Celebrate the flavors of fall at Geneva’s Festival of the Vine
Savor the flavor during the annual Festival of the Vine, Geneva’s autumn harvest celebration, on Friday to Sunday, Sept. 6-8, on Fourth and James streets. Initially a celebration of anything grown on a vine, the festival now revolves around food, beer and wine.
A variety of restaurants will be showcased along with a selection of wine, beer, and seltzer offerings for purchase.
For more than 40 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. To accompany your food, distinctive wines from around the world will be available for purchase. Get $1 tickets, sold in increments of $10 at the ticket booth or in advance online. Ticket booth hours are noon to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; cash and credit accepted.
Enjoy versatile local and Chicago area musical entertainers on the stage. The music lineup begins on Friday with Last Dance, a Tom Petty tribute, at 3 p.m., Livestream playing the best of the 1980s-’90s at 5 p.m. and country band Mackenzie O'Brien Band at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, the music stage opens with jazz musician Harold Dawson at 1 p.m., and Afternoon Logic mixes rock, pop, jazz and dance at 3:30 p.m. The Gregory Hyde Band will combine classic and modern covers with originals at 5:30 p.m., and The Jolly Ringwalds will bring back the '80s hits at 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday, The MacCartyns will perform 1960s and '70's harmony rock at noon and Planet Groove, a seven-piece band with a three-piece horn section, will close out the festival at 2:30 p.m.
Browse through booths filled with art, crafts, seasonal items, collectibles, decorative items and one-of-a-kind merchandise at the craft show featuring over 75 exhibitors from across the Midwest. It will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday along South Third and Campbell streets by the historic Kane County Court House.
Other festival attractions include merchant wine events, business booths, children's activities, complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides plus great shopping in Geneva’s historic downtown. Additional events can be found around Geneva.
On Saturday, stop by the Kids’ Fun Area near the courthouse with complimentary kids’ craft with Cherry Berry Blast from noon to 2 p.m. and balloon artistry with Papa Balloon from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Check out “The Curious World of Colonel Fabyan,” a hands-on exhibition highlighting the eccentric world created by George and Nelle Fabyan along the Fox River, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Geneva History Museum, 113 S. Third St. There’s also the “Geneva’s Story” exhibit on the town’s rich history featuring rare artifacts, large models, a movie theater, and a story booth to record your Geneva story. Museum admission is $5 or $2 for seniors and students.
Visit the Geneva Chamber of Commerce's website, genevachamber.com/events/festival-of-the-vine, for festival details, including a schedule and food/beverage pricing information.