McHenry city officials were surprised to read in the news Tuesday that Petersen Park had been designated as the meeting point for a caravan to the “Trump Now-Save the American Dream” rally in Woodstock on Sunday.

Petersen Park is hosting the annual Bands, Brews & BBQ event this weekend, with the biggest day expected to be Sunday, McHenry Deputy Police Chief Tom Walsh said. There could be even bigger crowds later in the day, as McHenry’s community fireworks display is scheduled to take place in the park after having to be postponed due to inclement weather during Fiesta Days in July.

In social media posts and emails, organizers of the rally — in support of former President Donald Trump and other Republican candidates in November’s election and on the eve of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago — urged GOP supporters to meet at Petersen Park in McHenry starting at 10:30 a.m. Sunday and drive in a convoy to the McHenry County Fairgrounds in Woodstock at 11:30 a.m. Caravans of supporters are also expected to come to Woodstock from various meeting points in the Chicago area and in DeKalb.

Gates for bands, beers and BBQ will open at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, said Diana Mark, president of the Rotary Club of McHenry. Vendors, the band and others will set up beforehand and then enter and exit the parking lot early, Mark said.

After inquiries from the Northwest Herald, organizers of the pro-Trump rally distributed a new flyer saying the gathering in McHenry would instead take place at Althoff Park at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. However, the event’s website, paradingfortrump.com, still listed Petersen Park as of Tuesday evening.

Before the location change, Walsh had said, “I’m concerned about the space. I don’t know any specifics about where they meet” or whether cars will be parked in the Petersen parking lot during the day. “We can’t have that conflict in the parking lot,” he said.

McHenry Police Chief John Birk asked Walsh to contact the organizers of the Trump event.

The rally will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the fairgrounds, 11900 Country Club Road, Woodstock. Organizers did not need a temporary use permit for the rally because the fairgrounds are exempt from the permitting process, according to Alicia Schueller, McHenry County’s public affairs director. Food and alcohol licenses have been obtained for the event.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office has asked Woodstock police for additional assistance during the rally, City Manager Roscoe Stelford said Tuesday.

That’s not unusual at large events, Stelford said, adding that two Woodstock police officers will be helping at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week. The same two officers also helped at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Stelford said.

Reporter Claire O’Brien contributed.