Just Around the Corner Week of August Thirteenth

Although you couldn’t tell from the weather, we’re leaving the dog days of summer behind and inching ever closer to autumn. That means the start of school is just around the corner and if you haven’t purchased your back to school supplies and wardrobe yet, you might find the pickings pretty slim. A sure sign of school starting shortly is the Geneva Park District’s version of The Last Detail, the Back to School Fest at Peck Farm on Saturday, August 18^th. The park district bills this event as “one last fun-filled day before school starts!” No need to panic. There will be more fun-filled events in the park district’s Fall schedule and school might even be fun too.

The Geneva Park District says good-bye to Family Fun Night with the last event of the season on Friday, August 17^th at Mill Creek Pool. It starts at 6:00 PM and continues until 8:00 PM. It includes a dinner of either pizza or 4 hot dogs, 4 soft drinks, and 4 ice cream treats for $10. Twilight admission rates allow entrance to the pool area, which includes 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. The pool closes for the season on Sunday, August 19^th. Just a reminder, Sunset Pool also closes for the season Monday, September 3^rd, which is also Labor Day.

The Back to School Fest is Saturday, August 18^th from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM at Peck Farm. Activities will include games, nature crafts, scavenger hunt, and a presentation on birds of prey. Hawks Hollow Nature Playground and the Butterfly House will both be open for your enjoyment. And there will be food vendors on site.

Saturday evening’s Star Gazing Party begins at 7:30 PM with a 30-minute presentation in the Orientation Barn at Peck Farm, 4038 Kaneville Road. The presentation is given by the Fox Valley Astronomical Society on a topic in the field of astronomy and will be followed by star-gazing in the parking lot, weather permitting. Members will set up their telescopes for viewing by attendees and will be available to answer questions.

Geneva Park District

Playhouse 38, operated by the Geneva Park District, is having rehearsals beginning this week for the youth production of Peter Pan. Performances are scheduled for late September. Rehearsals and performances take place at Playhouse 38 at 321 Stevens Street Suite P. The entrance is in the rear of the building.

Auditions for the adult production Social Security are being held on Sunday, August 19^th from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM and on Monday, August 20^th, from 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM. Social Security is a comedy about what happens when the in-laws show up and disrupt the lives of a married couple. Performances begin in mid-October.

For tickets and more info click here

On Tuesday evening, August 14^th, the Geneva Public Library will host the Elgin Symphony Orchestra Woodwind Quintet in a performance of Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev. The musical instruments are used to represent the various characters. This event should appeal to families with children in kindergarten through 5^th grade. The Night Writers Workshop is also Tuesday evening. And there is a house decorating class for adults on Tuesday evening as well.

On Wednesday, high school students can drop by the library to pick up a kit for making pencil cases at home. The Drop-In Craft: Back to School craft-making event for all ages takes place from 9:00 AM until 8:30 PM all day Wednesday at the library. There’s an art and magic show Wednesday morning for pre-school and elementary students. Wednesday afternoon the library hosts four 15-minute sessions for elementary school children to read to therapy dogs. The program is designed to help children who may have difficulty reading to do so in a dog-friendly environment that helps them relax. And Wednesday evening we have the Ultimate Guide to Facebook class for adults. Perhaps you'll learn how to tell if the person you just friended is really a Russian hacker.

On Thursday morning Tales on the Town ventures to Aurelio’s for more stories, songs, and rhymes for families with preschool children. Thursday evening hear the history of the SS Eastland and the greatest maritime disaster in the history of the Great Lakes.

On Friday morning the adult book discussion group meets and there’s also a morning session of Bounce and Rhyme for ages 3 and under with a caregiver. A bullet journaling class for high school students will be held Friday afternoon and the Chess Club for grades K – 8 meets Saturday afternoon.

Check the Geneva Public Library website for more information.

The Geneva Classic Car Show continues on Thursday evening, August 16^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. Only two more shows left shows after this week, so don’t miss out.

Geneva Chamber of Commerce

On the Horizon

On Wednesday, August 22^nd, the Geneva History Museum’s popular Geneva on Wheels tour of downtown Geneva is back on the road.

On Thursday, August 23^rd, the Geneva History Museum helps the Herrington celebrate its 25^th year. For more information on how you can be part of the festivities click here.

Geneva Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, August 26^th, will create an open-air showroom in downtown Geneva displaying some of the most luxurious and stunning cars from every era. Proceeds benefit the Living Well Cancer Resource Center

The Folk Festival returns on Sunday and Monday, Labor Day weekend, September 2^nd and 3rd.

The Autumn Fair will be held at Peck Farm on September 15^th.

Festival of the Vine sponsored by the Geneva Chamber of Commerce September 7th - 9th

The Geneva History Museum holds it annual BBQ fundraiser on September 13^th.

The Geneva History Museum Brown Bag program resumes September 11^th, with a history of the Geneva Garden Club.

Pictured - We say goodbye to the History Museum's "Go Figure" children's exhibit and some other popular summer events.