We’re pretty lucky; not only does each of the Tri-Cities have a rich, distinct history, but each town has a local museum dedicated to preserving those important stories and sharing them with us today.

And you don’t necessarily need to visit the museums to experience that history (though they are worth a visit). Late summer and early fall are great times to take advantage of some history-focused outdoor offerings — like these:

Take an autumn ride on the Batavia Park District’s open-air trolley to get a narrated look at the Windmill City’s history. The guided tour digs into the local history of century-old limestone factories, historic churches, the Quarry, and the Bellevue Sanitarium — the oldest building still standing in Batavia.

Check out the September and October dates available.

The Geneva History Museum offers a variety of guided programs and tours, from walking and bike tours to “hop-on” van tours through different neighborhoods. They also hold themed programs at the museum where an expert presents on topics like famous Geneva stories, the history of Third Street, and the darker side (crime and criminals) of the city’s past.

Most sessions require at least 10 people and include a swag bag with offers from local shops and restaurants. Learn more here.

It’s the best of both worlds: a self-guided tour (convenient) with audio explanations provided by the St. Charles History Museum (fascinating).

Just download the St. Charles Business Alliance app on your phone, pull up the Historic Walking Tour, and pair the audio in the app with each of the 27 stops on the tour. You can also read about the history of each location on the museum’s website.

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Plein Air week returns to St. Charles next week (August 18–24), filling the town with live painting, artist meet-and-greets, creative workshops, and more.

As with most community happenings, real estate expert Chris Wallace is all over it. His latest video takes you inside the celebration for a closer look at the art, people, and events that make it such a special tradition.

☑️ No power pact: St. Charles’ Government Services Committee voted on Monday (8/11) against signing a 20-year power contract with IMEA, opting to explore other potential energy options before the current deal ends in 2035.

☑️ Project momentum: Geneva District 304 approved a draft agreement requiring developer payments and student funding protections for the proposed 900-home “LaFox of Campton Hills” project.

☑️ Offender sentenced: A 33-year-old St. Charles Township man was sentenced to nine years in state prison after pleading guilty to a felony child pornography charge.

☑️ Real ID rush: The St. Charles DMV and 12 other Illinois locations will offer expanded Saturday morning walk-in hours to meet high demand for REAL IDs following the May 7 federal deadline.

☑️ Ballot squad: Kane County Clerk John A. Cunningham is seeking residents, including high school students, to serve as paid election judges for the March and November 2026 elections.

☑️ Earnest dialogue: The League of Women Voters is presenting a panel discussion in Elgin on August 26 featuring legal and policy experts discussing immigration law, enforcement practices, and their impact on local communities.

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☑️ Plant problems: Anyone else having a tricky season with their veggie garden? Recent extreme heat in northern Illinois is stressing crops and causing issues like sunscald and blossom drop — but local experts have suggestions for navigating the conditions.

☑️ Mission milestone: The United Methodist Church of Geneva celebrated its annual Appalachia Service Project trip, where 30 volunteers spent a week repairing homes in rural Kentucky. Get a recap of the program.

☑️ Hustling & happiness: In the latest episode of Area Code: Batavia, local shop owner Brittany Sabatino shares how she keeps her children’s boutique, Arlo.Hendrix, and herself thriving by balancing optimism with setting boundaries.

🔒 Serving up salami: Smithfield Foods’ St. Charles facility donated 13K pounds of salami to Northern Illinois Food Bank to help feed local families in need.

☑️ Friday hangs: Hunt House Creative Arts Center in St. Charles launched a free monthly social event to give neurodiverse teens with autism and/or ADHD a welcoming space to share interests, make friends, and connect in a supportive environment.

✳️ Tuesday night reset: Head to Zen Loft Collective for Restorative Yoga on Tuesday nights — a quiet, supportive class designed to help you slow down, release tension, and reconnect. No experience needed, just space to breathe. Learn more and register.

Nobel House in Geneva makes an appearance on this weekend’s live music list for the first time in I don’t know how long, so that’s fun.

And it looks like Saturday will be in the 90s and sunny again — I may imitate some folks I saw at Riverlands last weekend and be that guy who brings his own battery-powered fan out in public.

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Sunday brunch is a time-honored tradition — and you won’t find a better value in the Tri-Cities than at The Little Traveler’s Atrium Café. In fact, it was named Best Brunch in West Suburban Living’s 2024 Best of the West.

For just $12.95, enjoy a full spread of fresh, house-made favorites, from fluffy omelets with crispy bacon to Swedish pancakes and Crab Cakes Benedict. Trust me, there’s a reason so many local folks have been coming back for decades.

💥 Beyond brunch: Check out The Little Traveler’s Summer 2025 Almanack for upcoming events and exciting new products.

☑️ Vineyard vision: Geneva Winery is expanding beyond its popular tasting rooms in Geneva and Batavia with a new Elburn facility that will significantly boost production — with plans to plant a vineyard as well.

☑️ Shifting upriver: Warehouse 55, a vintage and home décor marketplace in Aurora, will relocate to a new single-floor space in downtown Batavia. They plan to open October 18 after the Aurora store closes on October 5.

☑️ Virtual antiquing: Ever been to the museum-style Industrial Treasures antique/vintage shop in St. Charles? This soaring drone video allows you to explore the full space in less than a minute.

🎯 Need marketing help? Not only can you advertise in Tri-Cities Central, but you can leverage marketing services like content creation, newsletter writing, and public relations as part of the package. Get in touch here.

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☑️ Annual Senior Picnic | Fri 8/15, 11AM-1:30PM | Pottawatomie Park, STC | A free day of outdoor fun, entertainment, and lunch for seniors.

🎟️ Blueberry Fest & Corn Boil | Fri 8/15 - Sun 8/17 | Windy Acres Farm, Geneva | Enjoy blueberry food, treats, and drinks — plus a beer garden and myriad kids activities.

☑️ End of Summer Warehouse Sale | Fri 8/15, 3PM | N. Aurora | Peruse 6K square feet of gently used furniture and home decor items.

🎟️ Moonlight Comedy Night | Fri 8/15, 7-9PM | Moonlight Theatre, STC | Live comedy featuring headliner Anthony Fuentes, Ray Wisbrock, and Alex Hudec.

☑️ Community Day | Sat 8/16, 10AM-2PM | Batavia Library | I-PASS, ICASH, and other local services like new sticker tags and unclaimed property searches.

☑️ Prairie Fest | Sat 8/16, 11AM-3PM | Corron Farm, Campton Township | Live music, wagon rides, food, kids activities, farm tours, and more.

☑️ Pour Party Open House | Sat 8/16, 12-4PM | Illuminate Space, Geneva | Build your own scented candle, spray, or diffuser…BYOB!

🎟️ Taste the Maze | Sat 8/16, 4-9PM | Abbey Farms, Aurora | An evening of great food, live music, farm fun, and craft beer from Tri-Cities breweries.

☑️ DiscoTalia Club | Sat 8/16, 7PM | The Lewis | Enjoy the best of Italian cocktails with a DJ to set the vibe all evening.

🎟️ Salsa & Sangria | Sat 8/16, 8-10PM | The Dance Lab, STC | A fun night of dancing and mingling with Christian singles.

☑️ 3rd Annual Salsa Competition | Sun 8/17, 2-4PM | Sturdy Shelter, Batavia | Taste a variety of homemade salsas and pick this year’s winner.

🎟️ How I Created Hello Dolly | Tues 9/9, 10AM | Geneva History Museum | A behind-the-scenes look at the hit Broadway musical through the eyes of its composer.

🎟️ Here for Life Walk | Sat 9/13, 8AM | Pottawatomie Park, STC | Walk in memory of those we’ve lost and support Suicide Prevention Services of America.

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