Entertainment

For spring and summer fun, head to Fox Valley

Posted June 19, 2026 8:40 pm

Barbara Vitello

Second City touring company members, from left, Emily Anderson, Avery Ford, Dani James, Max Lazerine, Dave Lyzenga, Julia Morales and Cassidy Russell perform the sketch revue “Laughing for All the Wrong Reasons” at Aurora's Copley Theatre.

Laughing it up at a comedy club, visiting a historic home and strolling through its adjacent Japanese garden, riding the rails on a vintage trolley or enjoying classic rock on the Fox River's edge, there’s plenty to do in the Fox Valley this spring and summer.

Indoors

“The Second City Presents Laughing for All the Wrong Reasons,” through June 20 at Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. (630) 896-6666 or ParamountAurora.com. Paramount Theatre welcomes back the Second City touring company for a limited run of a best-of show consisting of classic sketches and songs. Also performing at the Copley this summer as part of its stand-up comedy series: Calvin Evans, featuring Luca Ferro (July 25), Larry Reeb (“Uncle Lar”) featuring Laura Hugg (Aug. 22) and Nick Gaza, featuring Vikram Balaji (Sept. 26).

The Comedy Vault, 18 E. Wilson St., Batavia. (630) 454-4174 or comedyvaultbatavia.com. An intimate venue where no seat is more than 50 feet from the stage, the Comedy Vault opened in 2021in a former bank. Performances typically run Thursday through Saturday, with special events on Sunday and open mics every Monday. Chicago's funniest teachers headline on June 28.

The Fabyan Villa Museum is located in the 1905 former vacation home of Colonel and Nelle Fabyan, who had it redesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1907. Courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County

Fabyan Villa Museum, 1925 S. Batavia Ave. and Route 31, Geneva. ppfv.org/fabyan-villa-museum. Open through Sept. 30, the museum occupies the home that originally belonged to Colonel George and Nelle Fabyan, who purchased the property, consisting of more than 300 acres, in 1905 as a vacation retreat. In 1907, the couple hired Frank Lloyd Wright to redesign the home. After the couple died, the Forest Preserve District of Kane County purchased 235 acres of the property, including the home, to create the Fabyan Forest Preserve. In 1985, the forest preserve district established the museum.

The Venue, 21 S. Broadway Ave., Aurora. (331) 212-8490 or themusicvenue.org. The Fox Valley Music Foundation, a group comprised of musicians, promoters and preservationists, operates the venue which showcases local, regional and national blues, rock, big band and world music artists. Upcoming headliners include: the Pete Ellman Big Band (June 23), Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ (July 25) and The Young Dubliners (July 30) among others.

The 1951 Republic Aviation 5-105 Thunderchief, nicknamed “Thud” and used extensively during the Vietnam War, is among the aircraft on display at the Air Classics Museum of Aviation in Sugar Grove. Courtesy of the Air Classics Museum of Aviation

Air Classics Museum of Aviation, Aurora Municipal Airport, 44W546 US-30, Sugar Grove. (630) 466-0888 or airclassicsmuseum.org. The museum showcases through exhibits (including hands-on exhibits) and educational programs the role aviation has played throughout the nation’s history. The collection consists of aircraft, uniforms, photographs and other aviation memorabilia from the 1930s through the present.

Outdoors

Cheap Trick headlines Aurora’s RiverEdge Park on Sept. 10. Associated Press

RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. paramountaurora.com/riveredge. Closed last summer for extensive renovations, RiverEdge Park reopens with expanded lawn seating, new restrooms, a beverage pavilion and new jumbotrons. The June 20 Blues On the Fox festival featuring Tommy Castro and the Painkillers, Ally Venable, Eric Gales and headliners Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue marks the venue’s reopening. Other highlights include Sixteen Candles (July 17), UB40 (Aug. 9), The Beach Boys (Aug. 14), Poi Dog Pondering (Aug. 15) and Cheap Trick (Sept. 10), among others.

Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. (630) 892-1550 or blackberryfarm.info. A living history museum, Blackberry Farm recreates pioneer life through demonstrations and offers family-friendly activities including train rides, paddle boats, a carousel, playground, pony rides and a petting zoo.

Installed in 1910 by Colonel George and Nelle Fabyan on their Geneva property, the Japanese Garden is a highlight of the Kane County Forest Preserve District. Courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County

Fabyan Japanese Garden, 1925 S. Batavia Ave. and Route 31, Geneva. ppfv.org/fabyan-japanese-garden. Open through Sept. 30, the Fabyan Japanese Garden was installed in 1910 on the grounds of the home belonging to Colonel George and Nelle Fabyan. They became enamored with Japanese culture after attending Chicago’s Columbian Exposition in 1893 and subsequently commissioned a Japanese-style garden on their property. After the couple’s death, the garden became overgrown until the Geneva Garden Club began restoring it in 1974.

This Illinois Central Railroad caboose is on display at the Fox River Trolley Museum in Elgin. Courtesy of the Fox River Trolley Museum

Fox River Trolley Museum, 365 S. La Fox St., Elgin. (847) 697-4676 or foxtrolley.org. Trolley rides along the Fox River, accompanied by narration that details how the railroad fits into the history of the region, are the main attraction of the museum, which also hosts seasonal special events.

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