Music and stories highlight Fox Valley Folk Festival

Geneva will come alive with story and song this weekend, when the 38th annual Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival takes place at Island Park.

The festival is traditionally held the Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend. Free preview concerts will be held on Friday and Saturday as follows:

Friday, Aug. 29

• 5-6:30 p.m.: Jim Green Dodson Place, Third and Fulton streets

• 7-8:30 p.m.: Dennis O'Brien, Dodson Place, Third and Fulton streets

Saturday, Aug. 30

• 11-11:45 p.m.: Linda Gorham at Playhouse 38, 524 W. State St.

• Noon-1:30 p.m.: Bill Robinson at Geneva Library, 127 James St.

• 2-3:30 p.m.: Ken Perlman Courthouse Lawn, Third and James streets

• 3:30-5 p.m.: Tim Grimm and Jan Lucas on the Kane County Courthouse Lawn, 100 S. Third St.

From 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, the annual “Midnight Special” live Radio broadcast on WFMT 98.7-FM features more festival artists in a live show open to the public. Hosted by Rich Warren, the show is broadcast from the 155-year-old Unitarian Universalist Society Chapel, 102 S. Second St., and is also streamed live on the Internet. Advance tickets for the broadcast are $25 and $20 for seniors, students and volunteers. At the door, if available, tickets are $30/25.

The broadcast's featured artists include Joe Filisko and Eric Noden, Cindy Kallet and Grey Larsen, Cindy Mangsen and Anne Hills, Joel Mabus, Red Tail Ring, Jack Williams, and Matt Watroba. For details on the concert, visit midnightspecial.org.

The festival continues from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, at Geneva's Island Park, Route 38 and the Fox River. It will present folk music, dance and storytelling on eight stages featuring more than 30 Midwestern and national folk music and storytelling acts. Concerts, hands-on teaching, dancing and topical workshops are part of the event. Sunday evening features an Old-Time Community Barn Dance from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and ghost stories in the big tent from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

Admission is $20 per day for adults, $15 for teens and seniors; children younger than 12 are admitted free. There is a discount of $5 off for both days, and a family rate of $45 per day for two parents and their teen children. There is free parking at the Kane County Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Geneva.

For tickets or more information, call (630) 897-3655 or visit foxvalleyfolk.com.

If you go

What: 38th annual Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival

When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1

Where: Island Park, Route 38 and the Fox River, Geneva. Park at Kane County Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave.

Admission: $20 per day, $15 for teens and seniors; children younger than 12 are admitted free. There is a discount of $5 off for both days, and a family rate of $45 per day for two parents and their teen children.

More information: <a href="http://foxvalleyfolk.com">foxvalleyfolk.com</a>