The annual Last Fling festival resides in downtown Naperville Fri., Aug. 30 through Mon., Sept. 2, Labor Day weekend; featuring a carnival, concerts, food vendors, one-mile run, parade and many community-supported activities. Money raised from the festival benefits local charities. In fact, the four-day family festival with its special attractions and live entertainment within one enormous event is the Jaycees’ biggest fundraiser.
According to minutes from a meeting dated July 1965, Dick Wehrli, head of the Chamber of Commerce Community Promotion Committee (at that time) advanced the idea of a Labor Day outing. It evolved into the “Labor Day Last Fling” and, at the beginning, was held in the parking lot of Centennial Beach.
After a little more than a decade, it outgrew the parking lot and moved to Knoch Park for a brief time. In the early 1980s, the Chamber turned the event over to the Naperville Jaycees, a service club that has spent countless volunteer hours planning, coordinating and growing the festival to what it is today.
The Jaycees set up a midway in the parking lot behind the original Oswald’s Pharmacy (when it was downtown before its move to Naperville Plaza) location on Jefferson Ave. In 1985, it spilled over to its current location on Jackson Ave. and now the Family Fun Land extends to the grounds of Naper Settlement.
And, the 2013 Last Fling will be as exciting as ever. The following is a brief guide:
Carnival
The Carnival along Jackson Ave. features a midway and rides. Ride tickets are a $1 each and most rides are two to four tickets. Mega passes for unlimited rides are available online for $49.99 and at Carnival Ticket Booths for $60. Carnival Deal Day is 10AM to 4PM Saturday, August 31 and a pass for unlimited rides may be purchased for $25. There’s also a dunk tank where Fling-goers can dunk local leaders. For complete information on the Carnival, visit www.lastfling.org/carnival.cfm.
Carnival Hours:
- Friday, August 30, 5PM – 11:30PM
- Saturday, August 31, 10AM – 11:30PM
- Sunday, September 1, 10AM – 11:30PM
- Monday, September 2, 10AM – 6PM
Music
The Last Fling offers a variety of sounds from local bands to Grammy nominated acts. The Main Stage on Rotary Hill features a power packed lineup and ticket prices vary each evening. The Entertainment Stage is free all weekend adjacent to Jackson Ave. Purchase tickets online at https://tix.extremetix.com. For a complete list of Main Stage entertainment, including opening acts, visit www.lastfling.org/concert.cfm.
Headliners on the Main Stage at Rotary Hill
- Friday, August 30, 8:30PM – Jerrod Niemann, Tickets $10
- Saturday, August 31, 8PM – Goo Goo Dolls, Tickets $20
- Sunday, September 1, 8PM– Collective Soul, Tickets $15
- Monday, September 2, 3PM – Jessica Rae, Free Admission
Related Posts: Jerrod Niemann to headline Last Fling August 30
Collective Soul will headline at Naperville Jaycees Last Fling on Sept. 1
Goo Goo Dolls to headline Last Fling August 31
Online tickets now available for Jaycees Last Fling
Bed Races
Come cheer on your favorite bed race team as they wheel their creations down Porter Ave. behind Naper Settlement. The Race begins at 11AM Saturday, August 31. Teams include families, businesses, nonprofit groups, churches and clubs. A variety of “decked-out beds” will take to the street while competing for the fastest times and best design. St. Patrick’s Residence is the defending champ.
Labor Day Parade
The Annual Jaycees Labor Day Parade begins at 10AM Monday, September 2 in downtown Naperville. It begins at Naperville North High School proceeding south on Mill St. to Jefferson Ave. It continues east on Jefferson Ave. to Main St., then heading southbound to Porter Ave. It finishes adjacent to Naperville Central.
The Parade is a showcase of entries that highlight many of the upcoming activities at places like Safety Town, local gymnastics clubs, boosters clubs, color guards and Naperville Football Leagues. The Naperville Municipal Band and high school marching bands liven up the surroundings with popular music. All ages have a chance to spread community spirit and good cheer to enthusiastic revelers that line both sides of the parade route.
Everyone along the Labor Day Parade route will view a sampling of what’s to come during the next year as many entries promote upcoming events such as the Magical Starlight Theatre production of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” that opens next weekend at the Little Theatre at Naperville Central High School. Positively Naperville has entered the parade again with a jazz ensemble from the Pete Ellman Big Band to help showcase local independent businesses. Thanks for shopping, dining, banking, entertaining and supporting fundraisers in your hometown whenever possible.
The Fling Mile before the Parade
The Fling Mile is held right before the parade on Labor Day, beginning at 9:30AM. The mostly downhill mile-run follows the Parade route and starts on Mill St. next to Naperville North High School. Registration is now closed.
Family Fun Land at Naper Settlement
The Family Fun Land at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St. offers family-friendly events including bouncy rides, arts and crafts, kids entertainment and pony rides. Admission is free.
Disney’s Peyton List will appear for a public Meet and Greet in Family Fun Land from 3-5PM on Sunday, September 1. Meet and Greet attendees must have a wristband. Wristbands will be distributed in Family Fun Land beginning at 10AM, Sunday, September 1, while they last and individuals must be present to receive wristband.
For a complete list of Family Fun Land events, visit www.lastfling.org/funland.cfm.
Family Fun Land Hours
- Saturday, August 31, 10AM – 7PM
- Sunday, September 1, 10AM – 7PM
- Monday, September 2, 11AM – 4PM
Parking and Shuttles
Free parking is available throughout downtown Naprville and all the decks. Free shuttles are also available to select lots and the Train Station. For comprehensive parking and accessibility information, visit
Road closures, parking, shuttle service and accessibility plans for Last Fling.
For more info on the Naperville Jaycees or Last Fling, visit www.lastfling.org.
