Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting local happenings in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and surrounding communities.
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Your guide to flea market season
Last summer, I ventured out to the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles for something I hadn’t experienced since I was a kid: the state’s #1 flea market.
That distinction comes from a new roundup of the ten best flea markets in Illinois, which put the monthly Kane County Flea Market event at the top of the list. And if you've ever spent a Saturday morning wandering its vendor rows and trinket-laden halls, perhaps you’re not surprised.
The market runs the first weekend of each month from March through December (April 11-12 next month due to Easter), drawing up to 400 dealers and droves of shoppers from across the Midwest.
Several other markets on the list are within easy driving distance, including the Fox Valley Flea Market in Elgin and a couple of options up near Lake County.
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👓 Only one week left to get huge savings on new sunglasses!
If you've been squinting through last year's scratched lenses or grabbing random sunglasses off the clearance rack, now's a good time to fix that.
Fox Valley Ophthalmology is still running its Sunglass Sale all month offering 20-70% off a wide selection of frames at their St. Charles and Elgin locations just in time for Spring. Stop in and they’ll help you find the right fit, lens type, and frame for how you actually use your sunglasses.
Whether you're after polarized lenses for driving, something rugged for outdoor activities, or just a pair that looks good and lasts, this is the right place to get it done right — from the #1 eye care experts in the Tri-Cities.
☑️ “Hard no” on condos: St. Charles residents expressed a strong preference that the former downtown police station site be turned into public riverfront open space — not a townhome development or a hotel. A second community feedback event is coming up.
☑️ Resident response: After a Women's History Month post from the Batavia school district about U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride drew national commentary and was quietly deleted, Batavia community members showed up to the school board meeting to speak about it.
☑️ Recoup some losses: Kane County homeowners and businesses affected by last August's storms can now apply for Small Business Administration disaster loans with a May 15 deadline for physical damage claims.
☑️ Parking lot politics: Kane County officials are debating where to plant a commemorative elm tree and Revolutionary War plaque at the downtown Geneva courthouse ahead of the country's 250th birthday celebration in July. Learn more about the project.
☑️ News notes:
St. Charles is offering free yard waste pickup on the weeks of March 23, March 30, April 6, and April 13 — no sticker required. Same goes for the weeks of April 1 , April 6, and April 13 in Batavia.
Geneva's Division Street water main project resumes this week, bringing back detour routes that redirect drivers between Second Place and East Side Drive.
Batavia City Hall and Public Works facilities no longer accept batteries for recycling, but they can be dropped off at the Kane County Recycles Center at 517 Fabyan Parkway.
The Kane County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a surge in scams where fraudsters pose as government officials or utilities demanding urgent Bitcoin payments. Be on the lookout.
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☑️ The past brought to life: The latest installment in a local history video series tracing the old Fox River electric railway covers North Aurora's railroad past, the long-forgotten Exposition Park amusement grounds, and the lost village of Lovedale. Watch the video.
☑️ Downtown buzzing: Batavia’s first-ever Step Into Spring Wine Walk drew more than 400 participants to 14 downtown stops on Saturday, with organizers selling out tickets and more than half of attendees coming from out of town.
☑️ Dig in this spring: The St. Charles Park District has opened registration for garden plot rentals at two parks, offering dozens of annual, perennial, and ADA-accessible raised bed options for 2026.
☑️ Play ball! Geneva Softball is hosting its inaugural Road to Valhalla softball tournament at Peck Farm Park April 17-19 — a free, family-friendly outing with food trucks, photo ops, and fun opportunities for girls interested in the sport.
☑️ Sign recycling: If you need to get rid of campaign signs sitting in your yard or garage, Kane County has drop-off spots in Campton Hills, Geneva, and West Dundee running through March 29.
☑️ Discounts in bloom: Kuipers Family Farm in Maple Park is running a flash sale through the end of March on tickets for its upcoming 2026 Midwest Tulip Fest.
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Anyone else make it out on Saturday for outdoor live music? The sun on my back, cold beer in hand, listening to some local jams — it just felt right.
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✨ There's always a reason to visit The Little Traveler (including an incredible brunch deal for $12.95)
Sunday brunch at The Little Traveler's Atrium Café has been a Tri-Cities tradition for decades — and for good reason. For just $12.95, you get a full spread of house-made favorites: fluffy omelets, crispy bacon, Swedish pancakes, Crab Cakes Benedict.
Plus, it’s routinely named Best Brunch in West Suburban Living's Best of the West awards (trust me, it’s well-deserved).
💥 Your guide to spring discovery: Browse the 2026 Spring Almanack for upcoming events and fresh new products — there's always something new to discover beyond the cafe at The Little Traveler.
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☑️ Casino debut: The new Hollywood Casino resort in Aurora — a $360M project with a celebrity chef steakhouse, spa, hotel, and food hall — is set to open June 24 on Farnsworth near the outlet mall.
☑️ Saucy contest: Gindo's Spice of Life is in the running for the IL Manufacturers' Association "Coolest Thing Made in Illinois" title — and their maple bourbon whiskey hot sauce collab with DeKalb's Whiskey Acres needs your votes.
☑️ Beauty in Batavia: KZ Nails Spa just opened at 40 N Island Ave in downtown Batavia, where they offer manicures, pedicures, nail extensions, nail art, and spa treatments. See photos from the ribbon cutting.
✳️ Spring refresh — local style: Have you seen Urban Artisan’s “Tri-Cities Love” collection? I doubt you’ll find a better spot to discover local-themed decor, gifts, and apparel. Check out their online shop or pop into their Third Street store in Geneva.
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☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for the Tri-Cities area — including this $1.4M home near Pottawattomie Park in St. Charles with quite the enviable outdoor setup.
✳️ Need a trustworthy local realtor? Get in touch with Tri-Cities expert Chris Wallace at [email protected] or chriswallacere.com.
☑️ Local obits: Recent obituaries posted by Tri-Cities funeral homes.
☑️ Police reports: View police reports and arrest logs for Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Campton Hills.
This section is brought to you by Brother Chimp Brewing — your welcoming, neighborhood taproom with convenient locations in St. Charles and North Aurora. See all of their upcoming events.
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☑️ Easter events: The next couple of weeks are packed with local egg hunts, bunny photos, and brunch options across Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles — here's the full rundown of Easter events.
🎟️ Across the Pond: A United Kingdom Dinner | Wed 3/25, 6PM | Niche Restaurant, Geneva | British-inspired four-course dinner with optional wine pairing.
☑️ Church Rummage Sale 2026 | Thu 3/26 – Sat 3/28 | Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, STC | Clothing, toys, linens, and household goods.
☑️ Weekly Mahjong | Thu 3/26, 10:15AM | Callahan Community Center, Batavia | Weekly game session for adults 50+ who know American Mahjong rules.
☑️ Retirement Class: New Reality in Our Retirement | Thu 3/26, 6PM–8PM | STC Library | Free class covering retirement income, taxes, and Social Security strategies.
🎟️ Fly Girls of WWII | Thu 3/26, 7PM | Callahan Community Center, Batavia | A pilot shares the story of Women Airforce Service Pilots in WWII.
☑️ Cougars Garage Sale | Fri 3/27 – Sat 3/28 | Northwestern Medicine Field, Geneva | Kane County Cougars gear, replica rings, bobbleheads, equipment, and more.
🎟️ Shipshewana on the Road | Sat 3/28, 9AM | Kane Co Fairgrounds, STC | Giant gift, food, and craft show running all weekend.
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