lake Boat Shoppers Will Find
Fox Lake shoppers will find current-year pontoons and tritoons from brands like Bennington and Bentley, Chaparral and Malibu fiberglass, Crestliner fishing boats, onsite financing, free winter storage offers, and buyers ready to evaluate your current boat as a trade — all with free admission and free parking.
Not sure which type of boat fits your water? Browse pontoon boats, tritoon boats, wake boats, fishing boats, bowrider boats at the show — or start with the full event information page for hours, parking and the exhibitor list.
Boaters From Nearby Areas
Boaters From Fox Lake Get In Free
The Lake County Fall Boat Show takes place at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake, Illinois — September 26–27, 2026, with free admission, free parking, closeout deals and onsite trade-in evaluations.