The Fox Valley Folklore Society and Geneva Park District present the 32nd annual Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival on Sunday and Labor Day Monday, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, preceded Saturday, Aug. 30, by master classes, an open mike and live concert on WFMT-FM radio.
Set at Island Park along the Fox River at routes 38 and 25 in Geneva, it offers more than 100 hours of folk music, dance and storytelling on eight stages, featuring 36 acts from 15 states and Canada. Eight stages run continuously from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days, and offer concerts, hands-on teaching, dancing and topical workshops.
Sunday evening offers an Old-Time Community Barn Dance from 6 to 7:30 p.m., followed by ghost stories in the big tent from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
On WFMT 98.7 FM, Rich Warren will host some of the featured artists, including Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, in a live studio broadcast at 8 p.m. Saturday, its annual “Midnight Special” festival concert. For details, visit www.midnightspecial.org and select the “Live Folkstage Schedule” link.
Saturday night also offers an open mike event at Island Park’s pavilion from 6 to 10 p.m. People may bring their instruments and sign up for a slot or just come out to listen.
The off-site master classes that day include: Harmony Singing Master Class With Ellie and Leela Grace from 7 to 9:30 p.m., and storytelling workshops with Don Falkos that morning and afternoon.
The festival raffle will feature a guitar provided by Tobias Music in Downers Grove, as well as prizes such as boxed folk music compact disc sets and books.
The festival has a children’s area, folk arts and food. People are invited to bring instruments for hands-on workshops and jamming. There will be tents and covered areas in case of rain, plus dozens of craft and record vendors.
Suggested admission costs $15 per day for adults, $10 for teens and elders, and is free to children younger than 12. For details on the master classes and artists, call (630) 844-3655 or visit www.FoxValleyFolk.com. Free parking is available at the Kane County Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave. (Route 31), Geneva.
Artists
Musicians include Mike Anderson; Lou and Peter Berryman; Bob Bovee and Gail Heil; Bryan Bowers; Chicago Spelmanslag; Cooper, Nelson and Early; Judy Cook; Curtis and Loretta; Mark Dvorak; Ellie and Leela Grace; Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer; Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen; Lucky Break; Joel Mabus; Lee Murdock; Larry Penn; Bill Robinson and Friends; Danny Santos; Cosy Sheridan; Ed Trickett; Chris Vallillo; and Matt Watroba.
Storytellers include Mike Anderson, In the Spirit, Yvonne Healy, Chris Fascione and The Fox Valley Storytelling Guild, with workshops by tellers from the Chicago area’s many other guilds.
Music workshops and showcases will be presented by the Chicago Sacred Harp Singers and favorites from Two Way Street Coffee House in Downers Grove.
Organizations offering showcases include Chicago Songwriters Collective, Chicago Academy of Irish Music, Lake County Folk Club, Murphy Roche Irish Music Club in Burr Ridge and Dulcimer Society of Northern Illinois.


