With Labor Day weekend comes a variety of fun events in Kane County, all of which are in their own way a labor of love. Click the subheads for more information on each.

1. Kane County Sheriff’s 8th Annual Car & Motorcycle Show

First off, there’s the Kane and Kendall County Sheriffs’ annual car show, a charity event in which the proceeds go to the Make A Wish Foundation. Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez and Kendall County Sheriff Richard Randall have be co-hosting the event for nine years now, but this year, they will be joined by DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott.

The proceeds always go to a great cause, and this year’s charity is Make A Wish Illinois.

This year’s event also is special because it is the last that Perez will participate in as sheriff of Kane County. Perez announced at the start of his term that he would not be seeking reelection. (For a very good story on this event, read the Daily Herald article by Harry Hitzeman.)

The event is great fun and features “stock cars, modified, motorcycles, pre-1949, Best in Show, Sheriffs’ Choice, emergency vehicles, muscle cars, and more.

The event is Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014. Registration is 9 a.m. to noon, and the show is noon to 3 p.m. Entry fee: $10 Spectators: $5 per carload

2. Fox Valley Folk Music & Storytelling Festival

This is one of my favorites of the late summer/fall season.

Folk music and storytelling are art forms that we don’t see as often as we did decades ago. This event is just wonderful, both for the quality of the entertainment and the spirit that inspires the participants.

This is the 38th annual event, and it takes place Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at Island Park in Geneva. There are also special events in downtown Geneva. 

Click the link in the subhead for more information.

3. Batavia Block Party and Taste of Batavia

http://www.downtownbatavia.com/blockparty

Celebrate Labor Day weekend as Downtown Batavia MainStreet host a ‘Taste of Batavia’ sampler party complete with live music, activities and dancing. The Block Party will take place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday Aug. 31, on the North River Street and the Riverwalk. SOURCE: www.downtownbatavia.com/blockparty

4. Roots of Aurora Festival

Aurora’s diversity is one of the many attributes that make it, in my opinion, one of the great cities of the Midwest. This event celebrates that diversity as well as the genealogical history of eight civic leaders. Read more.

Also in Aurora this weekend is another fun event: the Art Alley Festival. 

5. Village of Maple Park Fun Fest

Maple Park Fun Fest is a classic small-town festival geared for big-time entertainment. Occurring over Labor Day Weekend, Fun Fest has provided the perfect way to celebrate summer’s end for over 10 years. Visitors enjoy live entertainment, a huge arts and crafts show, car show, 5K Fun Run, Parade, FIREWORKS, and of course, the famous Toilet Bowl Races – those are just a few of the highlights! SOURCE: mapleparkfunfest.com/

• Editor’s Note:  If you know of a big, upcoming event in Kane County, email ricknagel23@gmail.com. Include a link, a photo or YouTube video and some text, and we’ll do our best to post them.

Read More

Here are just a few great resources for finding out what’s going on during the weekends in Kane County:

• Fox Valley Magazine
• PlanIt Kane!
• Daily Herald Events Calendar
• The Beacon-News (Sun-Times) Events 
• Chicago Tribune MetroMix
• American Towns / Kane County Events