Yves Francois band kicks of Lake Geneva Jazz Fest.
The sounds of jazz music and the smells of tacos cooking are set to fill the air in the Lake Geneva area once again this year.
The Lake Geneva Jazz Fest and the Lake Geneva Taco Fest are scheduled to return this year to the Lake Geneva House of Music, N3241 County Highway H in the Town of Geneva.
Both events will be hosted by the Wisconsin Valley Media Group— the parent company of the Lake Geneva Regional News, Kenosha News and Racine Journal Times— and the Lake Geneva House of Music.
Lake Geneva Jazz is scheduled to be held May 19 through May 20 and will feature live music, food vendors, contests and craft vendors.
This will be the second year for the event. About 1,000 people attended last year’s Jazz Fest.
Kelly Wells, event manager for Wisconsin Valley Media Group, said she feels attendance would have been even better last year if it was not for rainy weather.
She said the event attracted people from Chicago and Milwaukee, and the people who attended seemed to be satisfied with the event.
“They raved about that there’s nothing like Jazz Fest in the area,” Wells said. “It was the first time they had heard about the House of Music. They were just really blown away by the type of event and the area itself. So we got a lot of great feedback.”
Chris Buttleman, owner of the Lake Geneva House of Music, said Jazz Fest is a welcome addition for the House of Music.
“I think culturally it’s a nice addition,” Buttleman said. “I plan on expanding the food vendors and definitely having more types of craft vendors. Jazz has a fluid demographic with a broad range of styles with musicians from throughout the country.”
Members of the Lake Geneva Tourism Commission unanimously approved, Feb. 13, to award a $10,000 grant to the Wisconsin Valley Media Group to help promote and market the event.
The purpose of the grant is to help encourage overnight stays in the City of Lake Geneva.
Alderman Richard Hedlund, who is a member of the tourism commission, said he supports the grant but is concerned that the event will be held outside of Lake Geneva’s city limits.
“My major misgiving with this is it’s not in the City of Lake Geneva, although the hotels they will stay at will be in the City of Lake Geneva for the most part,” Hedlund said. “Although there’s hotels in Elkhorn and maybe two or three in Delavan, but we don’t generate any revenue from those hotels. I’m pretty defensive on where the venue is and where we spend money on a per room basis, because this is expensive.”
Wells said the event’s website will only promote the hotels in Lake Geneva.
“The website only gives options for Lake Geneva hotels or Airbnb’s,” Wells said. “We’re not promoting anything outside of that.”
Buttleman said the Lake Geneva House of Music is located only a few minutes outside of the city limits.
“My property is 15 feet from the border,” Buttleman said. “Everyone thinks of it as Lake Geneva.”
Taco Fest also returns
Lake Geneva Taco Fest will be held Sept. 8 through Sept. 10 and will feature food vendors selling taco-themed dishes, live music, children’s activities, contests and non-food vendors.
This will be the third for Taco Fest.
Wells said about 5,000 people attended the three-day event last year, and even more people probably would have attended if it was not for rainy weather during the final day.
“Last year was a smashing success. We had easily over 5,000 people Friday and Saturday,” Wells said. “Sunday was a total downpour and just washed everything out. I think with Sunday we could have easily seen 2,500 people, making attednance over 7,000.”
Wells said about 63% of the people who attended last year’s event traveled more than 30 miles and about 27.5% traveled more than 50 miles.
“Based on that, more than 1,200 guests traveled more than 50 miles to the event, and we anticipate about 600 overnight stays were generated,” Wells said.
Members of the tourism commission awarded another $10,000 grant to Wisconsin Valley Media, Feb. 13, to help pay the cost to promote and advertise Taco Fest.
Wells said she is pleased with the number of people who attend Taco Fest and the type of entertainment that is featured during the event.
“Taco Fest just continues to grow,” Wells said. “Chris keeps upping the entertainment year after year.”
Brian Waspi, chairperson for the tourism commission, said he is impressed with how the event has grown during the past few years.
“It’s a great event and it’s growing,” Waspi said. “It should be very easy to ask for a grant based on repeat performance.”
Bacon Fest, too
Members of the tourism commission awarded a $10,000 grant to the Wisconsin Valley Media Group, Dec. 12, 2022, to help promote and market Bacon Fest, which is scheduled to be held May 12 through May 14 at Flat Iron Park, 201 Wrigley Drive in Lake Geneva.
Bacon Fest is set to include food vendors selling bacon-inspired dishes, live music, contests and non-food vendors.
This will be the third year for Bacon Fest.
Food vendors prepare taco shells at Lake Geneva Taco Fest.
Tickets are on sale now for the inaugural Lake Geneva Jazz Fest Friday through Sunday, May 20 to 22.
