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Perhaps August seems a bit early to start talking about fall festivals, but several farm destinations across the area are not only preparing for the fall season — they’ve already initiated the festivities.

And plenty more are starting soon.

So if you’re into pick-your-own produce opportunities (apples, pumpkins, sunflowers), farm-fresh apple cider donuts, corn mazes, kids activities, and autumn events with food, drink, and live music, then you should take a peek at this fall festival roundup.

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Maple Leaf Coffee House isn't just a daytime destination for coffee, breakfast, and lunch. After 3PM, the cozy St. Charles cafe opens up for private event space rentals of all types.

Book the cafe with catering, order up the coffee bar for the group, or bring your own drinks with their BYOB option. They’ve got space for up to 80 people.

Whether it’s a birthday party, holiday gathering, professional networking event, or something else — they’ll create a unique experience to suit your needs.

☑️ Screen time concerns: Following public pressure from parents, BPS101 announced that it is disabling AI tools and limiting YouTube access for its youngest students and considering changes to its tech policies for older students.

☑️ Measles exposure: Kane County health officials confirmed a measles case tied to Kaneland High School and a South Elgin pediatric clinic — new information will be added to this webpage as the investigation continues.

☑️ Double wreck: One improper lane change led to two different crashes on Fabyan Parkway in Batavia on Friday, one flipping a car onto its roof — but police said there were no injuries.

☑️ Rabies on the rise: Local health officials say human rabies exposure cases in Kane County hit a six-year high with 126 in 2025, evenly split among bats and pets as the primary sources of exposure.

☑️ Alderman hopefuls: Candidates can now begin circulating petitions for Batavia’s April 2027 election, which will feature five City Council seats on the ballot. Get more details.

☑️ News notes:

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☑️ An outdoor art experience: The third annual Plein Air live art event in St. Charles last week drew a record 70 artists from across the country, who painted outdoor scenes around town and participated in workshops, competitions, and art sales.

☑️ Cleanup crew recruitment: The River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles is bringing its annual Fox River cleanup event back for its eighth year on Sept. 19, hoping to top the 100+ volunteers who helped clear litter from the waterway last year.

☑️ Shop & support: Batavia MainStreet's new "Shop Local. Support Our Schools!" weekend event will connect more than 30 downtown businesses with six elementary school PTOs on Sept. 12-13, combining local shopping with school fundraising.

☑️ Four-wheel fest: Auto enthusiasts packed into downtown Geneva on Sunday for the annual Concours d’Elegance car show, where they admired rare and exciting vehicles on display across the Third Street district. See photos of some of the standout cars.

☑️ Pricier plates: School lunch prices for St. Charles D303 students have risen by as much as 70% since the pandemic due to inflation and the increasing cost of food, which has led to high school lunches reaching $4.50 per meal.

✳️ Saturday studies: St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Geneva is launching a Saturday morning Rector Study series this September to help folks approach and navigate the Bible with more confidence (no prior experience needed). Get all the details.

We’ve got more than 80 live music performances coming up over four beautiful, late-summer days.

Enjoy it while it lasts, my friends.

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Geneva’s Festival of the Vine returns Sept. 11-13, which means The Little Traveler’s front lawn will once again transform into an outdoor tasting room.

Try more than 50 wines (age 21+) from around the world, sample four for only $5, and know that all sampling proceeds will go to the Geneva Community Chest, which raises funds to benefit 28 local social service agencies in our community.

💥 Stocking up? Save 10% on half cases and 15% on full cases of wine all festival weekend.

☑️ Off to a great start: Campton Hills Mexican restaurant Ikal Y Sanse is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a special 13-course tasting menu through Sept. 13, featuring everything from papitas and oysters to octopus and lobster.

☑️ Alley festivities: St. Charles Bowl will celebrate 65 years in the community on Saturday (8/29) with discounted bowling, food/drink specials, trivia, prizes, and giveaways at its Route 64 location.

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☑️ Started Something Beautiful: Fourth Anniversary | Fri 8/28, 12PM-2PM | Start Something Studio, Batavia | Celebrate 4 years with swag bags, snacks, and a member market. 

☑️ Summer's Last Spin Bike Night at STC Live! | Fri 8/28, 6PM-7:30PM | 1st Street Plaza, STC | Corey Marshall Trio performs with bike-themed giveaways and freebies. 

☑️ Mac Duggal + Alyce Paris Trunk Show | Fri 8/28-Sun 8/30, All Day | Special Occasions on the Ave, Batavia | A curated fall 2026 dress collection.

☑️ The Big One: Shred and Recycle #2 | Sat 8/29, 8AM-12PM | 540 S. Randall Rd., STC | Drive-through recycling and document shredding for Kane County residents. 

☑️ Forest Therapy Walk | Sat 8/29, 9:30AM-11:30AM | Fabyan Forest Preserve, Geneva | Slow down, engage your senses, and connect with nature.

🎟️ Blues & Brews on the Fox | Sat 8/29, 12PM-11PM | Pollyanna Brewing, STC | Live blues music all day plus craft beer, a Belgian beer competition, food, and a Kid Zone.

🎟️ Moose-a-Palooza Music Fest and Fundraiser | Sat 8/29, 1PM-11PM | Batavia Moose Lodge | A day of live music across two stages for a great cause. 

☑️ Independence Day Celebration 2.0 | Sat 8/29, 5PM | North Aurora Riverfront Park | Live music, food vendors, and fireworks set to music. 

🎟️ Hope Echoes on the River Charity Bike Ride | Sun 8/30, 7AM-12PM | Kane County Courthouse, Geneva | Choose 10, 35, or 60-mile routes, benefiting CASA Kane County. 

🎟️ Heirloom Garden Show | Sun 8/30, 11AM-4PM | Garfield Farm Museum, Campton Hills | Explore heirloom produce, prairie gardens, and a historic tavern tour. 

☑️ Explore, Learn, Grow | Sun 8/30, 1PM-3PM | Kane County Idea Garden, STC | Garden tours, worm composting, and a Master Gardener artisan market. 

✳️ Baby and Me Yoga | Mon 8/31, 10AM | Zen Loft Collective, Batavia | Gentle movement and breathwork class for parents and caregivers with little ones.

🎟️ Counterculture: The Beatles and Art | Tue 9/1, 10AM-11AM | Geneva History Museum | Presented by The Little Traveler, exploring the Beatles' artistic influence. 

🎟️ Across the Constellations | Tue 9/8, 6PM | fire + wine St. Charles, STC | Five-course wine dinner featuring Double Diamond and Tō-Kalon Vineyard.

Introducing this week’s featured pets from Anderson Humane:

Ready to add a loyal new friend to your family? Visit andersonhumane.org or reach out to [email protected] or 847-697-2880.

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