folk music

Make the Fox River Valley area weird.

There is nothing more soul-depressing than pulling into a town full of Starbucks, McDonald’s, Chili’s, Lowe’s, indistinguishable from the next.

Be Yourself. Be Unique. Be Weird.

Compiling a list of places, events, etc. that make the Fox River Valley area – Saint Charles, Batavia, Geneva and South Elgin, Illinois – a bit above the ordinary.

noun
Scottish archaic
noun: weird; plural noun: weirds
1.
a person’s destiny.

 

Events:

SPRING

The Fiddle Fest – The annual St. Charles Fiddle Fest takes place in the St. Charles North H.S. Gym on Friday, March 14, 2014. Young and old, fiddlers fill up the entire gym – a neat thing to go listen to. http://district.d303.org/fiddle-fest-2014-1

Festival of Colors in Naperville – Getting to throw handful of brightly colored powder at friends and foes seems too good to be true. Yes it’s true! Vedic Cultural Society invites all members of the public, from people with understanding of festival to ne’er-do-wells who simply get a kick out of chucking organic dyed flour at strangers to celebrate the festival of color.   April 5, 2014  http://www.thefestivalofcolors.org/

SUMMER

The World of Faeries Festival, 10th Annual Celebration, Celebration of the Dragon, Saturday, August 2nd and 3rd, 2014 .  See article here.  Their website is here:  https://theworldoffaeries.com/

The 37th Annual, Fox Valley Folk Music & Storytelling Festival, September 1 & 2, 2013, At Island Park, Geneva, IL http://foxvalleyfolk.com/ 

Festival Of The Horse & Drum.  African Drums and Native American Indian Drums such as  Motherland Rhythm Community, an organization that preserves, teaches and presents traditional percussive music from West Africa.   Unique films such as Wind Eaters,  an amazing film from New Zealand will be joining our Equus Film Festival at the Festival Of The Horse & Drum!!!  http://www.festivalofthehorseanddrum.com/ 

Stores/Places:
 
Healing Arts Metaphysical Center
11 E Wilson St. Batavia, IL 60510
If reaching balance and Harmony is a priority in your life then you’ve come to the right place. We offer a variety of classes, healing techniques, Shamanic tools and other metaphysical products.  http://newhealingarts.com/

 The Green Tomato Grocery Facebook page is a place to discuss the possibility of a grocery cooperative downtown Batavia, IL. It is place for co-op education, to promote great ideas, and to help determine if there is community support.  http://www.greentomato.coop/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Green-Tomato-Grocery/464461146907344

The idea is to open a beautiful, full service grocery cooperative in downtown Batavia that sells wholesome food, prioritizes local produce and other goods, and connects farmers and consumers. The store would foster a welcoming, educational environment that nurtures the relationship between community and food. It could be your “third place.”

The Garaj Mahal – backyard garage turned yoga studio turned kirtan studio hosting different events usually with a Hindu Yoga flair.  Check them out at:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Garaj-Mahal/791358320891400

Groups:
Holistic Moms Network Fox River – Living Healthy Living Green – We encourage moms to trust their instincts, parent from the heart, use their innate sense of what is best for their children, live in balance with the Earth, and learn about the pros and cons of all healthcare and parenting options.  http://www.holisticmoms.org/ 

Local Blogs:
A personal journal chronicling fishing adventures at the Fox River and beyond. http://fishthefox.com/

Ms.  B’s blog, a young girl in Geneva, covering happening local places and events:  in other words, a chance for me to live vicariously.   http://msbpartytime.com/

 

Do you have something to add?  I know there are plenty more activities, places, people that make the Fox River valley the best area outside of Chicago … and will be updating this page.