Even before all the jack-o-lanterns were aglow for Halloween, members of the Downtown Naperville Alliance had been planning many festivities and new ways to light up the central business district for the holidays.
Since many families plan ahead to try to keep their calendars straight, Katie Wood, Executive Director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance, has provided a long schedule of happenings, sure to welcome all ages to heart of Naperville.
Hometown Holidays, an annual celebration throughout downtown, started November 9 with its twinkling white illumination and continues on with festivities and seasonal experiences leading to a daytime New Year’s Eve celebration on December 31. The annual Little Friends Parade of Lights is slated for Sat., Dec. 1. Plenty of opportunities to shop, dine and be merry will brighten the holiday season.
On Thanksgiving Day, the Noon Lions Club 15th annual Turkey Trot is set to begin at 8AM Thursday, Nov. 22. Note the race filled to capacity nearly two weeks earlier than usual.
Quigley’s Irish Pub will be open for cheers from 8-11AM Thanksgiving, too.
Thanks for shopping, dining, banking and entertaining locally, especially throughout the holiday season. Cheers!
Downtown Naperville Holiday Highlights 2012
• Lights On Earlier! With daylight savings occurring November 4 and the desire of many to shop beginning even earlier, downtown rooftops and treetops were illuminated starting at 5PM on Fri., Nov. 9.
• Snowman Sculptures on Display! Once a popular attraction during summer months downtown, the Downtown Naperville Alliance (in partnership with 20 business sponsors) will bring back painted sculptures for the holidays! Welcome, snowmen! Twenty delightfully painted snowman sculptures will be unveiled at a special family celebration at 4PM on Friday, November 23. (Note that other festivities usually held on the day after Thanksgiving will be featured on Sat., Dec. 1.) Still, the Snowman exhibit featured from Nov. 23 to mid-January will welcome folks to enjoy all the sights and lively sounds of the holidays and win prizes, too.
• Winter Window Walk! Holiday window displays with festive decorations in Downtown merchant windows will feature DNA’s holiday mascot—Sam—hidden in many windows. Register to win him inside those businesses. Small Sam snowmen also will be available for purchase.
• Sam the Snowman! Where’s Sam? Find this snowman plush character hidden in many Downtown shop windows and register to win one during the Winter Window Walk. What more, purchase smaller Sam the Snowman plush (available November 19), at the following locations: Anderson’s Bookshop, Anderson’s Two Doors East, Country Curtains, Little Friends, Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Serendipity, Two Bostons Pet Boutique and Roseland Draperies and Interiors (Note: All proceeds benefit Little Friends.)
• Downtown Naperville Gift Cards! The perfect gift for folks who have just about everything continues to be Downtown Naperville Gift Cards. The card is valid for use at more than 150 downtown shops and restaurants. Gift cards may be purchased in person at the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, Twisted Olive, Heaven on Seven or Elan Boutique, or they may be postal mailed directly to you or a recipient (visit www.downtownnaperville.com to order). Note also that new limited edition downtown holiday gift cards are available for purchase in addition to regular downtown gift cards.
• Little Friends Parade of Lights is Dec. 1! At 4;30PM Saturday, December 1, the Little Friends Parade of Lights will wind through downtown. Sponsored by McKeown Classic Homes, this much-anticipated holiday event may have a new date and new route, but still features a spectacular array of lighted floats, lively holiday music, and marks Santa & Mrs. Claus’ official arrival to town! Stepping off from Water and Main Streets, look for the Little Friends Parade of Lights to be bigger and brighter than ever before!
To participate in the Little Friends Parade of Lights, applications were due by October 26. For last-minute possible entries, use the application form online available with more information at www. LittleFriendsinc.org.
Day-by-Day Hometown Holidays 2012
✴Downtown Naperville is all aglow!
More than 300,000 lights transform Downtown Naperville into a winter wonderland for the holiday season every evening!
Thursday, November 22 – Happy Thanksgiving!
✴The Noon Lions Club 15th annual Turkey Trot – 8AM Thursday, November 22
This popular Thanksgiving Morning 5K Run starts and ends at Naperville Central High School. Visit www.napervilleturkeytrot.com. Many downtown eateries, including Quigley’s Irish Pub, will be open for celebration post race and pre-turkey! (visit downtownnaperville.com).
Friday, November 23 to Sunday, November 25
✴Amazing Holiday Offers! Enjoy BIG Sales and BIG Fun this special holiday weekend at downtown stores and restaurants! Spend Black Friday the sane way … downtown! Visit www.downtownnaperville.com for a list of weekend offers!
See a Juggler! Be a Juggler! 12:30-2:30PM Friday, November 23
Bring the kids to Nichols Library Community Room and enjoy Professional Juggler and Kids and Family Entertainer Jason Kollum. The Rock n’ Roll Variety Juggling Show is first followed by a hands-on skills workshop where everybody gets to try! Visit www.naperville-lib.org
✴Snowman Fest! 4-8PM Friday, November 23
Meet downtown for the official unveiling of the painted Snowman Sculptures sprinkled around downtown sidewalks. Check-in first at the corner of Main & Jefferson (in front of Two Bostons) for a goodie bag and wander around for snowman surprises at all 20 stops! This magical night will include musical entertainment, gift card drawings, and free photos with Frosty the Snowman too (inside Eddie Bauer).
✴Free “Holly Trolley” & Free Hot Chocolate – 4-8PM Friday, November 23
Sponsored by the Main Street Promenade and Naperville Dental Specialists, hop on board the trolley and shuttle your way around town while you view the holiday lights and pick your favorite snowman! Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate at the Main Street Promenade too!
Saturday, December 1
✴Free “Holly Trolley” – 1-4PM Saturday, December 1
Sponsored by the Main Street Promenade, hop on board the trolley and shuttle your way around downtown while shopping & exploring! 6 convenient pick up pick-up and drop-off locations including the Main Street Promenade, Dandelion Fountain, Main & Chicago (near Sugar Monkey Cupcakes), Chicago & Washington (near Barnes & Noble), and the Van Buren Parking Deck.
✴Little Friends Parade of Lights! 4:30PM Saturday, December 1 / Sponsored by McKeown Classic Homes.
Bundle up and enjoy an evening of festivities, brightly lit floats and musical entertainment, including:
✴3:45-4:30PM: Area high school superstars will warm up the crowd from the parade main stage (at Main & Van Buren – NEW location!) with holiday tunes including: Jenna Davies (Metea) Deanna Wisniewski (Neuqua), Colton Pouncy (Waubonsie), Hannah Lorimer (Naperville Central) and Alex Benoit (Naperville North). Come support your school!
✴4-6PM: Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate at the Main Street Promenade, courtesy of the Main Street Promenade and Naperville Dental Specialists!
✴4:30PM: Little Friends Parade of Lights begins! Join parade Emcee Scott Mackay from 95.9FM the River, along with Katie Wood from the Downtown Naperville Alliance and Kathleen Malecki from Little Friends at the main stage (Main & Van Buren). The parade will step off from Water Street, head north on Main Street, west on Van Buren and end at Eagle Street, near Naper School. This is a night not to be missed!
✴5:15PM: Our local high school superstars will hit the stage again singing holiday favorites for the crowd while we prepare for Santa and Mrs. Claus to return to the main stage and sing with us!
✴5:45-8PM: Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit with children at the Santa House, with a special preview opening tonight! Located at Jackson and Webster near the Riverwalk Holiday tree, children can enjoy a first of the season visit!
✴5:45-9PM: Most shops and restaurants will be open – Make your post parade dinner reservations early!
Sunday, December 2
✴Santa House – Regular Hours through December 23
Visit with Santa at the Santa House, sponsored by Fifth Third Bank (Jackson and Webster). Santa House will be open set days and times until Sunday, Dec 23. Visit www.napervilleparks.org/santahouse for updates.
Saturday, December 8, 15 and 22
✴Snowman Saturdays! Come downtown for holiday shopping and our roving Snowman may find you and surprise you with either a complimentary Downtown Naperville gift card or other winter-y goodie! He especially loves to see people carrying holiday bags!
Saturday, December 15
✴Saturday Seminars! Want to learn how to make the best cup of hot chocolate, learn great holiday appetizer recipes, how to tie the best bows? A schedule of complimentary quick and easy holiday seminars will be unveiled. Visit www.downtownnaperville.com for updates!
Monday, December 31
✴Ringin’ in the New Year! A Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Celebration! (12noon – 5pm). Enjoy the final day of 2012 shopping, dining and celebrating downtown leading up to an early evening 6pm countdown to ring in the New Year at the base of the Carillon at Rotary Hill. Your day downtown includes roving merriment, scavenger hunts for prizes, sales and celebration. For details, visit www.downtownnaperville.com
Other Downtown Naperville Tidbits!
✴WISH LIST POSTCARDS:
Want to give someone special an idea of what YOU would like for the holidays from a downtown shop? Stop by most downtown shops starting November 1 and ask for a Wish List Postcard. The store associate will complete it listing your “wish” and mail it to your loved one – along with the associate’s name and (possibly) an extra saving incentive. Hope your wish comes true!
✴DOWNTOWN NAPERVILLE HOLIDAY SHOPPING HOURS: (hours vary by location but are typically)
Mon-Sat: 10AM – 9PM
Sun: 11AM – 6PM
Check www.downtownnaperville.com for specific store or restaurant hours.
✴DOWNTOWN NAPERVILLE PARKING:
Parking in downtown’s three parking decks (City Hall Municipal Deck, Central Parking on Chicago & Jefferson) and the Van Buren Parking Deck) is easiest and quickest. Electronic signage can help guide you to open parking spaces. Parking of course is always free downtown. Cab service is also a good option and valet parking is offered at numerous restaurants.
✴WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE:
Through November, donate slightly used Winter Clothing for the needy organized by the Sunrise Rotary! Look for collection boxes at Roseland Draperies & Interiors, Kroehler YMCA, Russell’s Dry Cleaners, Anderson’s Bookstore, Dean’s Fine Clothing, Naperville Running Company and Walgreen’s (on Main).
✴DOWNTOWN POST OFFICE HOURS:
Need to mail packages out of town? The downtown Washington Street Post Office (5 N. Washington) is open Monday through Saturday, 8:30AM – 5PM, next to Naperville Bank & Trust. Shop and ship in one trip!
✴DOWNTOWN INFORMATION:
Keep up to date on Downtown holiday happenings:
✴Visit www.downtownnaperville.com and sign up to receive the weekly e-newsletter
✴Like us on Facebook: Downtown Naperville
✴Follow us on Twitter: DT Naperville
✴Download the Downtown Naperville App for Android and iPhones for special savings.
Watch for updates. Thanks for reading. Enjoy!
