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Friday, March 29, 2024

Things to do around Naperville, Thursday thru Sunday, Dec. 8-11, 2016

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Above / The Santa House along the Riverwalk is open! Hours for the public are 4 to 8PM every Friday until Dec. 23 and 12 to 6PM on Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 18. Click here for other hours and the story of the 2016 Holiday Tree.

Celebrate the season safely.  

Plan ahead… This page is linked to some great holiday happenings!

Are you looking for great gifts ideas for the holidays for your children?  One of our readers suggests a poetic list that includes four items: 

Something you want. Something you need. Something to wear. Something to read.

And send letters and lists to Santa via the painted mailbox near the Van Buren Parking Deck located behind Ted’s Montana Grill in downtown Naperville. The letter carrier magically will get letters to the North Pole in time (no postage necessary) if they’re mailed by Dec. 20.

Thursday through Sunday

will-smith
Find all kinds of fun ways to get a lift at Oswald’s in Naperville Plaza! Lots of gift ideas and friendly service, too!

Oswald’s Pharmacy 9AM-8PM Thurs. & Fri. / 9AM-6PM Sat. / 10AM-4PM Sun. |  $$$ Gifts
Naperville Plaza – Washington St at Gartner Rd  Naperville, IL 60540
Oswald’s Pharmacy is chock full of gift items, stocking stuffers, wrapping paper, greeting cards, specialty candies, chocolates and more for the holidays. Ozzie even boasts super sales that he’s calling “holiday steals.” And, yes, they have a full-service pharmacy, full-service U.S. Post Office and the largest selection of lift chairs in the Chicagoland area.  For more info, click here.

Note! And while you’re in Naperville Plaza, shop at Casey’s Foods or bank at First Community Financial Bank where you’ll see what’s needed for the Little Friends Giving Tree. Also, look for “gift” collection containers for Toys for Tots and gently-used outer wear. And listen for the Salvation Army Bell Ringers. Every little gift helps. Thank you.

Santa’s Magical Trolley Express – Thursdays & Fridays  | $55
DuPage Children’s Museum – 301 N. Washington Street  Naperville, IL 60540
Santa’s Magical Trolley Express 90-minute show offers six departures (9AM to 6:30PM) Thursdays and Fridays thru Dec. 23. Take the exciting journey to Santa’s North Pole workshop. During the ride, Mrs. Claus will read the classic story, the Polar Express. Along the way, the conductor will keep the merrymaking in high gear until the trolley arrives at St. Nick’s classic polar home where kids will be greeted by elves, lively music, whimsical games and cookies and cocoa. Finally they will receive a special surprise and a photo with Santa. Ticket includes admission to the DCM. (Kids can explore museum before or after the trolley ride.) DCM members receive a $5 discount. Click for tickets $55 and showtimes.

Find Santa! Santa! and Santa’s helpers everywhere!  Take note and check your list twice for Santa events all over town! Click here to see Santa’s local schedule!

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Several years ago we found PEACE high in branches of the trees along the Riverwalk and Knoch Knolls Park. Enjoy the amazing structure of the trees until springtime! (Graphic by Tim Penick)

Find the Grinch & Grow Your Heart 3 Sizes– Business Hours  | Free (now thru Dec. 24)
Anderson’s Bookshop – 123 W. Jefferson Ave. Naperville, IL 60540
Stop by Anderson’s Bookshop and pick up a Grinch “Bingo” Playing Card, then visit independent merchants displaying the red IndieBound Naperville sign and find the Grinch!  Visit 12 businesses to have the card stamped and enter your card to win prizes at 1PM Wed., Dec. 28, when the Grinch will greet friends at Anderson’s. Thanks for supporting your local business community whenever possible!

Christkindlmarket at Naper Settlement – Opens at 11AM Thurs., thru Sun. (Until 9PM Fri. & Sat.) | Free Admission
Naper Settlement – 523 S. Webster St Naperville, IL 60540
Stroll the museum grounds and experience an open air German-style marketplace Thursdays through Sundays until Christmas Eve.  Click here for hours and special dates.

HarborChase of Naperville hosts “Holiday Choir”  – Thursday afternoons in December| Free 
HarborChase of Naperville – 1619 N. Mill Street, Naperville 60563
Enjoy the live sounds of the weekly musical event with singing and holiday refreshments. The local senior living community invites local seniors and their families to join them every week in December for a special “Holiday Choir” session. Participation in the Holiday Choir is free and open to the general public. For more information or to sign up for this event, call (630) 743-6933.

Naper Lights in the evening!

Naper Lights5PM | Free
Naper Settlement – 523 S. Webster St Naperville, IL 60540
Stroll the museum grounds and experience an expanded magical holiday lights celebration! Presented by Naperville Sunrise Rotary, the display features a number of large holiday-themed figures and lighted trees. For more information on Naper Lights, visit www.naperlights.com.

UPDATE / During opening night festivities on Nov. 25, hundreds of spectators watched the engaging exhibit come to light, a gift to the community from the Rotary Club of Naperville-Sunrise. In part timed to holiday music, the active display features giant winter-theme characters, decorated light poles and trees as well as a lighted arched entry leading toward the Martin Mitchell Mansion.

Let it snow. Let it snow. Let it snow.

Folks who have attended Naper Lights in the past will note the large illuminated tree near Century Memorial Chapel grows eight feet taller every year!

Admission to the outdoor event is free to the public.  Free-will donations to Naperville Sunrise Rotary will be welcomed. Funds raised will be used to address unmet needs and help support local, county and international projects that address health, safety, education and mentorship of young people.

This year,  Naper Lights is enhanced by Christkindlmarket Naperville in the village square at Naper Settlement.

The bustling marketplace of wooden huts with candy cane-striped canopies is reminiscent of the original Christkindlmarket in Nuremberg, Germany.

Downtown Naperville

Just steps from shopping and dining (and DNA Gift Cards) in downtown Naperville, combine a visit to Naper Settlement with daily opportunities to explore the city’s central business district all decked out for the holidays, too. Enjoy the grand illumination with twinkling white lights every evening!

Dueling Pianos! Live Music at Quigley’s – 7:30PM  Thurs. | Free – Plus $$ for a Pint & Irish Fare
Quigley’s Irish Pub – 43 E. Jefferson Ave. Naperville, IL 60540
This Thursday! Dueling Pianos! Also enjoy live band sounds at 9PM Friday and Saturday. And the almost-monthly West Suburban Irish Quiz Night begins again at 7PM Tues., Jan. 3, 2017. Slainte!

Experience live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Quigley’s Irish Pub; “Keepsake Pictures with Santa and the Leprechaun” from 10AM to 2PM on Sun., Dec. 11; and New Year’s Eve Dublin Time from 3 to 7PM Sat., Dec. 31.  Quigley’s Irish Pub is located at 43 E. Jefferson.

Santa arrives in Naperville and he’s ready for visitors at the Riverwalk Santa House. Then find Santa! Santa! and Santa’s helpers everywhere!  Take note and check your list twice for Santa events all over town! Click here to see Santa’s local schedule!

Eat-Local2

Dine Around Naperville! Discover more than 260 delicious places to dine in or out at www.dinenaperville.com. And 40 of the eateries are throughout downtown Naperville where there are plenty of shopping opportunities in between meals. Remember! Naperville restaurants also are hosting special Santa events.  Santa Breakfast at Catch 35 on Dec. 17 and Pictures with Santa & the Leprechaun at Quigley’s Irish Pub on Dec. 11. Cheers!

Thanks for supporting live music such as the sounds of the keyboard played during Sunday brunch, 10AM to 3PM, at Heaven on Seven, 224 S. Main St. in downtown Naperville.

Organic Theater Company Presents: Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol – 7:30PM Thurs., Fri., Sat. / 2PM Sat. & Sun. | $20
Meiley Swallow Hall – 31 S. Ellsworth Naperville, IL 60540
You probably know Jacob Marley as the ghostly former business partner of Ebeneezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. In Organic’s production of the award winning play by Chicago’s Tom Mula, we follow Marley in a story of his own.

 

More Events, Events, Events

Friday

Weed Ladies Holiday Floral Sales – 1-5PM | Free
Naper Settlement  – 523 S. Webster Street Naperville, IL 60563
The Weed Ladies feature hand-made dried and silk holiday-themed floral arrangements and accessories. Proceeds benefit the Naper Settlement’s education and preservation programs. (Saturday & Sunday)

Flamenco Dancers & Live Guitars at Meson Sabika – 6:30PM | $$$ Drinks & Dinner
1350 Aurora Ave. – Naperville, IL 60540

Live Music at Frankie’s Blue Room – 8PM | Cover $7
16 Chicago Ave. –Downtown Naperville, IL 60540  Support live music if you are out ‘n about! Frankies’s Blue Room is located upstairs at 16 Chicago Ave. in downtown Naperville.

Saturday & Sunday

Martin Mitchell Mansion

Martin Mitchell Mansion Holiday Tours – 3-7:30PM Sat. / 1-4PM Sun. | $5
Naper Settlement –523 S. Webster St Naperville, IL 60540
Tour the Martin Mitchell Mansion this holiday season to see it beautifully decorated in the Edwardian style of the 1910s. Listed on the National Register of Historic places, the Mansion is Naper Settlements premier showcase that will be adorned in holiday splendor with help from the Naperville Garden Club. A guided tour will be given of the first story of this historic treasure. Tickets: $5/person Tickets will be sold at the door for this event. Packages, oversized bags, food, beverages and photography are not permitted inside the Martin Mitchell Mansion.

More Events, Events, Events

Sunday

DuPage Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert: Holiday Sweets & Musical Treats – 2PM & 4PM | $8 – $18
Wentz Concert Hall  – 171 E. Chicago Ave.  Naperville, IL 60540
Join the DSO for our ever-popular family holiday concerts. Be on the lookout for our special season visitor!

And there’s more…

giving-tree-2016-fcb
Check out the Little Friends Giving Tree at the First Community Financial Bank in Naperville Plaza. Turn tags in by Fri., Dec. 9.

Did you miss the local results of the 2016 campaign season? Check out who will be representing Naperville in DuPage and Will counties, Springfield and Washington at PN’s Election Guide, prepared to get the vote out on November 8, 2016.

And be prepared to begin paying close attention as hopefuls turn in their petitions in the coming weeks to run in the upcoming Consolidated Election slated for April 4, 2016. Eight residents turned in petition packets to fill four seats for City Council.  Eighteen candidates will vy for eight seats in the Naperville Township Republican Primary. Follow local elections for City Council, Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners, Boards of Education for Districts 203 and 204 as well as township trustees and College of DuPage trustees.

Latest News

Look forward with photo-enhanced stories every day on the Latest NewsIn addition to events and other happenings, find public meeting notices scheduled at the Naperville Municipal Center.

Check out PN’s Events Calendar for other events as well as to help plan next week and upcoming weekends.

On the navigation bar atop the Events Calendar, find calendars specific to Runs & WalksCharity Golf (This page soon will be updated for 2017), Festivals & Traditions over the course of the year as well as this month’s Book Events hosted by Anderson’sNorth Central College Performing Arts and happenings at Naper Settlement.

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PN Editor
An editor is someone who prepares content for publishing. It entered English, the American Language, via French. Its modern sense for newspapers has been around since about 1800.

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