Above / As residents wrap up their holiday shopping adventures, preparing to ring in another year, many Naperville neighbors have illuminated the holidays with a showcase of reasons to tour the city. Thanks to everyone who decorated and to all for discovering the seasonal stars from one neighborhood to the next in this fun place to live, shop, dine and entertain. Note how one neighbor brightly directs touring spectators to his next door neighbor’s stunning light display on Atlas Lane.
Our observation is that some spectacular light displays are shut off by 10PM as a courtesy to neighbors. Hit the trails as soon as it’s dark about 4:30PM. Celebrate safely and drive carefully through the neighborhoods.
Editor’s Note & Update, Dec. 21, 2019 / This post features last year’s events with their updates. Several events are not returning or have been canceled. We’ll try to keep current. Additional local events are welcomed to enhance the 2020 New Year celebrations. Stay tuned! —PN
Cheers to 2020! Have a safe, healthful and happy New Year in Naperville and beyond!
So what did you decide to do New Year’s Eve?
Here are a few of PN’s picks among many choices in our city’s grand illumination of activities, by day and by night on Tues., Dec. 31, 2019.
Whether New Year’s Eve begins in the morning with enthusiastic children at the DuPage Children’s Museum or starts with an early evening drive around town to see the bright holiday lights, revelers can link up with options to fit any pocketbook or whet any appetite.
Find options that include a night on the town or simply munching on snacks in front of a good movie on TV before watching the ball drop in Times Square.
Spread the kindness!
If going out, be sure to make reservations to avoid disappointment. And remember to tip servers (who share tips with bussers and food runners), bartenders and valets – 20 percent is customary.
One more thing… Whenever booking advance reservations at more than one venue, kindly cancel the ones you decide not to use in plenty of time for someone else to benefit. Thanks. Happy New Year!
Celebrate safely with family, friends & neighbors
Celebrate Safely! Area and state police departments will be adding extra patrols this weekend, New Year’s Eve and through January 2, 2020. Don’t forget to plan ahead for all your transportation needs whenever you celebrate. Remember, taxis and limos will be at a premium on New Year’s Eve.
Whatever you decide, enjoy the last day of the year with a vow to try to enjoy a safe, healthful, productive and prosperous 2020.
8AM – NYE
Stroll the Naperville Riverwalk on New Year’s Eve and every day!
Park at the Main Street Parking Lot along Jackson Avenue for an early morning Riverwalk stroll. Then follow the winding brick path along the DuPage River as it meanders through Sindt Woods all the way to the Jefferson Avenue Bridge and back again. Dress appropriately to enjoy the changes of the city’s natural treasure every day, every season throughout the year!
9AM – NYE
The DuPage Children’s Museum hosts its 18th annual Fun Family NYE with confetti, bubbles or quiet time!
Sunday, December 31 | 9AM– Noon
Fun Family NYE is an important fundraiser for the Museum. It is the place for families to ring in the New Year. This annual year-end celebration, now in its 18th year, has become a holiday tradition for families to celebrate together at DuPage Children’s Museum. Join families and friends for the countdown and come discover plenty of choices and lots that’s new.
Tickets are $20 (members) and $25 nonmembers.
10AM – NYE
Noon Year’s Eve Activities at SciTech
Check ticket availability at Noon December 31, 2019, Year’s Eve. SciTech Museum is located in a historic post office building at 18 W. Benton St. in Aurora.
11AM – NYE
Celebrate at Bowlero with a strike or two or three! | 11AM– 1AM
Space is limited and lanes are filling up fast! Book your holiday party now at bowlero.com/nye. Find Bowlero Naperville at 1515 Aurora Ave. Give them a call for reservation availability at (630) 355-7622.
All Afternoon until 6PM in downtown Naperville
New Year’s Eve Bargain Hunt, Shop & Dine with DNA Gift Cards
And whenever you’re headed downtown, take your handy Downtown Naperville Gift Cards, too.
Use your DNA Gift Card any time at any downtown location.
Ringin’ in the New Year in downtown Naperville. Family fun and merriment begin at 12:30PM. Enjoy the final day of 2019 shopping, dining and celebrating downtown, leading up to an early evening 6PM countdown to ring in the New Year at the base of the Moser Tower with the 72-bell carillon at Rotary Hill along the Riverwalk.
Or venture to Quigley’s Irish Pub where patrons again will be welcoming in the New Year at 6PM which is the beginning of 2020, Dublin time. (Note that Quigley’s closes at 8PM on New Year’s Eve.)
New Year’s Eve day throughout downtown includes special sales and celebration along Main Street, Jefferson Avenue, Washington Street, Jackson Avenue and Van Buren Avenue.
Discover all that’s new including shops around the corner from the Main Street Bridge located at 120 Water Street, for a list of activities. Click here for the map that showcases some of the highlights, including:
- Great end of year shopping specials with bargains galore
- 6PM early New Year’s Eve countdown at the base of the Carillon at Rotary Hill (Free of Charge)
Celebrate the end of the year with the whole family, then make plans to begin the New Year with great shopping and dining while participating in fun adventures and traditional activities planned throughout 2019. Whether resident or visitor, plan to check this website regularly to keep track of special events and many ways to participate in Naperville where there are more than 260 restaurants to please every appetite, spread all over town.
The city’s central business district is just steps from the Riverwalk, Naper Settlement, DuPage Children’s Museum as well as entertainment venues and art galleries at North Central College.
For more info about downtown festivities and special offers, visit www.downtownnaperville.com.
6PM and so on
Celebrate New Year’s Eve Dublin time at Quigley’s, 3-8PM! Families and friends are invited for the annual New Year’s Eve Celebration and Countdown Dublin Time at 6PM at Quigley’s Irish Pub at 43 E. Jefferson St. in downtown Naperville. This family-friendly tradition at Naperville’s authentic Irish pub is filled with good cheer, delicious food, live music and satisfaction for folks who enjoy celebrating but who don’t like to stay up until midnight CST to welcome in the New Year. Note also that the pub will close at 8PM on New Year’s Eve. It’s best to come early if you plan to find a table as this event with live music attracts groups of revelers of all ages. And remember West Suburban Irish Quiz Night begins another trivia contest throughout Quigley’s at 7PM Tues., Jan. 7, 2020.
Ring in the New Year with 72 bells! The public is welcome to attend the 6PM countdown to ring in the New Year 6 hours early at the base of the Moser Tower with the 72-bell carillon at Rotary Hill along the Riverwalk. (See more details at 11:15PM). FREE of charge. For more info, visit “Schedule.”
Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Mansion! Meson Sabika offers a pair of seatings. First at 6:30PM and before: 6 tapas, filet or lobster and 2 desserts is $59.95 pp and includes Champagne toast and complimentary children’s menu. Then 7PM and after: 8 tapas, filet or lobster and 2 desserts is $69.95 pp and includes Champagne toast, party favors for the countdown and a children’s menu is available. Live Spanish flamenco dancer and guitarist performance to begin at 7PM. To make reservations call (630) 983-3000 x 2 or visit www.mesonsabika.com.
Catch 35 Naperville, located in the heart of downtown, welcomes you to enjoy good taste in seafood and premium steaks on New Year’s Eve. Ring in 2019 at Catch 35 with surf & turf specials and mouthwatering shellfish platters. Catch 35’s regular menu also will be available. Check limited reservations available at (630) 717-3500. http://www.catch35.com/new-years-eve-menu-2017/. Catch 35 Naperville is located at 35 S. Washington St., just steps from the Van Buren Parking Deck. For more info about fine dining every day at Catch 35, visit www.catch35.com.
SixtyFour – A Reserve Room, 123 Water Street, invites guests to make reservations this New Year’s Eve for a tasting extravaganza! To reserve your seats, email info@sixtyfourwinebar.com.
Che Figata at Hotel Arista, 2139 CityGate Lane located next to Hotel Arista in CityGate Centre, will help revelers ring in 2020. For reservations, call (630) 579-3210.
CityGate Grille, located in the Calamos Investments Building at I-88 and Rt. 59 at Ferry Road, invites you to kick back and enjoy an evening of friends, fun, live music and nothing stuffy at their New Year’s Eve Party! For reservations beginning at 5PM for a celebration that ends at 1AM, call (630) 718-1010 or visit www.citygategrille.com.
Top Golf, 3211 Odyssey Court (near CityGate Centre), will host a golden night of fun. Reserve an all-inclusive bay package for your group that includes party favors and unlimited Topgolf from 9PM to close. VIP Bay- $450: Includes a reserved bay with unlimited Topgolf game play from 9PM-1AM for up to 6 people, Chef’s choice buffet, champange toast at Midnight, party favors. General Admission Bay- $225: Includes a reserved bay with unlimited Topgolf game play from 9PM-1AM for up to 6 people, party favors. Some restrictions apply. Phone: (630) 596-1000.
For more variety, check out Dine Naperville where you’ll find the city’s long list of more than 260 eateries.
NYE take-out to party at home!
Catering, too! If New Year’s Eve is a time to stay at home with family and friends, relaxing with jigsaw puzzles and board games to the whimsy and revelry on television as the ball drops in New York’s Times Square, remember that most restaurants offer take-out as does Casey’s Gourmet Deli.
And for all your party-at-home supplies, find festive noisemakers, hats and other New Year’s Eve novelties at Oswald’s Pharmacy, right around the bend from Casey’s.
Enjoying New Year’s Eve in the comfort of your home can be a time to create a game night. Play cards. Order a pizza to be delivered. Pop popcorn.
Some folks have suggested taking down the Christmas tree and connecting every ornament with a memory.
With little desire to stay up late, another reader said she always organizes her closet and chest of drawers on New Year’s Eve with the aim to celebrate with a toast upon completion at 10PM and bedtime soon after.
Create a commemorative brick message for Riverwalk Jaycees Plaza… Looking toward the future, perhaps take time to gather ’round and create a message for a commemorative brick that will mark a spot in the new Jaycee Park along the Riverwalk near Water Street. Dedicated in spring 2019, the park is located just west of the Webster Street Covered bridge. Cheers to community spirit that began when Captain Joe Naper and his family arrived along the banks of the DuPage River in 1831!
8PM & 10PM – NYE
Comedy Shrine presents New Year’s Eve with Eddie Brill at 8PM ($40) and 10PM ($45)… Brill has taken his brand of entertaining humor throughout the world, including the U.S., Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, France, Holland, and Hong Kong. Closer to Naperville, for 17 years, Brill worked on The Late Show with David Letterman, serving as the audience warm-up and for 11 of those years as he also was the Stand Up Comedy Talent Coordinator. The Comedy Shrine is located at 4034 Fox Valley Center Dr. in Aurora. For info and reservations, call (630) 585-0300.
11:15PM – NYE
Traditional Bell Ringing. Then at 11:15PM, a traditional New Year’s Eve countdown is planned at Moser Tower with the Millennium Carillon along the Riverwalk. The concert is open to the public and free of charge. Searchlights will illuminate the Carillon as it rings in the New Year with a festive peal and Carillon music. Hear the songs planned by City Carillonneur Tim Sleep from 11:15-11:45PM before the midnight countdown to welcome 2020! Cheers!
Happy New Year’s Day!
Do you know couples that became engaged at Christmas or New Year’s?
Naper Settlement will host its annual Wedding Showcase from 10AM to 3PM on Sat., Jan. 18, where many wedding planners, consultants, venues and special services will be on display for brides and grooms as well as their parents to begin planning. Check out Meson Sabika, Hotel Arista and CityGate Grille among many local vendors that offer spaces for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners and bridal showers. Admission to the Wedding Showcase is free of charge.
Look toward 2020 Restaurant Week, Jan. 24-Feb. 8
Naperville 2020 Restaurant Week is slated for Jan. 24 through Feb 8, 2020.
Thanks for reading.
Thanks, too, for shopping, dining and entertaining locally whenever possible. Your independent business community appreciates your support and a thriving local economy benefits all local residents.
For a listing of more than 260 local eateries, sure to whet any appetite, visit www.dinenaperville.com. Local matters.
Find ‘What We Need’ during treks along the Riverwalk…
Cheers!
And it’s A-OK to curl up with a good book on New Year’s Eve. Many folks tell us they hit the hay way before midnight with a positive attitude that “tomorrow is another day.”
Then there are 364 more days to experience before the next New Year’s Eve. Make every day count.
