This summer we are excited to celebrate the return of Geneva’s special events and full reopening of local businesses with you.

The 72nd Swedish Days Festival will be held Thursday to Sunday, June 24-27, with new things to do and a fun-filled schedule. Check the Geneva Chamber’s festival schedule to plan your day, but here are a few highlights. A new ticketed event, Swedish Days Dala-Palooza, is happening Saturday, June 26 at Northwestern Medicine Field featuring bands, food trucks, and drinks in the garden area. On June 26, you can also stop by Geneva Commons for Swedish Days Family Fest. Throughout the week a craft beer tent with local breweries will be located on James Street with a variety of local food and live music.

Bird lovers attending Swedish Days should fly over to 109 S. First St. to The Birdhouse Lady, which just opened in May. You will find a variety of beautifully hand-crafted, quality-built, birdhouses, bird feeders, and Mason bee houses to bring home. These unique art pieces will make a statement in your garden while welcoming birds or bees to visit and stay a while. During Swedish Days, the Birdhouse Lady will donate 90% of sales proceeds to Northern Illinois Foodbank. Every dollar donated helps Northern Illinois Food Bank provide $8 of groceries for our neighbors in Northern Illinois.

A Viking Helmets scavenger hunt has started in downtown Geneva storefronts and ends Sunday, June 27 through Adventures in Scavenger Hunting. Find all 16 helmets for a chance to win Geneva Chamber of Commerce gift certificates.

Thursday, June 24 is the perfect night to shop until you drop in downtown Geneva. Stores will be open until 10 p.m. for Moonlight Madness. A number of creative Kids' Day activities will take place at the new Geneva Public Library on Friday, June 25. From traditional Swedish demonstrations to carnival rides and a car show, Swedish Days truly is a festival to make memories.

The Geneva Cultural Arts Commission is pleased to bring back the RiverPark Summer Concert Series this summer with two outdoor performances. On Sunday, July 11, Good Clean Fun will deliver an exciting and engaging show featuring a party hit playlist spanning over seven decades. Geneva’s own School of Rock youth will rock out at the riverside the following week on Sunday, July 18.

For a relaxing summer evening at Island Park, mark your calendars for Shakespeare in the Park on Saturday, July 17. Goodly Creatures Theatre will perform “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream,” a traditional light-hearted comedy with romance and fairies.

All three of these outdoor events start at 6 p.m.

Summertime in Geneva is just taking off and it looks like 2021 will be a festive one. Let’s celebrate the Phase 5 reopening milestone while continuing to wear masks and socially distance if you are not vaccinated. The City's Upcoming Events web page will keep you posted on City-sponsored events, and Experience Geneva IL Facebook page will give you the scoop on downtown shops and restaurants.