What Recession? Times Are Tough, But Festival of the Vine Still Draws Crowds

Walking down Third Street on a perfect fall day, you would not know we are in the midst of a recession.

Tent after tent on Third Street and James  Street and Campbell Street is filled with people. The restaurants are crowded inside, and outside, people are sipping wine and lattes, filling every patio seat and making the most of the al fresco experience.

And look at the money flying out of people's hands, from the booth at Flavor Fare at Fourth and State streets, to the SavWay wine tent to the shops that line State and Third.

The effect on sales-tax revenue for the weekend won't be quantified for a couple of months, but anecdotal evidence suggests that festival business is good.

David and Cindy of  St. Charles spent their Saturday at Festival of the Vine and spent money at the craft show, some of it on their daughter, Abi, who declined on the face painting but did buy a yo-yo at Judy's Ceramics on Campbell Street.

"We come every year," said David, pointing at the craft fair tents, "for this, the kids games and the wine."

Life is good on a day like this, no matter what the last stock market report might indicate.

The yo-yo comes from Judy Nelson's tent, which is being staffed solo by Bonkers the Clown, who augments the business by doing face painting and staffing the tent solo while Judy is out and about.

"This is my mom's booth," Bonkers said. "She's been doing this for 40 or more years."

But this is the first year Judy's Ceramics has come to Geneva. They made the trip from Indiana, to test a new market.

"We thought we'd try something new and exciting," she said Saturday. "Now that it's stopped raining, the business is already starting to pick up."

Craig McLean, a.k.a The Pure Gardener, was selling flowers and pumpkins and offering planting advice at his open-market booth on the courthouse lawn at Third and James streets.

"People still want flowers, and they like organic herbs," McLean said. "They also know you can save money on groceries when you grow your own food."

MacLean started the Geneva Greenhouse and opened The Pure Gardener on Fifth and State street in November 2006. He and his wife, Annette, work together to make the business flourish in tough times. Annette designed the artistic visual displays made from original handiwork, hay bales, corn stalks, pumpkins and squash that attract passersby and potential customers.

At the Flavor Fare, Preservation Bread & Wine owner Lawrence Colburn said his restaurant at 513 South Third Street has been doing well since it opened about three months ago.

Janet Dwyer, an employee of The Latest Crave on 227 S. Third, was serving sweets at the Flavor Fare tent.

"Business is great because it's, like, high on the Cupcake Index,"  she said.

Meanwhile, the Geneva Chamber of Commerce is asking businesses to donate to a fund to support festival promotions and staffing so that events like these can continue. This year's event included free trolley rides, a horse drawn carriage, and a number of kids' and family activities.

"Festivals are important to the economy of Geneva and create publicity for the town that no one business can afford to buy," a chamber letter said. "Just like every business, we are trying to cut costs but not services, quality or events." 

While the flyer was sent to chamber members, donations from festival-goers or the general public would help the cause. For information, contact the Geneva Chamber of Commerce at 630-232-6060.