Let The Rides Begin! St. Charles RiverFest Carnival Is Open

The Riverview Carnival, on Route 31 north of Main Street, is now open until 10 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

The St. Charles RiverFest carnival rides are open for business, starting today (Thursday, June 7.) You can take advantage of special discounts with the wristband specials from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, when $20 per person gets you unlimited rides during those times.  Here's the schedule of events.

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That Carnival in St. Charles Is Raising Funds for Literacy

Event at Charlestowne Mall benefits Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley

If you drive by Charlestowne Mall in St. Charles, you'll notice a carnival in the parking lot. And if you decide to stop and take the kids to the carnival, know that you're doing a good thing, not just for the kids but to benefit Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley. Take a ride on the carousel or ferris wheel to raise money to help adults improve their English skills. The carnival will be held in the parking lot of the Charlestowne Mall from April 25 to 29. It is being hosted by Windy City Amusements. The carnival features rides, amusements, games and food. Unlimited ride specials are available for $20 per person per day. The carnival runs Wednesday and Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday form 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

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Inside Geneva: Rick Nagel

Rick Does Swedish Days' Manly Test of Strength

They don't call him "the hammer" for nothing. He pays them to call him "the hammer."

This afternoon was "manly challenge time" for one Rick Nagel. First was the test of courage: the Quad Power Jump. Then came the test of strength: the traditional Swedish Days hammer slam at the carnival. And I'm not bragging, but I think it's safe to say you can summarize my performance in two words. Good. Girl. See, this is one of the many reasons my golf game is so bad. I think if you take the mass of the mallet head and multiply it by the speed of the mallet head and then multiply that by the angle of the club head at impact you'll figure out pretty quickly why it is IMSA doesn't dominate a lot of athletic contests. Today I displayed the same combination of power and accuracy one might find in a bunny rabbit with Tourette Syndrome. "…

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Viewfinder

Viewfinder: Setting Up Swedish Days

Each year, the annual downtown festival gets a little bigger and better, and the Monday before the start is filled with frantic activity.

On the Monday before Swedish Days, Geneva gets ready. If you were an alien presence looking down from outer space at this little corner of the Earth on Monday, June 20, 2011, it might look like ants building the world's most fun anthill. The courthouse lawn is being mowed, the weed whackers are in full gear. The portable potties are being unloaded. The carnival is rising from the ground like a wildflower, flashing color and the sweet promise of fried dough and snow cones as a swarm of worker bees buzz about. Tents rise everywhere. The service clubs' heavy lifters are bringing in the propane and stoves and equipment they need to serve up food for the tens of thousands who will pass their way for 12 hours a day from Tuesday through Sunday. …

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