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Six stages, a barn dance, and a lineup of nationally known musicians and storytellers will unite at Wheeler Park this Labor Day weekend to mark a milestone year for Geneva's longtime folk festival hits a milestone.
The Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival runs September 6 and 7, marking 50 years of the event. The festival is entirely volunteer-run and has become a fixture for closing out summer in the Tri-Cities.
Here's what to know:
Big-name lineup: Grammy-winning musician Vernon Thompson headlines alongside Rev. Robert Jones, Anne Hills, and the Sons of the Never Wrong, with storytellers Janice Del Negro and Heather Forest rounding out an impressive roster.
A deep bench beyond the headliners: Cajun fiddler Gina Forsyth, rising performer Joy Clark, and local favorites the Volo Bogtrotters join a long list of additional acts playing across the main stage and smaller concert stages throughout the weekend.
Barn dance and ghost stories: Sunday evening features a beginner-friendly barn dance at 6PM, with instruction provided for first-timers, followed by "Spine Tingling Tales," a dusk storytelling session around 7:30PM.
Hours and cost: The festival runs 11AM to 6PM both days. Admission is a suggested donation of $40 for adults, $25 for seniors and students, and free for kids.
Family- and pet-friendly: All ages and leashed pets are welcome, with a kids' zone, an arts vendor area, and food trucks on site. Wheeler Park sits about half a mile from downtown Geneva's shops and restaurants.
Organizers are still recruiting volunteers to help staff the anniversary weekend; anyone interested can sign up at fvfs.org/volunteers.
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