Start the weekend with a summer tradition on Thursday evenings thru Aug. 16!
Naperville Municipal Band Concert – 7:30M | Free of charge
Central Park (Behind Quigley’s Irish Pub. Behind the Kroehler YMCA. Behind US Bank. Naperville, IL 60540
Venture over to Central Park with friends and a picnic for Naperville Municipal Band Concerts at 7:30PM on Thursdays in Central Park. Bring a blanket or chairs or find a seat on a bench.
The Aug. 9, 2018, concert, sponsored by Naperville Bank & Trust, was called off for public safety when lightning and thunder threatened and a sudden downpour dampened Central Park. A huge crowd quickly abandoned Central Park, mindful of another summer tradition with “Thanks for the Memories!”
The final concert of the summer season will be a performance by the NMB Big Band on Aug. 16.
Friday
Trolley Tours of Naperville – 10:15 and 11AM | $8-16
Trolley Stop on Jackson Ave. at Eagle Street Naperville, IL 60540
Learn about old Naperville, and see the new Naperville. This one-hour Historic Tour of Naperville blends the past with the present, highlight’s Naperville’s growth, and includes some fun stories. Meet at the ‘Trolley Stop’ on Jackson Ave. at Eagle Street by 10:50AM. $16 per person, all ages. There is also a Children’s 30-minute Trolley ride at 10:15AM for $8. Trolley is fully enclosed and will run rain or shine, no refunds. DING! DING! Info and tickets at www.napervilletrolley.com.
Movies Under the Stars – 7:30PM | Free
Central Park – 104 E Benton Ave. Naperville, IL 60540
Free family night and enjoy a movie under the stars in Central Park, located behind the Kroehler Family YMCA, in downtown Naperville. Bring the family and a blanket or chairs to relax in. Shortly after dusk, Coco will be the featured movie on a large outdoor movie screen. This event is open to the community.
Saturday
Naperville Farmer’s Market – 7AM-noon | Free
5th Avenue Station – 200 E 5th Ave, Naperville, IL 60563
The Naperville Farmer’s Market is a rain/shine event that is held every Saturday starting June 2 and ending October 27 in the parking lot of 5th Avenue Station. This is a pet-free market. Over 25 vendors that offer anything from produce, to meat, to flowers, along with hot coffee.
Orientation To The Community Career Center – 9AM | Free
Community Career Center – 1815 W. Diehl Rd., Suite 900 Naperville, IL 60563
Are you in a job search? Learn about the services and resources available to job seekers at the Community Career Center including one-on-one appointments with volunteer career coaches covering career exploration, job search strategy, networking, resume review, interviewing, and LinkedIn. In addition, the CCC offers job search related workshops, networking and accountability groups, use of workstations and support from the staff and career coaches. Membership is nominal for a one-year period. Free to all job seekers / No need to RSVP.
Casey’s Fires Up the Grill – 11AM | Price varies with purchase.
Casey’s Foods – 124 W. Gartner Rd. Naperville, IL 60540
Caseys Foods located at Naperville Plaza will be firing up its grill every Saturday and Sunday from 11AM to 2PM through October, weather permitting. Choose from a variety of options, including burgers, brats, tacos or the weekly special. It’s great food, at a good price, in a fun atmosphere outside under cover. And inside Casey’s Foods find Saturday specials while supplies last from 8AM to 7PM… Check out Casey’s NY Strip Steaks only $12.49/lb. and Casey’s Loaded Mashed Potatoes only $4.29/lb.
Sunday
Naperville Rotary Ride – 6:30 – 10AM | $15-$50
Commissioners Park – 3704 111th Street Naperville, IL 60564
The Rotary Club of Naperville Downtown will host the 22nd Annual Rotary Ride on Sunday, August 12, 2018 at Commissioners Park, 3704 111th St. Naperville. The Ride has a 1.4 mile family loop, 21, 41, and 62 (metric century) mile routes. All routes are SAG supported and rest stops are fully staffed with nutritious food and drinks. Proceeds from the Ride will benefit Rotary International’s Campaign to End Polio and local charities. The 22nd Rotary Ride is presented by DiGiovine Hnilo Jordan + Johnson Ltd. in memory of Carmen DiGiovine. Register at www.napervillerotaryride.com.
Local ponds welcome families & friends to ‘Go fish!’ – All Day-Any Day | Patience
Riverwalk, Lake Osborne, May Watts Pond, Whalan Lake, Etc., Naperville, IL 60540, 60564, 60563
Find plenty of spots for recreational “catch and release” fishing throughout Naperville. Check out this updated link featuring photos of local anglers and locations where the fish are usually biting.
It’s Summertime! Enjoy the sights & seasonal changes along the Riverwalk with carillon concerts at 7PM on Tuesdays at Rotary Hill and the 3rd Annual Riverwalk Duck Race at 10AM Wed., Aug. 15.
Consider ‘save the dates’ today for future events
Keep Moving to help keep local charities running! Register now for the first running event of the season at PN’s Runs, Walks and Bike Rides that will keep you outdoors for more than a good cause. Rotary Ride is Aug. 12 and the Riverwalk Duck Race is Aug. 15.
Note also Witches Night Out Naperville returns to Naper Settlement from 4:30-9:30PM Thurs., October 11, 2018. Some of the new attractions are sure to sweep you off your feet! Advance registration is now in progress.
On the navigation bar atop this page, “Events” offers a pull down option where you’ll find calendars specific to Charity Golf, Festivals & Traditions over the course of the year as well as this month’s Book Events hosted by Anderson’s, North Central College Performing Arts and happenings at Naper Settlement.
Venture over to Central Park with friends and a picnic for Naperville Municipal Band Concerts at 7:30PM on Thursdays in Central Park.
2018 General Election is November 6. Thanks for being informed!
Check out the Naperville Voters Guide for results of the recent Primary Election and a listing of hopefuls that advanced to run in the Illinois General Election to serve Naperville in DuPage County, Will County, Springfield and Washington, D.C.
PN’s Voter’s Guide now includes its “Meet & Greet” section for public events and forums, opportunities for voters to get to know the candidates running in the upcoming election cycles. Be prepared to vote on Nov. 6, 2018.
Note also that Naperville residents soon will be passing petitions for signatures to run for Naperville City Council. The first day to pass petitions is Tues., Aug. 28. The Consolidated Election to elect City Council and Mayor, school boards in District 203 and 204 and the Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners is April 2, 2019.
Thanks to the candidates that have been running races focused on innovative ideas, civil discourse and solutions for this beautiful Midwestern state.
Year-round Gift Ideas / Give ‘Gala’ Tickets!
Think dinner and the show and combine a gift certificate/card to a restaurant and theater tickets to performances on stage at North Central College. Perhaps give memberships to places such as Naper Settlement, DuPage Children’s Museum or Naperville Art League.
For August, consider the 2018 Night to End Hunger and Transform Lives benefit dinner with silent and live auctions, sumptuous desserts and musical entertainment, hosted by Naperville-based Loaves & Fishes Community Services. Find more about the annual event slated this year from 6-11PM Sat., Aug. 25, at loaves-fishes.org/events/night-to-end-hunger.
Birthdays, anniversaries or any merry old reason to say thanks to a good neighbor is an opportunity to give DNA gift cards or to create a new experience in 2018 or 2019 at a charity golf outing or planned gala event.
With a Downtown Naperville gift card, the recipient can purchase school supplies, find a new outfit, relax with a spa treatment, take a fitness class, pick up a pair of running shoes, discover a new book or dine out on a patio or inside to be cool.
Downtown Naperville gift cards may be purchased in person at the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce (ask for a gift box and bow) or Pinot’s Palette. You may also order via phone by calling (630) 355-4141 or ordering online. Call the 1-800 balance number on the back of your gift card or visit the Check My Balance web page to check a gift card balance.
Back-to-school greetings, cheers & mailing services from Naperville Plaza & Cress Creek Shopping Center
And if you need greeting cards for those special gift certificates, birthday gifts and other seasonal gifts, find huge assortments for all occasions at Oswald’s Pharmacy in Naperville Plaza and The Boxes, Etc., in Cress Creek Shopping Center.
When kids go back to college, parents appreciate the one-stop packaging and mailing services conveniently located at both Oswald’s (Washington at Gartner in mid-Naperville) and The Boxes, Etc. (Ogden at Royal St. George near Naperville North).
Oswald’s also is well stocked with school supplies and team-spirit t-shirts that say “Naperville.”
Dine Around Naperville! Celebrate local hospitality…
From Catch 35 to Meson Sabika to Che Figata, discover more than 260 delicious places to dine in or out at www.dinenaperville.com. Find a variety of menus with choices that will whet every appetite, budget and take-out or catering request every day.
Note that more than 40 of the eateries are located throughout downtown Naperville where there are plenty of shopping opportunities in between meals right down the block from the Riverwalk in summer bloom!
Cheers to the local business experience! Celebrate safely.
Quigley’s Gift Cards are a great way to thank everyone! Stop on in and grab one today! Then remember daily specials such as breakfast on Sunday morning and Build-Your-Own-Angus-Burger every Monday evening.
Start with breakfast from 10AM to Noon at Quigley’s Irish Pub on Saturdays and Sundays.
Breakfast, brunch and lunch are served at many other dining locations throughout downtown Naperville, too.
Quigley’s Gift Cards are a great way to thank everyone! Stop on in and grab one today! Then remember daily specials such as breakfast on Sunday morning and Build-Your-Own-Angus-Burger every Monday.
And on that note, thanks for supporting live music such as the sounds of sessions (the third Wednesday of the month) and bands at Quigley’s Irish Pub (Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays) or local bands at Club Mamalu’s on the first Friday of the month with OMT lite and friends. No cover.
Thanks for shopping, dining, banking and entertaining locally whenever possible
Get to know your local independent businesses every day, too, the group that meets at Kreger’s Brat & Sausage Haus at 6PM on the first Monday (Aug. 6, 2018) of the most months. Member businesses display a bright red sign that promotes independence such as the one on the front door at Kreger’s.
Stop by Busey Bank from Aug. 7 to Aug. 10 to see some wise quacking going on with decorated ducks on display representing nonprofit businesses.
The first 10 ducks entered in the inaugural Riverwalk Duck Creative Costume Contest will compete with other daffy-decorated ducks in the “People’s Choice” competition, slated to be presented during the 3rd Annual Riverwalk Duck Race that begins at 10AM on Wed., Aug. 15. Find details at www.riverwalkduckrace.com.
