Things to Do in Geneva


Things to Do in Geneva IL

The peaceful environment of Geneva offers residents and guests an unmatched escape from the fast-paced world of today. From perusing through the shops and restaurants of the historic downtown district to whiling away a day at one of the city’s beautiful park sites, visitors have endless possibilities when it comes to spending time in Geneva.

For those craving a bit more excitement, Geneva offers four highly acclaimed annual festivals.

Swedish Days (June)
The most renowned of these events occurs each June with the Midsommar Festival. Swedish Days, a six-day celebration of Geneva’s Swedish heritage, recently marked 70 years in 2019. This “Granddaddy” of Illinois festivals features a host of family-friendly activities such as a carnival, Sweden Väst, musical entertainment, Kids’ Day, a Grand Parade, Swedish and American food, plus great shopping.

Geneva Arts Fair (July)
The Geneva Arts Fair annually welcomes more than 155 artisans in a host of mediums from around the country during the fourth weekend in July. The outdoor fine arts show was voted a Top 10 Best Art Fairs in the country by artfaircalendar.com and a recent winner of “Best Craft or Art Show” by West Suburban Living magazine. Victorian homes-turned-businesses in the downtown historic district serve as a picturesque backdrop for the show.

Festival of the Vine (September)
September’s Festival of the Vine is a three-day event consisting of food, wine seminars and events, a flower market, a craft show and carriage rides. The Flavor Fare features Geneva restaurants, plus musical entertainment. Festival of the Vine is consistently picked as a top festival in readers’ polls.

Christmas Walk & Holiday House Tour (December)
The Christmas Walk in December is complete with visits from Santa Lucia (Sweden’s symbol of the season) and Santa Claus, the melodic voices of carolers, the inviting aroma of roasted chestnuts and an old-fashioned candy cane pull. Coinciding with the Christmas Walk is our Holiday House Tour, a self-guided tour of five distinctive homes festively decorated for the holidays.

Classic Car Shows (Thursdays in July & August)
Running every Thursday evening in July and August, the car show hosts dozens of classic, muscle and rare cars, motorcycles and trucks as well as live entertainment, food and more. The show is held in the old courthouse parking lot on the corner of James and Fourth streets.

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The Geneva Concours d’Elegance (August) and the Fox Valley Folk Music & Storytelling Festival (September) are among the other annual events that contribute to making Geneva a must-see destination. For a complete listing of Geneva festivals and events, visit genevachamber.com.

All Year Long

Sports enthusiasts looking for an exciting day at the ballpark revel in the offerings of the Kane County Cougars, a Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks April-September. The Cougars take on team rivals at Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva. Family-friendly events include firework shows, human bowling, pedal car racing, giveaways, autographs from the players and the KidZone Playground.

Enjoy fast-paced family fun at Fox Valley Ice Arena, September through May. Future college and pro stars play for the Chicago Steel in the nation’s best junior hockey league (USHL).

Delve into the area’s history with a trip to the Geneva History Museum. The 17,000-square-foot center opened its doors in 2004 and is bursting with award-winning educational programming as well as the stocked archives and reading room. Tours through the city’s historic district are also offered.

Visit Fabyan Villa Museum & Japanese
Garden in the Fabyan Forest Preserve. Tour Penrose Brewing Company or Fox River Distilling Company and learn more about our local craft beers and spirits.

Just to the south, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory specializing in high-energy particle physics. Self-guided tours are available and include both the outdoor areas and limited indoor facilities.