The 26th annual St. Charles Fine Art Show will take place in downtown St. Charles on Memorial Day weekend.
The free event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 25, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 26, on Riverside Avenue between Main Street and Illinois Avenue in St. Charles.
The show will feature works of art from over 100 artists in 13 different mediums, all available for sale, organizers said.
Throughout the event, there will be a variety of family-friendly activities taking place in the St. Charles Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Activity Zone on Riverside Avenue, according to organizers. The area will contain art-related activities, including the opportunity to paint a car, organized by the St. Charles Arts Council, and several hands-on art activities for purchase, sponsored by All Things Art Studio.
This year, there will be a new Art and Music Experience taking place at First Street Plaza from 1 to 3 p.m. on both days of the event. Visitors there can experience Alex Puryear create a work of art alongside the band 13 Days on May 26 and alongside the band FLEX Trio on May 27.
For more information on the St. Charles Fine Art Show, go to www.stcharlesfineartshow.com.
Geneva church to hold pancake breakfast
United Methodist Church of Geneva will host its annual Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. Monday, May 27, at the church, 211 Hamilton St. in downtown Geneva.
Marking its 68th year, the breakfast will be staged by the Geneva church’s men’s club and the men’s group of Batavia United Methodist Church.
The event will offer all-you-can eat pancakes, sausage, coffee, juice and milk. The proceeds from the breakfast will be donated to local charities, organizers said.
Tickets are on sale at the church’s website at www.genevaumc.org and will also be available at the event. Ticket prices for those 13 years old and older are $9, with tickets for children 3 to 12 years old set at $4. Those under 3 years old eat for free at the event.
Applications being taken for Winterfest Art Market
Applications are being taken for those looking to participate in the Winterfest Art Market in Batavia this fall.
Non-profit organizations Water Street Studios and Batavia MainStreet are sponsoring the market.
Artists, artisans and makers will be selling fine art and handmade items during the event, set for Nov. 8 to 10 at Water Street Studios and The Dock at 150 First St. in Batavia.
The art market will have drinks, food and live entertainment throughout the event, organizers said.
For more information or to apply to take part in the market, go to https://downtownbatavia.com/farmers-markets/#winterfest. The application window closes July 15 and vendors will be selected by Aug. 1, organizers said.
Kayak fishing classes scheduled
The Kane County Forest Preserve District will hold kayak fishing classes for young people this summer.
The sessions will feature the guidance of professional kayak fishing instructors from Chi-Yak Adventures.
The kayak fishing programs are for youth entering grades six to 12 in the fall. Registration is required at least one week prior to the program and full payment is due at the time of registration. The program fee is $99 per person, per program.
Participants can take part in one, two or all three sessions, where a pedal kayak, safety equipment, kayaking instruction and fishing gear necessary for a successful fishing expedition will be provided.
Each session will run from 8 a.m. to 12:0 p.m. The Thursday, June 27, class will be at Oakhurst Forest Preserve, 1680 Fifth Ave. in Aurora; the Wednesday, July 17, session will be at Big Rock Forest Preserve, 46W072 Jericho Road in Big Rock; and the Tuesday, July 30, class will be at Grunwald Forest Preserve, 02S035 Lorang Road in Elburn.
Participants are advised to bring their own tackle box, water, sunscreen and a snack.
For more information and to register for the programs, go to www.kaneforest.com/register.
St. Charles program spotlights Lake Michigan
Travel expert Nancy McCully will discuss the beauty to be found when traveling along Lake Michigan during a program at the St. Charles Public Library at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 23.
During the “Circling Lake Michigan” program, McCully will share the beautiful beaches of southwestern Michigan, the world’s largest freshwater dunes, historic Mackinac Island, the rocky coast of Door County and the coastal cities of Wisconsin, event organizers said.
To register, call 630-584-0076 or go to https://scpld.libnet.info/event/10098620.
The St. Charles Public Library is at 1 S. Sixth Ave. in St. Charles.
DuPage Children’s Museum president receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Andrea Ingram, president and CEO of the DuPage Children’s Museum in Naperville, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award on May 2 at the Chicago Council on Science and Technology’s Science in the City Gala.
The event celebrated leading Chicago-area scientists, innovators and business leaders, who were recognized for making significant impacts in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields.
Ingram received the Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contributions in advancing the public understanding of science and technology.
Ingram, a former vice president of education at the Museum of Science and Industry, has been an advocate for STEM learning throughout her career, officials said.
“I am honored and thrilled to have been recognized by leaders in the Chicago STEM ecosystem,” Ingram said. “There is no more important time to be doing this work — to encourage and facilitate the understanding and the importance of science, how to be creative and what it means to all of our lives.”
