Fox Valley Folk Fest back after floods

Katie Moritz and Judy Robinson picked a quiet spot on the Fox River's east bank Monday afternoon to let the sounds of their hammered dulcimers ring out during the 32nd Annual Fox Valley Folk Festival in Geneva.

"We'll play all day," said Robinson of Lake Villa. "We just like to come here and jam."

Last year's festival was scratched because of high water levels and soggy sod.

Moritz, of Aurora, was happy to have a venue to play at this year, as well as a chance to show the younger generation how music can be played with classic instruments that don't require electricity, a huge amplifier or Guitar Hero game.

"This is a great way of exposing it to them," she said.

Linda Womack of Villa Park and Gene Cunningham soaked up sounds on Island Park while awaiting the storytelling events. Womack believes it's an art form best experienced in person.

"Some people think storytelling is for children, that's not necessarily so," she said, adding "We like the little impromptu musical groups when people who are strangers go together and make music."

In past years, Michael Hazdra could have been one of those people. But the Romeoville man who plays a stand-up bass was on stage this time around - and his friend Darlene Sumida came to see him.

The Naperville woman's two kids, Anna, 8, and Joe, 5, also enjoy folk music. "It's really nice to have a festival that's this big and so local," the elder Sumida said.