What's Happening In Geneva This Week?

Now that the Fourth of July is over and Congress is looking forward to returning to Washington to escape angry constituents at home, summer really starts to sizzle in Geneva. This past weekend gave us some of the most beautiful weather we’ve seen in ages, as well as some first-class entertainment. This week we’re looking forward to more blue skies, soft summer nights, and music in the air.

The Geneva Park District Concerts in the Park series opens with June’s Got the Cash on Wednesday, July 11^th. Geneva Cultural Arts brings the sound of the big brass band to River Park on Sunday, July 15^th. Geneva Commons has three high-energy bands performing this week on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday evenings. The Geneva History Museum continues its Geneva Story exhibit, as well as “Go Figure”, an educational exhibit for kids. The Geneva Classic Car Show rolls into its second week at the Kane County Courthouse. And the Geneva Public Library hosts its annual Ice Cream Social on Wednesday, July 11^th.

There seems to be something for everyone this week.

Geneva Cultural Arts presents its second Sunday evening River Park concert, bringing the sound of Illinois Brass Band to the banks of the Fox. The Illinois Brass Band has 31 members, although I’m told we’ll only have 28 for this performance. I know I won’t be able to tell the difference. When I think of brass bands, I think of parades, gaudy uniforms, and patriotic tunes played loudly to cheering crowds. A distinctly American experience. However, the Illinois Brass Band draws its inspiration from a British brass band called Desford Colliery Caterpillar Band from a small coal town in Great Britain. That band was founded in 1898 and has toured all over the world. Their 1990 tour of the United States gave George Foster and William Homer the idea to form the Illinois Brass Band in 1991. The band will entertain us Sunday evening, July 15^th, with a selection of pop music, Broadway show tunes and, of course, patriotic songs and marches.

The 90-minute performance begins at 6:00 PM in River Park at North River Lane and Peyton. Admission is free, although donations are welcome. Parking is available adjacent to the park and in nearby public parking lots. Bring lawn chairs, cushions, blankets, and picnic baskets to enjoy the concert in comfort from your vantage on the rock terrace amphitheater at the river’s edge. In case of rain, the concert will be moved to the Fellowship Hall of Geneva United Methodist Church at 211 Hamilton Street.

Geneva Cultural Arts Commission

The Geneva Park District has moved its summer concert series to River Park on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM. Refreshments are now being offered by Deane’s Market & Deli and Graham’s Fine Chocolate and Ice Cream. Craft beers are also available from the Penrose Brewing tent. The series is sponsored by these same vendors, as well as the Shodeen Family Foundation, the Chiropractic People, and the Kane County Chronicle.

The concert series opens Wednesday, July 11^th, with June's Got the Cash, a Johnny Cash and June Carter tribute band. The show portrays the careers of Johnny Cash and June Carter from the fifties through the eighties and includes comedic skits, stories, as well as their music. Band members bring an authentic flare to the performance with vintage costumes and styles from that era. The band has been playing to rave reviews all across the country.

The performance begins at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, July 11^th, at River Park at 151 North River Lane, just north of Route 38 on the west bank of the river. Bring lawn chairs and blankets to spread on the rock terrace amphitheater. Parking is available in front of the park and in nearby lots.

The Geneva River Rats hope to continue their winning ways this season after winning the summer swim league conference championship last year for the first time. On Tuesday, July 10^th, they host the Cary team at Sunset Pool at 710 Western Avenue. The swim meet starts at 5:00 PM and lasts until 8:00 PM. Admission is free and concessions are available.

The Geneva Friendly Seniors Luncheon is on Wednesday, July 11^th, at the Sunset Community Center on Western Avenue. The luncheon starts at 12:30 PM and lasts until 3:00 PM. After lunch there will be Bingo and Tripoley (Michigan Rummy) games. A fee of $1.50 covers the purchase of either a vanilla or chocolate Frosty. Register online, by phone at 630-232-4542, or in person at Sunset Community Center.

Mill Creek Pool Family Fun Night is Friday, July 13^th, and lasts from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Family Night features pizza (or 4 hot dogs), 4 soft drinks, and 4 ice cream treats for $10. Twilight admission gets you into the pool area with a 25-meter, 5-lane flat-water pool and a separate zero depth play pool with mushroom bubbler and spray bubblers. The new interactive sprayground features a water slide, a sprinkling flower, spouting ground sprayers, a squirting snail, a super soaking interactive water cannon, and a playful water parrot. The pool area features a locker room, showers, hospitality room, and concessions. Twilight admission is currently $4 per resident and $5 for non-resident.

The next Flick n’ Float feature this year is Disney/Pixar’s critically acclaimed Coco, which won an Academy award and a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature. Common Sense called the movie a “stunningly animated, poignant tribute to family and culture”. It’s about an aspiring young musician who travels to the magical land of his ancestors and learns about family customs and traditions. This is part of the Park District’s Flick n’ Float movie night where you trade in your movie seat for a floatie or inner tube and watch the film while floating in Sunset Pool or sitting poolside. What a way to beat the heat. The movie starts at dusk (about 8:00 PM) on Friday, July 13^th. Twilight pool admission rates apply, which are currently $4.50 for residents and $7 for non-residents.

Wrap up the week on Sunday, July 15^th, National Ice Cream Day, with free soft-serve while supplies last at Sunset Pool on Western Avenue between the hours of 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

Geneva Park District

This week, the Geneva History Museum is featuring In Other Words… A History of Communication in Geneva in the Picture Gallery, Geneva’s Story in the Main Gallery”, and the Special Gallery exhibit Go Figure, where kids can engage in math and literacy activities. The exhibit includes gigantic reproductions of five favorite children’s books for kids to interact with. The books include Arthur’s Pet Business by Marc Brown, The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins, The Quilt by Ann Jonas, Frog and Toad are Friends: A Lost Button by Arnold Lobel and Goldilocks and the Three Bears by James Marshall. This exhibition is sponsored by the Fabyan Foundation.

Hours are 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is $3/Person, $2/Children ages 3-10 and includes all three exhibitions.

Geneva History Museum at 113 South Third Street, Geneva

The Geneva Public Library has a busy week ahead with plenty of activities for all ages. The highlight of the week will be the popular annual Ice Cream Social on Wednesday, July 11^th, from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Featured will be a face painter, a juggler, and ice cream, of course. The event takes place outside the library at James and Second Streets.

There are numerous other activities this week and every week at the library, including preschool, elementary, middle school, teen, and adult educational and social events. This week includes book discussion groups, a writers workshop, family retro gaming, classes on dinosaurs and drawing cartoon animals, and a tech session on virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri. You should make checking the library calendar a regular weekly activity just so you don’t miss anything. Some events require registration and book discussion groups require obtaining the book to be discussed ahead of time. You can usually pick up the book at the info desk ahead of the meeting. So be sure to check out this week’s events here at the Geneva Public Library website

The Geneva Classic Car Show continues on Thursday evening, July 12^th, at the Kane County Courthouse parking lot at Fourth and James Streets. The show starts at 6:00 PM and runs until 8:00 PM, weather permitting. The Geneva Chamber of Commerce will decide by 3:00 PM on Thursdays whether to cancel the show or not. Call them at 630-232-6060 to check on cancellations.

Geneva Chamber of Commerce

The Geneva Commons free summer concert series continues this week in the newly renovated public gathering space. This Wednesday, July 11th, enjoy music of the seventies provided by Smith Bros. and Co. On Friday, July 13^th, Ear Candy plays dance party hits from the past 40 years. Semple wraps up the week on Sunday, July 15^th, with everything from the seventies to modern pop. Lead singer Keith Semple does medleys from the Beatles, Michael Jackson, and the Rolling Stones. Wednesday and Friday performances begin at 6:30 PM and end at 8:30 PM. Sunday’s performance begins at 5:00 PM and ends at 7:00 PM.

Take advantage of the many dining opportunities in the Geneva Commons before or after the concert.

River Park pictures courtesy of Geneva Park District.