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 Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. 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.
Playscape programs for preschoolers
Free drop-in programs for children ages 2-7 are included with regular museum admission at the Harvard Early Learning Playscape. Playscape Readers will be held from 11 to 11:15AM for ages 2-5 and from 1 to 1:15PM for ages 5-7 on Wednesdays, Aug. 5, 12, 19 and 26. 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 also 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.
Flashback Fridays – Meet a Curator
Join the museum’s curatorial staff from 1 to 2:30PM Friday, Aug. 7 during Flashback Fridays: Meet a Curator at the Naper Settlement Collections Care and Storage Facility, 180 Fort Hill Drive, Door F in Naperville. Meet the museum’s curatorial staff, hear about their work and see real artifacts from the museum’s collection. August’s topic is dolls. For ages teen to adult. Tickets are $10 per person; $8 Settlement-6 members and above. Space is limited to the first 20 registrants. Call for reservations at (630) 420-6010.
Hometown Picnic
What better way to spend a lazy, hazy summer day than at a picnic with old-fashioned games, contests, an apple pie baking competition and a vintage baseball game. Naper Settlement’s Hometown Picnic will be held from noon to 4PM Saturday, Aug. 8. Relive the exciting and interesting history of the Grand Old Game and enjoy the fast-paced action of bare knuckle baseball based on the original rules from 1858. Cheer on the Lemont Quarrymen as they take on the Deep River Grinders at 1PM. Visitors are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets and a picnic. All activities, including the game, are free with museum admission: $12/adult (Ages 13-61), $10/senior (Ages 62+), $8/youth (Ages 4-12). Naperville residents and members are free.
Second Annual Naperville Plays
Triple your fun with Naper Settlement, the DuPage Children’s Museum and the Naperville Public Library from 1 to 4PM Sunday, Aug. 16. All will be on-site with exhibits and hands-on activities. Discover the wonder of play and innovation in a historical setting. Admission is $12 adults, $10 seniors, $8 youth 4-12; Naperville residents, children under 4 and members are free.
Third Thursday Thinkers
Every third Thursday of the month from through September, drop by Naper Settlement’s Harvard Early Learning Playscape for Third Thursday Thinkers to be held Thursday, Aug. 20 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.
Naper Nights Concert Series
The History of Rock continues at the Naper Nights Concert Series from 5 to 10PM Friday and Saturday, Aug. 21-22. 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 Heartless, a Heart tribute band, followed by Mike & Joe, who will play alternative rock hits from the ’90s to today. Saturday night’s opening act is Deacon Blues, a tribute to Steely Dan complete with a full horn section and soulful backup singers, followed by Simply Elton, who recreates in stunning detail the music and stage presence of Sir Elton John to wrap up the summer concert series. The History of 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 Kick’s Chicken and Joey’s Red Hots. Visit www.napernights.org or call (630) 420-6010.
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.
