🇺🇸 Celebrating Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend is almost here — and if you’re staying local, there are plenty of ways to honor the occasion.

From parades and services in Geneva and St. Charles to an annual Batavia herring breakfast, we’ve rounded up everything happening in the Tri-Cities on Monday. Plus, we take a brief look back at Tri-Cities Memorial Day traditions, some of which go back more than a century.

➡️ New this year: In what organizers hope becomes a new tradition, community members are invited to walk together with American flags in a “March of Honor” tribute to over 1,300 local veterans during the 2025 Memorial Day Parade in St. Charles.

_{LOCAL SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT}

🍵 A taste of downtown Batavia

Tri-Cities real estate pro and local guide Chris Wallace stopped by The Tea Tree for a flavorful tour — and a blind taste test sampling some of the shop’s boldest offerings.

Owner Missi Hartmann also shared the story behind her historic space, which is packed with premium teas, infused oils, small-batch spices and more. Things got interesting as Chris tried to guess surprise flavors (in an admirable if imperfect performance).

Watch the full video for an inside look at one of Batavia’s beloved downtown shops.

📰 News to use

☑️ Bird traffic: Ever wonder how many birds flew through your yard the night prior? A nifty tool called BirdCast provides real-time info on local bird migrations with details like species, flight speed and direction. Check out the Kane County dashboard.

☑️ Energy survey: Batavia is launching a comprehensive electric utility planning study to ensure the city’s energy system remains reliable, affordable and aligned with long-term goals. Batavia residents can take the survey here.

☑️ Demo paused: St. Charles officials postponed a vote on demolishing the historic Barry House until July 21 to allow time for discussions between the church, residents and preservationists about potential purchase and relocation efforts.

☑️ Changing of the guard: Get to know St. Charles’ new City Council officials, hear from departing members and see coverage of their swearing-in ceremony earlier this month.

☑️ Back in action: Route 25 and the Fox River Trail in St. Charles have reopened following the completion of a major culvert replacement project that improved flooding, safety and bike access near Moore and Riverside. See photos of the finished project.

☑️ Planning ahead: Geneva announced temporary street closures for two Memorial Day weekend events — the MMTT Youth Triathlon on Sunday morning and the Memorial Day Parade on Monday.

🏘️ In the community

☑️ Farmers frenzy: The Tri-Cities area is home to some outstanding farmers markets, but there are dozens of farmers markets across the Chicagoland area that are ripe for exploration if you’ve got the time this summer.

☑️ Beauty + recreation: The St. Charles Park District is celebrating 50 years of caring for the city’s treasured community parks, but its history runs back even further than that. Learn more about its century-long local legacy of preserving green spaces.

☑️ Student achievement: Ten graduating seniors from five local high schools were honored at the annual ACE Awards by the Tri Cities Exchange Club for overcoming personal challenges on their path to graduation.

☑️ “Deeply fulfilling” experience: Geneva City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins will retire on August 15 after nine years in the role and nearly three decades in public service.

☑️ Batavia flag: City Council members officially adopted a new Batavia community flag created by Batavia High School senior Rachel Agro (the winning design emerged from more than 100 submissions). Learn more and see a photo.

☑️ Signs of summer: The Quarry Beach swimming pool (and general recreation destination) in Batavia will kick off its season on Saturday (5/24) pending weather conditions. Get all the details.

🎸 Live music

_{PRESENTED BY PRESERVATION}

Thanks to the holiday weekend, the St. Charles Fine Art Show and the impending onset of summer, this weekend’s music lineup is bursting at the seams. Several performances on Saturday and Sunday will kick off as early as 10AM.

_{LOCAL SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT}

✨ Seize the summer in style at The Little Traveler (and stay for brunch)

💥 The Summer Almanack has arrived: The Little Traveler’s 2025 Summer Almanack is your insider guide to the newest arrivals, upcoming events and can’t-miss experiences at Geneva’s most iconic shopping destination.

And while you’re there…

Enjoy some brunch! Voted Best Brunch in West Suburban Living, the Little Traveler’s Atrium Café serves up fresh, house-made favorites, from fluffy omelets with crispy bacon to Swedish pancakes and Crab Cakes Benedict — all for just $12.95 every Sunday. View the menu.

🤝 Local biz

☑️ Viva Geneva: A new summer pop-up called Viva Café is coming to Geneva in June, bringing specialty coffee from Five & Hoek and pastries from Bien Trucha to State Street (next to Bien Trucha) every Friday through Sunday during summer.

☑️ Boardwalk fun: Fox 32 Chicago recently spoke with leaders from Batavia MainStreet in a five-minute segment showcasing the recently reopened Boardwalk Shops. Watch the full interview.

☑️ Double the fun: Tabletop Game Shop — one of this year’s Boardwalk Shops — is launching a new brick-and-mortar just around the corner with a soft opening planned for Thursday (5/22) through Monday (5/26).

💥 Looking to advertise? Partnering with Tri-Cities Central gets your message to real, local people who want to support local businesses. Check out our easy sponsorship program.

🗓️ Events & Things to Do

The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee. The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.

☑️ Get some color: The Morton Arboretum’s new “Vivid Creatures” exhibit features four towering, colorful animal sculptures made from recycled materials that celebrate local wildlife. See video coverage of the new attraction.

☑️ Cuisine at the Crossroads | Fri 5/23, 4:30-8:30PM | N. Aurora Riverfront Park | Enjoy food trucks and live entertainment along the Fox River.

☑️ 1-Year Anniversary Party | Fri 5/23, 7PM | Overflow, Batavia | The new-ish downtown spot celebrates one year with a DJ and games.

🎟️ Andrew Dice Clay | Fri 5/23, 8PM | Arcada Theatre, STC | See the outrageous comic live and in the flesh.

☑️ St. Charles Fine Art Show | Sat 5/24, 10AM - Sun 5/25, 5PM | Downtown STC | A showcase of original work from more than 110 fine artists.

☑️ Drop-In Crafts | Sat 5/24, 10AM-5PM | Batavia Library | Free crafts for kids.

🎟️ Chicagoland Gems & Mineral Show | Sat 5/24, 10AM-6PM | Kane Co. Fairgrounds, STC | Exhibits and demos of fossils, precious stones, art and much more.

☑️ Artist Reception | Sat 5/24, 5-7PM | STC Arts Council | Artist demonstrations and awards. Open to the public.

✳️ Yoga with Puppies | Sun 5/25, Various Times | Zen Loft Collective, Batavia | Enjoy a 30-minute yoga class with a furry friend benefitting a local dog rescue.

☑️ State Street Artisan Market | Sun 5/25, 11AM-5PM | Art History Brewing, Geneva | Peruse handmade works and original art while enjoying a brew.

🎟️ Stripes & Paddles Pickleball Tourney | 6/21 & 6/22 | West Main Community Park, Batavia | Register for pickleball tournaments aimed at folks of all skill levels.

📖 Thanks for reading

If you enjoy Tri-Cities Central, please spread the word!

Not signed up? Subscribe to Tri-Cities Central