Playscape programs
Enjoy free drop-in programs for children ages 2-7 included with regular admission at the Rita (Fredenhagen) and John Harvard Early Learning Playscape. Playscape Readers will be held at 11AM for ages 2-5 and at 1PM for ages 5-7 on Wednesdays, July 1, 8, 15, 22 and 19. Find a seat on the quilt for an engaging story time featuring changing seasonal themes. After storytime, stay for Pioneer Picnics that will be held from 11:30 to 1PM on Wednesdays at the Playscape. Pack a picnic lunch and join other parents and children to play with pioneer toys and games. Admission is $12 adults, $10 seniors (62+) and $8 youth ages 4-12. Naperville residents and members are free.
Wednesday Walking Club
Get fit the old fashioned way! Every Wednesday from 8 to 9AM through Oct. 28, join the free Wednesday Walking Club at Naper Settlement. When it comes to outdoor activity, there is no better way than an active stroll around the beautiful 12-acre museum campus and beyond. Check in at the Pre-Emption House Visitor Center, then log your minutes (not miles). No registration is required for this free drop-in program for all ages. Earn reward tickets to Naper Settlement programs and events.
Settlement Sundays
During Settlement Sundays, admission to Naper Settlement, includes free sundaes from Culver’s with do-it-yourself toppings, hands-on family activities and tours of historic buildings. Hours are from 1 to 4PM July 5, 19 and 26. Ice cream is served from 2-3:30PM and is limited to the first 250 guests. Admission is $12 adults, $10 seniors (62+) and $8 youth ages 4-12. Naperville residents and members are free.
Naperville Woman’s Club Fine Art Fair
The 56th annual juried Naperville Woman’s Club Fine Art Fair will be held from 10AM to 5PM Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12. The longest running art fair in Illinois features more than 100 artists from around the country. Admission is free. Visit www.napervillewomansclub.org or call (630) 420-9680.
Third Thursday Thinkers
Every third Thursday of the month from June through September, drop by Naper Settlement’s Harvard Early Learning Playscape for Third Thursday Thinkers to be held Thursday, July 16 from 10 to 10:30AM for children ages 2 to 5 and from 2 to 2:30PM for children ages 5 to 7. Take your young thinker on a museum adventure, where they will use their senses and discover what makes Illinois unique. Little fingers will experiment with painting, gluing, sticking and creating, while developing fine motor skills. This drop-in program is free with paid admission: $12 adults, $10 seniors (62+) and $8 youth ages 4-12. Naperville residents and members are free.
Naperville Ale Fest
The third annual Naperville Ale Fest will feature over 180 unique beers from craft breweries around the country from 1 to 5PM Saturday, July 18. Some of Naperville’s best restaurants and catering companies will also be in attendance. A portion of the proceeds from Naperville Ale Fest will be donated to Naper Settlement and the Naperville Heritage Society. Naper Settlement will be closed to the public on Saturday, July 18 for the festival. Ages 21 and over. Tickets are $45 adults, $15 designated driver and are available at www.napervillealefest.com. For more info, contact info@napervillealefest.com.
Naper Nights Community Concert Series
The History of Rock continues at the Naper Nights Concert Series from 5 to 10PM Friday and Saturday, July 24 and 25. Bring a blanket or lawn chair for this opportunity to enjoy music under the stars on the beautiful grounds of Naper Settlement. Friday night features opening act Fortunate Sons, who will play all the hits of Creedence Clearwater Revival, followed by rock and roll icon Daryl Stuermer, the virtuoso guitarist of Genesis and the Phil Collins Band. Saturday night is dedicated to the music of Pink Floyd as Think Floyd plays Floyd favorites, complete with a choreographed light show. The rock Trivia Challenge returns. Tickets are $15 adults and seniors; $10 youth ages 4 to 12. Free admission for members and children under 4. No outside food or beverages are allowed. Concessions will be provided by Maggiano’s Little Italy and Joey’s Red Hots. Visit www.napernights.org or call (630) 420-6010.
Trades Day
Discover trades from the past to the present from 1 to 4PM Sunday, July 26. Visit with artists and tradesmen still producing goods and services, such as the blacksmith, quilter, needle felter and more. Test your own crafting skills and bring home a do-it-yourself souvenir. Some activities might require a small fee. Admission is $12 adults, $10 seniors (62+) and $8 youth ages 4 to12. Naperville residents and members are free.
History comes to life at Naper Settlement, Chicagoland’s outdoor history museum, located at 523 S. Webster St. in Naperville. Visit www.napersettlement.museum or call (630) 420-6010 for tickets and info.
Naper Settlement is a nationally accredited, award-winning outdoor museum set on 12 magnificent acres in the heart of Naperville, where history comes to play and community comes to connect. The Naperville Heritage Society is the administrator of Naper Settlement. With a commitment to the community and a focus to the future, the mission of the Naperville Heritage Society is to collect, document, preserve and support the history of Naperville, Illinois, past and present. For more information, visit napersettlement.com or call (630) 420-6010.
