Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting local happenings in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and surrounding communities.
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Spring is here. Tulips will be soon.
📸 Credit: Kuipers Family Farm on Facebook
Depending on the weather, tulip season around here typically runs mid-April through mid-May, which means the prime window is about to open.
If you want to bask in the colors close to home, you’ve got a couple of great options:
Kuipers Family Farm in Maple Park is hosting its Midwest Tulip Fest across eight acres of 650K blooming bulbs. You can cut your own bouquet, catch live music on weekends, and let the kids loose on the jumping pillow and tube slide.
Phillips Park Zoo in Aurora will display more than 10K tulips in its famous Sunken Garden. And if you’ve never been to the zoo, stick around for exhibits including wolves, mountain lions, otters, elk, llamas, and peacocks.
Another great option: Richardson Tulip Festival up in Spring Grove near the Wisconsin border will display more than a million blooms across its beautiful lakefront location. It's a full afternoon out, but certainly worth the drive.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg — there are plenty of other tulip-viewing opportunities across the Chicagoland area.
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💯 Need a dumpster? Look no further.
There aren’t many truly local garbage companies left. This is one of them.
When Tri-Cities homeowners need a dumpster, they call Midwest Waste — not a national chain, not a call center, and not a company that buries fees in the fine print.
Midwest Waste is locally owned, locally staffed, and known for helping local residents and businesses choose exactly what they need — whether that’s a quick garage clean-out or a full-scale remodel.
Clear pricing. Real answers. Reliable service. If you’re planning a project this spring or summer, you already know who to call.
☑️ E-bike boom: Local bike shop owners across Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, and North Aurora say e-bike sales have exploded in recent years, driven in part by aging riders looking for extra help on longer rides.
☑️ Rare gem in Geneva: A newly restored couture gown designed by the man credited with inventing the cocktail dress goes on display this month at Geneva's Fabyan Villa Museum — one of only six museums in the world with a Doeuillet garment.
☑️ Hit and run: A West Chicago woman faces multiple felony charges, including reckless homicide, after allegedly fleeing the scene of a late-night crash that killed a 27-year-old Elgin motorcyclist in St. Charles.
☑️ Train tragedy: A 25-year-old man died after being struck by an eastbound Metra train near the Western Avenue crossing in Geneva last Thursday; no foul play is suspected and an investigation is underway.
☑️ Fermi focus: Fermilab's new director Norbert Holtkamp sat down for a wide-ranging interview on leading the Batavia lab through its biggest construction push in decades, the future of neutrino science, and why big physics still matters.
☑️ News notes:
Local law enforcement is stepping up enforcement of texting, watching videos, and similar violations during Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April.
Light the Way Counseling in Batavia has moved to a new location 30 S Shumway Avenue #1W, with a ribbon cutting celebration planned for Friday (4/10).
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Local maker Matt Brej
☑️ Local artist profile: Matt Brej stumbled into a ceramics class at Elgin Community College two decades ago, which launched a dynamic career as a potter, teacher, and studio manager at Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles.
☑️ Baker centennial: Originally built as a gift to the community in 1926, the Baker Community Center is celebrating a century as a St. Charles landmark with a look back at 100 years of recreation, civic life, and community service — including a special event on May 1. Get details and more history.
☑️ Getting involved made easy: The Batavia Chamber is hosting a free volunteer fair on April 28 at the Batavia Public Library, bringing together 35+ nonprofits for residents to explore and sign up for community service opportunities.
☑️ Anniversary exploration: Interested in Illinois history? The state launched a passport program highlighting nearly 60 museums, parks, and historic sites tied to the country's 250th anniversary — get the details and start planning some outings.
☑️ Marking a milestone: On April 25, Geneva Community High School is marking its 150th anniversary with a celebratory evening of open house tours, a historical timeline, RoboVikes demos, and a catered dinner before the closing night performance of Chicago: Teen Edition.
☑️ Triumphant return: Water Street Studios in Batavia is re-launching its Community Gallery with six juried shows per year, beginning this June with a "What's your story?" theme — get details on upcoming galleries and calls for art.
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Quick reminder that in addition to the Tri-Cities live music listings, you can scroll to the bottom of the schedule page to see a list of more than 20 open jam nights across the suburbs.
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✨ There's always a reason to visit The Little Traveler (including an incredible brunch deal for $13)
Sunday brunch at The Little Traveler's Atrium Café has been a Tri-Cities tradition for decades — and for good reason. For just $13, 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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☑️ Growth org debut: Kane County has launched a new business-led economic development organization based in Batavia, aimed at attracting investment and supporting existing businesses across all 29 municipalities in the county.
☑️ Support local spots: The Geneva Chamber of Commerce is launching a marketing campaign to remind shoppers and diners that East State Street businesses are still open during the ongoing reconstruction project.
✳️ JULIETS Weekend is almost here! From April 10-12, this women's getaway event brings shopping, dining, creative workshops, and exclusive in-store experiences to downtown Geneva — and Urban Artisan's promo code URBANART26JWS saves you $5 per ticket. Learn more and get your discount.
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☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for the Tri-Cities area — including this $1M home on the Geneva Golf Club course that was held by the same family since 1955.
✳️ 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.
☑️ City meetings: St. Charles is hosting a public design workshop on Wednesday (4/8) where residents can weigh in on the three development scenarios being considered for the former police station site along the riverfront.
☑️ 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.
The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee.
🎟️ Bits and Buckets Comedy Show | Wed 4/8, 7:30PM | Comedy Vault, Batavia | Comics riff on random topics pulled from a bucket.
🎟️ Sparkle & Swap | Thu 4/9, 6PM–8PM | Pollyanna Brewing, STC | Craft night and book swap with supplies, drink ticket, and swag bag.
🎟️ La Voix Humaine & The Telephone | Thu 4/9 & Sat 4/11 | Moonlight Theatre, STC | Fox Valley Opera performs two entertaining operas about love and connection.
☑️ 20th Annual Touch-A-Tractor | Fri 4/10 - Sun 4/12 | Kane County Farm Bureau, STC | Kids climb on real farm equipment, meet farm animals, and learn about agriculture.
🎟️ Pedal, Park, Play! Bike Rack Project Kick-off Fundraiser | Fri 4/10, 5:30PM | Sturdy Shelter, Batavia | Support creative bike racks in Batavia parks with a silent auction.
☑️ Knit & Crafts | Fri 4/10, 6PM | Brown Butter Cafe & Bakery, STC | Cozy gathering for knitters, crocheters, bookworms, and creative souls.
Tri-Cities Central event reminders:
✔️ “Tri-Cities Live” virtual panel event: It’s happening this Wednesday (4/8) at 7PM — sign up here to watch a live conversation with Tri-Cities business and civic leaders about exciting current projects and what’s coming in the future.
✔️ Tri-Cities Dinner Club: Dozens of people have already signed up for the April 23 event, which is awesome. You can register here for what’s sure to be a fun night out and a great chance to meet like-minded locals.
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