The 49th annual Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival featured performers from across the country over the Labor Day holiday weekend at Wheeler Park in Geneva.

The two-day event gave attendees a choice of main stage concerts, storytelling, mini-concerts and interactive workshops.

This year’s performers included songwriters and musicians Curtis & Loretta, Joel Mabus and Deidre McCalla.

The late Juel Ulven, founder of the Fox Valley Folklore Society, had volunteered to schedule the entertainment lineup for a festival in 1975 held in Aurora. The all-volunteer organization debuted not long after in 1977.

Ulven’s family remains involved in the festival.

“My dad probably would be impressed with how organizers have coordinated the festival,” Zach Ulven said.

The Geneva Park District is a co-sponsor of the event, which was moved to Wheeler Park two years ago from Geneva’s Island Park, which is susceptible to occasional flooding.

“The whole festival is run on a shoestring budget so the performers can get the majority of the donations,” Ulven said. “The Geneva Park District have been so good to us.”

Radio broadcaster Marilyn Rea Beyer, host of “The Midnight Special” folk music program on WFMT 98.7, worked as an emcee at the fest.

“Folk music, if you want to define it, has a common denominator that we can all feel,” she said. “It really comes from within, and we share it string-to-string, voice-to-voice.”

Juel Ulven, founder of the Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival, had a wealth of information about folk music, she said.

“Juel lives on in our memories and in the spirit of making people happy through music. If you knew Juel, you know he wanted people to be happy,” Rea Beyer said.

Deidre McCalla, originally from New York who now lives in northern California, is a singer and songwriter who performs in the genre of traditional folk music. Last weekend marked her first time at  the fest in Geneva.

“There’s lots of good music here. It’s really sweet,” she said. “A lot of people here are already friends and colleagues. I know many of the performers.”

Kim Karpeles came from Northbrook to enjoy the live folk music at the event.

“I’m involved with the Lake County Folk Club, so I really enjoy folk music,” she said.

Karpeles has been coming to the festival for the past four years.

“I love the setting in Wheeler Park,” she said.

As for the longevity of the folk festival, “it keeps folk history alive through the songs. Folk music is approachable for people to learn and sing along with,” she said.

Geneva resident Ed Manning has been coming to the festival for the past 15 years.

“Sadly, folk music is not in the mainstream and it’s a shame because it’s so rich with stories and feelings,” Manning said.

Budding musicians Amelia Leslie and Rowan O’Hara, eager to start their own band, came from Addison to check out the festival.

“We’re trying to get the vibe and maybe see if we can perform here in the future,” Leslie said.

Leslie is in her first year in college, while O’Hara is a high school sophomore.

“We’re big on the Indie rock music genre but we do appreciate folk music,” Leslie said.

Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/02/festival-in-geneva-puts-spotlight-on-folk-music/