Free summer concerts at Geneva Commons
For the 12th year in a row, Geneva Commons will be hosting its annual summer concert series, where families and friends can celebrate warm summer nights with free music outside.
The concerts take place every Wednesday and Sunday evening through July 2 in the courtyard between Houlihan's and Bar Louie at the Randall Road outdoor mall.
On Sundays, the music starts at 5 p.m., with Wednesday night concerts beginning at 6:30 p.m.
While the music is free, concertgoers will need to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets if they want to sit down and enjoy the tunes.
The concert on Wednesday, June 18, which runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., will feature Serendipity, a group that uses a combination of euphonic vocal tones with a power pop kick on current and classic tunes, according to a news release from the mall.
If you're an REO Speedwagon fan, you'll want to stop by the series on Sunday night, June 22, to hear Hi-Infidelity, which plays cover songs from REO Speedwagon, as well as Bon Jovi and other '80s groups. The group also will be adding some of its own original songs into the mix.
On Wednesday, June 26, Wild Daisy will perform. The group, led by singer Krissi Woods, plays current country hits, and some classics, as well as a little rock and pop.
Maggie Speaks will take the stage on Sunday, June 29, playing covers of music from the 1960s through today.
The concert series will end Wednesday, July 2, with a performance from Thunder Road. The band covers artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Melissa Etheridge, and also plays Motown and soul/R&B music.
During the concerts, many of the eateries at Geneva Commons will be open. You can grab a bite before, and bring some food to eat during the concerts. Or you can bring your own picnic to enjoy.
The eateries also will be open after the concerts if you want to grab some dinner or dessert.
The mall's office, which is near H&M, has some discount coupons available that are valid during the concert times.
The mall also is offering a free gift to early birds at the concerts.
The first 50 concertgoers will each get a free Lynx duffel bag.
Touch-a-Truck: Algonquin Commons, along the Randall Road corridor, will be hosting a Touch-a-Truck event on Sunday, June 22.
The event will give children a chance to get up close and personal with emergency vehicles, such as police cars, fire engines and ambulances.
Their operators also will be on hand to talk to the children, and show them around the vehicles.
The free event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the mall.
The vehicles that will be on hand for children to check out may vary throughout the day, depending on what is available at the time from the local law enforcements outlets and fire departments attending Touch-a-Truck.
• Amy Williams' column covers all the news of business along the Randall Road corridor from Batavia to Crystal Lake. Contact her at randallbiz@comcast.net or (847) 894-5036.