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FVFS UPDATES
Old-Time Music, New-Time Memories
Get ready to grab a partner, kick up your heels, and step into a night of music, movement, and pure community joy at the Fox Valley Folklore Society’s Community Barn Dances!
Held multiple times throughout the year, these lively gatherings bring together neighbors, families, first-timers, and seasoned dancers for an unforgettable evening of old-time fun. With live fiddle tunes filling the room and friendly callers guiding every step, you don’t need any experience — just a willingness to smile, spin, and maybe laugh at yourself once or twice.
From toe-tapping reels to easy-to-learn circle dances, every event is designed to be welcoming, energetic, and joyfully interactive. It’s the kind of night where strangers become friends, kids dance with grandparents, and the whole room moves together in rhythm.
Whether you come for the music, the movement, or the community spirit, the Fox Valley Folklore Society’s Community Barn Dances are a celebration of tradition, connection, and good old-fashioned fun.
So lace up your dancing shoes and come be part of the circle — we’ll see you on the dance floor!
LOVE STORIES?
SO DO WE.
Step into a circle where stories come alive.
The Fox Valley Folklore Society’s Monthly Storytelling Guild Meetings are warm, welcoming gatherings where imagination, tradition, and community meet.
Whether you’re a seasoned teller, an aspiring performer, or someone who simply loves a good tale well told, the Guild offers a space to share, listen, and grow.
Each month, voices fill the room with folklore, personal narratives, tall tales, myths, and moments pulled straight from the heart. Some stories make you laugh out loud. Others draw you in so quietly you can hear a pin drop. Every meeting is different — and every voice matters.
These evenings are relaxed, supportive, and rich with encouragement. Tell a five-minute story you’ve been shaping. Practice something new. Or simply settle in and enjoy the magic of spoken word shared the way it has been for generations — face-to-face, voice-to-voice.
No scripts required. No stage lights needed. Just stories, community, and the timeless power of a well-told tale.
Come listen. Come share. Come be part of the story.
JOIN THE STORY
Become a Member of the Fox Valley Folklore Society!
Step into a world where music, storytelling, and community come alive! As a member of the Fox Valley Folklore Society, you'll be part of a vibrant network of artists, listeners, dancers, and dreamers who keep the folk tradition thriving. Enjoy exclusive access to special events, support beloved festivals, and help preserve a rich cultural heritage for future generations. Whether you play, sing, dance, or simply love a good song or story—there’s a place for you here. Come join the circle!
Fox Valley Folklore Society
Gratefully Acknowledges
Support From
FVFS AWARDS
At the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame’s 2026 induction ceremony on March 27 at Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva, one of the evening’s most heartfelt moments will honor the late Juel Ulven, whose legacy in folk music helped shape the cultural fabric of the Fox Valley and whose vision was instrumental in founding the Fox Valley Folklore Society. Receiving the award on his behalf will be his wife, Jessi Laffey—his steadfast partner in both life and mission—who stood by his side through the early days of building FVFS and celebrated the passion and purpose that defined his work. Together, they nurtured a community rooted in music, storytelling, and tradition, and this posthumous recognition not only honors Juel’s artistic contributions but also the enduring impact of the life and love they shared.
