Celebrate the arrival of fall at Geneva's Festival of the Vine
A great way to welcome fall's impending arrival in the Fox Valley is Geneva's Festival of the Vine.
Initially a celebration of anything grown on a vine, the festival now revolves around food and wine. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11 and 12; and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, at Fourth and State streets. Food and wine purchase times vary.
Fine food
Geneva has more than 20 fine restaurants showcased at the "Flavor Fare" tent, along with a variety of wine for purchase.
For more than 30 years, restaurants have set up under one huge tent offering three of their favorite signature items. Visitors purchase tickets and buy a "taste" at one of the featured restaurants in the tent. Tickets are $1 each and food items are priced between one and five tickets.
Participating restaurants include 318 Coffeehouse, Bien Trucha, Claddagh Irish Pub, Egg Harbor Cafe, El Molcajete on 3rd, EvenFlow Music and Spirits, Firehouse Pizza and Grill, Foxfire, Gen Hoe, Geneva Ale House, Graham's Chocolates and Ice Cream, Inglenook Pantry, Josef's Elegant Meats and Deli, Kernels Gourmet Popcorn and More, Kilwins, Morano's Pizza, Nobel House, Preservation Bread and Wine, Riganato Old World Grille, Sergio's Cantina, Stockholm's, and The Sugar Path.
Wine variety
To accompany your food, 23 unique wines from around the world will be available for purchase by the glass, priced at 4, 6 or 12 tickets. As with food, tickets are $1 each. Wineries featured include Rex Goliath, Woodbridge, Nobilo, Tom Gore, Ruffino, Dreaming Tree, Diseno, Urlo, Icon, Meiomi, Mount Veeder, and Jackson-Triggs.
Entertainment
Enjoy versatile local and Chicago-area musical and dance entertainers on the stage throughout the weekend.
Entertainers include Backyard Cohort, Majors Junction, State Street Dance Studio, Brent Brown, Fareed Haque, Hiline Band, and Treble Ahead.
Demonstrations
Looking for some tips on spicing up an autumn dish? The Harvest Demo Stage, on James Street, hosts a variety of free demonstrations.
At 11 a.m. Saturday, Geneva Ace Hardware will share grilling tips; at 1 p.m., The Olive Mill will demonstrate how to make a beet and goat cheese crostini appetizer. At 3 p.m., FreshGround Roasting will share tips on home coffee brewing.
On Sunday at 1 p.m., Continental Envelope prepares zucchini pasta with arugula and basil pesto, and at 3 p.m., Northern Illinois Food Bankwill show you how to make a healthy sweet treat using butternut squash.
Other events during the festival include an arts and crafts show, merchant wine events, business booths, face painting for the kids, complimentary trolley and horse-drawn carriage rides plus great shopping in Geneva's historic downtown.
A complete schedule of events and hours can be found at www.genevachamber.com/.
Festival of the Vine
What: An autumn harvest celebration featuring fine food, wine, flower markets, demonstrations, an arts and crafts show, live music and more.
When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11 and 12; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13. Food and wine purchase times may vary. Ticket booth times vary.
Where: Downtown Geneva, North Fourth and Route 38 (West State Street).
Cost: Free general admission. Cost for food and wine tickets; cash only.
Details: Visit <a href="http://www.genevachamber.com">www.genevachamber.com</a> or call (630) 232-6060