Over 75 businesses participating in Geneva's Jack-O'-Lantern Walk Oct. 6
Local merchants in downtown Geneva are coming together for the fifth annual self-guided Jack-O'-Lantern Walk on Friday, Oct. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m.
It's also a First Friday where many local businesses and restaurants will be staying open later in the evening with exclusive in-store specials or highlighting new fall arrivals and food & drink menu specials at participating restaurants.
Seventy-six local downtown merchants will be displaying glowing Jack-O'-Lanterns in their windows or outside their business for families to stroll around town and vote on their favorites in four different categories.
The categories are: Most Creative Display; Most Spooky Display; Best Group (3 or more Jack-O'-Lanterns); Most Photogenic Display; and Geneva Themed Display.
A digital interactive map has been created with a QR code for guests to easily scan on their phone to see all the participating local merchants.
On the front lawn of the Kane County Courthouse at James and Third streets, there will be a fall-themed photo-op area display that evening. Twee Partees will be helping as a sponsor with creating a special balloon arch around the photo-op display.
The event is sponsored by the following local businesses: BEI Properties, Blinka Optical, Brush and Restore, Cravings, Harvey's Tales, Image Awards, Engraving & Creative Keepsakes, Inc., Gia Mia, Ella's Italian Pub, First Touch Window Tint, Liz & Kate Boutique, Laura Henrikson/Real Estate, Livia Italian Eatery, Mendel Plumbing & Heating, Inc, Meraki Artisan Hair Design, Pug & Hound Pet Apothecary, State Street Jewelers, The Royal Wren, Twee Partees, and Urban Artisan Geneva.
Patty Donahue, owner of Image Awards, Engraving & Creative Keepsakes Inc., has generously helped as a sponsor this year by creating the event trophies for the winning Jack-O-Lantern businesses and she made the special event mug. This mug is available for purchase directly from Donahue but the created ceramic mugs were used for social media giveaways to drum up excitement on Facebook and Instagram.
Kristen Cornelio, event organizer, is creating and designing this photo-op area for the community to enjoy for one evening. Guests can cast their votes on their phone by scanning the voting QR codes that will be displayed by the participating Jack-O'-Lanterns at local businesses.
As part of the anniversary celebration, 50 local gift cards from participating businesses placed around downtown Geneva waiting for guests to discover from a scavenger hunt with clues. Stop by Autumn Fest headquarters to pick up the scavenger hunt list starting at 4:30 p.m.
Many merchants are decorating their storefront windows to create a festive fall atmosphere for locals to enjoy while browsing the downtown shops & restaurants. Many participating local businesses will be showcasing new shop arrivals and restaurants will be highlighting fall menu items. Children are encouraged to dress up this evening.
For information, follow @AutumnFestGeneva on Instagram for weekly updates and giveaways leading up to the event.
The event will be held rain or shine.
For questions, email Kristen Cornelio, event coordinator, from Kristen Holly, LLC.
Listed below are all the Geneva businesses that will be displaying Jack-O-Lantern's that evening for locals to vote on.
1.) Blinka Optical
2.) Gia Mia- Geneva location
3.) Cravings
4.) State Street Jewelers
5.) Liz & Kate Boutique
6.) JADE
7.) Harvey's Tales
8.) Nosh
9.) Geneva Chamber of Commerce
10.) The Little Traveler
11.) Up North Wine Tasting Room
12.) Buzz Barbershop
13.) Evernia
14.) Always in Style
15.) Pixies on Main
16.) Anastazia
17.) Stitch Switch Men's Consignment
18.) Geneva Public Library District
19.) Pure Barre- Geneva
20.) Brush and Restore
21.) Pug & Hound Pet Apothecary
22.) Stockholm's
23.) Jennifer Kaye Photography
24.) Peaceful Parlour
25.) Country Naturals
26.) Atlas Chicken Shack
27.) Art History Brewing
28.) Kilwins Chocolates & Ice Cream
29.) Bare Moxie
30.) Aurelio's Pizza Geneva
31.) Ken's Auto Center, Inc.
32.) The Winding Deerpath
33.) Urban Artisan Geneva
34.) Bell Jar Vintage
35.) Eye Candy Bake Shop
36.) Graham's Fine Chocolates & Ice Cream
37.) Graham's 318 Coffeehouse
38.) Inluro
39.) Meraki Artisan Hair Salon
40.) Grow Geneva
41.) Flair on Third
42.) First Touch Window Tint
43.) Montage Salon & Spa
44.) Preservation
45.) The Cottage Geneva
46.) Cocoon
47.) The Royal Wren
48.) Geneva Winery
49.) Elements Massage- Geneva
50.) Always Growing
51.) Midwest Nice
52.) Daniele Saunders Photography
53.) Crystal Life Technology Inc.
54.) Iris + Grace Children's Boutique
55.) Little Red Barn Door
56.) Pärla
57.) Ella's Italian Pub
58.) Penrose Brewing
59.) Tinker Belz Art
60.) Vargo's Dance
61.) Little Barn Baby
62.) Livia Italian Eatery
63.) The Exchange of Geneva
64.) Boutique Ink
65.) Fair Game
66.) The Beer Cellar
67.) Carlson's Floors
68.) Geneva History Museum
69.) Zazas Pizzeria -Geneva
70.) Foxfire
71.) StringWorks
72.) The Gathering
73.) The Gift Box
74.) Papa Saverio's Geneva
75.) Copper Fox
76.) The Uncommon Find