Just Around the Corner Fourth Week of July

Need a break from the relentless news cycle? Then this week’s events in Geneva might be just what the doctor ordered. And if nothing piques your interest in town, you might consider what our neighbors to the south, the ones we’re not in a trade war with, have to offer – the 26^th annual Batavia chili cookoff.

This week’s music scene in Geneva runs the gamut from Rock ‘n Roll to gospel and jazz. Geneva Cultural Arts presents vocalist Deborah Powell in its final Sunday evening concert of the season and the Geneva Park District features the StingRays in its second to the last Concerts in the Park event. So don’t let the summer pass you by without taking the opportunity to enjoy the Fox River as the perfect backdrop for music under the stars.

We close out the week with the 16^th annual Geneva Arts Fair on Saturday and Sunday. Third Street between James and South Streets is transformed into an art gallery with over 150 artists exhibiting and selling their works. Art includes paintings, photographs, jewelry, and other crafts. You’re sure to find something you must bring home.

Geneva Cultural Arts presents its final Sunday evening River Park concert featuring professional vocalist Deborah Powell, bass player Dan Anderson, and Scott Reed on keyboards. The trio will perform selections from gospel, jazz, and R&B. The performance is sponsored by Miscella Realty of Geneva.

The 90-minute concert begins at 6:00 PM, July 29^th, in River Park at North River Lane and Peyton. Admission is free, but donations to Geneva Cultural Arts are welcome. Parking is available in adjacent public parking lots and in front of the park. Lawn chairs, cushions, blankets, and picnic baskets are recommended to make your viewing more comfortable along 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 summer concert series starts to wind down with the next to last concert in River Park this Wednesday evening, July 25^th at 7:00 PM. Refreshments are served by Deane’s Market & Deli and Graham’s Fine Chocolate and Ice Cream. Enjoy a craft beer in the Penrose Brewing tent near the park entrance. The series is sponsored by Deane’s, Graham’s, and Penrose, as well as the Shodeen Family Foundation, the Chiropractic People, and the Kane County Chronicle.

Performing this Wednesday evening are the StingRays with rock ‘n roll music from the fifties, sixties, and seventies. The band loves to get the audience involved with dance contests, trivia, and occasionally joining the audience. They’re known almost as much for their look and moves as their music. Expect an evening of lively entertainment with songs from Grass Roots, Dion, the Buckinghams, Mitch Ryder, Danny and the Juniors, and many others you probably remember growing up and listening to.

River Park is located 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.

Mill Creek Pool is having Teen Movie Night for 6^th through 8^th graders on Thursday, July 26^th, from 8:00 PM until 10:15 PM. Admission is $5 for residents and $6 for non-residents. Admission includes pizza and a screening of the movie Jumanji, the 1995 film about two kids who discover a magical board game that takes them on a fantastic adventure. The film stars Robin Williams and Bonnie Hunt.

Don’t forget Mill Creek Pool Family Fun Night is Friday, July 27^th. This weekly event lasts from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. It includes dinner at the pool with either pizza or 4 hot dogs, 4 soft drinks, and 4 ice cream treats for $10. Twilight admission rates apply. That 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 also has a locker room, showers, hospitality room, and concessions. Twilight admission is currently $4 per resident and $5 for non-resident.

Geneva Park District

Along with its regular exhibits this week, the Geneva History Museum, in cooperation with the Geneva Public Library is hosting Family Storytime on Thursday, July 26^th, from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. The reading of “Arthur’s Pet Business” by Marc Brown is followed by an activity. This event is recommended for children ages 3 through 8. The event is free and includes admission to the children’s Special Gallery. Children are encouraged to interact with the museum’s Special Gallery exhibits - “Go Figure”, where kids can engage in math and literacy activities as well as the gigantic reproductions of five favorite children’s books. 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.

Current exhibits also include “In Other Words… A History of Communication in Geneva” in the Picture Gallery and “Geneva’s Story” in the Main Gallery.

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

Geneva History Museum

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The Geneva Public Library kicks off the week with Tales on the Town, on Monday, July 23^rd, at 10:00 AM on the lawn of Patten House at 124 South Second Street. This event is for children under 6 with a caregiver. Weather permitting, you can spread your picnic blanket on the lawn and listen to stories, songs, rhymes, and more. Don’t forget the sunscreen and a hat.

Other events for the week include Iron Chef (full) for grades 6 – 8 on Tuesday, which shows kids how to make interesting snacks; Drop-In Volunteering Book Reviews for teens on Tuesday, T^2 Team Movie-making (full) for grades 6 – 12 on Wednesday; Family Storytime on Thursday at the Geneva History Museum; Getting Started with Your iPhone for adults on Thursday; Friends of the Library Book Sorting on Thursday; Coding Lab (full) for grades 3 – 8 on Thursday; Teen Tech Studio – The Robot Games (full) for grades 6 – 12 on Friday; Sensory Storytime recommended for ages 2 – 6 with a caregiver, on Saturday; and Book Buddies on Saturday.

Check the Geneva Public Library website for times and registration information. Registered events tagged as full allow you to join a waiting list. However, it’s always a good idea to check the events calendar 2 – 3 weeks ahead so you can register for programs before they fill up.

Geneva Public Library

The Geneva Classic Car Show continues on Thursday evening, July 26^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

Finally, we come to the main event – the Geneva Arts Fair. The fair has been ranked as the 50^th best event of its type in the nation by Sunshine Artists Magazine and in the top ten by ArtFairCalendar.com for 2017. This juried art festival features more than 140 artists exhibiting original works of art, all of which are for sale. If you’re like me, you’re probably wondering just what the heck juried means. Without getting too complicated, juried art has been approved for the show based upon the artist’s work and their participation in other shows, which often include judging and prizes. So you can be sure of high quality work by professional artists.

The exhibits for the 16^th annual Geneva Arts Fair extend along both sides of Third Street between James and South Streets. Artists will be showing paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, and jewelry. Materials include ceramics, textiles, glass, and wood. Dorothy and I have been attending for years and we always find something new and exquisite each time. Be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to visit as many of the booths as you can. You wouldn't want to miss any of the hidden treasures that a show of this size and quality always has.

The show runs from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM both Saturday and Sunday.

Geneva Chamber of Commerce - Geneva Arts Fair

Picture courtesy of Geneva Park District