Above Updated Aug. 5, 2019 / Bursts of color illuminated the stage for the electrifying benefit performance by Grammy-winning guitarist Steve Vai for Little Friends on Aug. 4 at Wentz Concert Hall on the campus of North Central College.
Friday
Festa Italiana – 5-10PM | $15-$25
Naper Settlement – 523 S. Webster St. Naperville, IL 60540
Festa Italiana is a showcase of authentic Italian culture, music, food, artisans, and so much more! This 3-day extravaganza has 2 stages (Italian & rock), family friendly entertainment, artists, and the celebrated Zoppé Family Circus. Feast your eyes on amazing dancers, singers, and circus performers, and then feast on the best Italian food Illinois has to offer. Festa Italiana continues noon-10PM Saturday and noon-9PM Sunday. Tickets and info at www.starevents.com/event/festa-italiana.
Live Music at Quigley’s – 8:30PM | Cost varies with food or beverage purchase
Quigley’s Irish Pub – 43 E. Jefferson Naperville, IL 60540
Visit Quigley’s for live music most Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights… Note: Breakfast is served beginning at 10AM Saturdays and Sundays. The patio with a special section for well-behaved dogs is open, too.
Public Naperville Trolley Tours every Friday!
One-Hour Historic Trolley Tour of Naperville! Every Friday at 11AM during June, July, and August. (No tour on Aug. 16). $18 per person. Children’s 30 minute Trolley ride! Every Friday at 10:15AM during June, July, and August (not available on 8/16). $8 per person. Trolley Tours meet at the “Trolley Stop” on Jackson Avenue at Eagle Street (Kiddie corner from address of 305 Jackson Ave., Naperville). Online tickets at napervilletrolley.com.
Saturday
Centennial Beach is Open – 11AM | Membership cost varies with age
Centennial Beach – 500 W. Jackson Ave. Naperville, IL 60540
Weather permitting, Centennial Beach is now open daily for the season. Alert! Adult float is every Saturday and Sunday, 9AM to 10:55AM.
Monarch Madness – 9AM – 5PM | Free
The Growing Place Garden Center – 2000 Montgomery Rd. Aurora, IL 60504
Celebrate monarchs, bees and all the hard-working pollinators with activities for kids and adults. 10AM: Join Anderson’s Bookshop for an interactive reading of The Very Hungry Caterpillar with a caterpillar craft. 11AM: From Nectar to Tears to Poo: The Things Butterflies Eat & Why with Dr. Chandreyee Mitra, Biology Professor at North Central College. Dr. Mitra has a fascination with the insect world earning her MS and PhD at the University of Nebraska, working with crickets, and then a postdoc in Tucson, AZ working with butterflies. In this talk, she’ll tell you some fascinating stuff about butterflies and what they eat. noon: Planting for Pollinators with TGP employee and perennial guru, Joannie Rocchi. Throughout the day: Make a butterfly muddle ($5); Free activities include: Become a butterfly, go on a pollinator scavenger hunt, play butterfly games. For more info, visit www.thegrowingplace.com.
Casey’s Foods fires up the grill on Saturdays and Sundays – 11AM–2PM | Cost varies with purchase
Casey’s Foods – 124 W Gartner Rd, Naperville, IL 60540
Casey’s 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. Add a dollar and get chips and a drink. It’s great food, at a good price, in a fun atmosphere.
Find more things to do under ‘Upcoming Events’ in the column to the right…
Sunday
German-language Church Services – 11:30AM | Free
St. John United Church of Christ – 1190 Olesen Drive Naperville, IL 60540
Church services in the German language will be held at St. John United Church of Christ at 11:30AM on Sunday, August 4. The service will be led by Pastor Dr. Egon Gerdes, and all are welcome to attend. St. John UCC is located at 1190 Olesen Drive. German services are held on the first Sunday of every month and will continue on September 1 and October 6. For more information, call (630) 355-5208.
Steve Vai in Concert – 6PM | $100-$350
Wentz Concert Hall – 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, IL 60540
Hall of fame guitarist Steve Vai has teamed up with his brother Michael Vai (from Naperville’s restaurant “VAI’s Italian Inspired Kitchen + Bar”) for an intimate concert at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave. Steve is a three-time Grammy Winner and 14 Grammy Nominations, recipient of all kinds of musical awards including the Les Paul Award. Regarded as the Greatest Guitar Virtuoso that ever played the instrument, some say Vai is the best guitarist that ever played. All proceeds will be donated to Little Friends, a nonprofit that supports individuals and families challenged by individual/developmental disabilities and autism. Note! If you’ve yet to attend a show in The Wentz, balcony seats are good, too, in this 617-seat concert hall. For event details, visit finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. Update, Aug. 5! The electrifying sound and the color bursts of golden yellow, hot pink and blazing blue created a spectacular scene on stage at The Wentz.
Year-round shopping & dining ideas…
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.
‘Tis the season to give DNA gift cards or to create an experience in 2019. Downtown Naperville Gift Cards make great gifts for teachers, coaches, graduates and anyone. With a Downtown Naperville gift card, the recipient can find a new outfit, indulge in a relaxing spa treatment, take a fitness class, pick up a pair of new running shoes, discover a great new book or enjoy a wonderful meal among so many choices.
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.
Or give special certificates for a pair of tickets or an entire table to some other charity gala or golf outing this year.
Find more things to do under ‘Upcoming Events’ in the column to the right…
Take a break! Dine Around Naperville!
From Catch 35* to Meson Sabika*, discover more than 260 delicious places to dine in or take out, and find many with a patio* at www.dinenaperville.com.
And 40-plus of the eateries are located throughout downtown Naperville where there are plenty of shopping opportunities in between meals. Cheers!
Thanks for supporting live music such as the sounds of bands at Quigley’s Irish Pub* (Thursday, Fridays & Saturdays) or local bands at Club Mamalu’s on the first Friday of the month with OMT lite and friends. No cover.
Hospitality shows and matters in Naperville
For a listing of all 19 lodging choices in Naperville, offering more than 2,500 rooms, visit visitnaperville.com. Whether planning a wedding, corporate event, special meeting, family reunion or an extended stay while home construction is temporarily in progress, Naperville can put guests up for a night or a month or more.
Economic development and tourism go hand in hand. Thanks for supporting the local economy by planning a “staycation” itinerary here and inviting friends and family to come discover Naperville this summer.
From art exhibits at North Central College to outdoor art in public places called Century Walk, from the DuPage Children’s Museum to Naper Settlement, from the Riverwalk and Central Park in downtown Naperville to more than 100 neighborhood parks throughout the city, and from Naperville Crossings at 95th Street to shopping destinations dotting the landscape here and there, check out everything this community has to offer north, east, west and south.
Everybody is welcome to enjoy the charm, culture, rich history and sporting events that are homegrown and treasured in this vibrant community every day.
Save the date for the Over the Edge Fundraiser on Sept. 14 at Hotel Arista
Naperville Municipal Band Concerts & Y Family Movies Nights in Central Park
Naperville Municipal Band celebrates its 160th year during its annual summer concert series at 7:30PM Thursday evenings through Aug. 15, 2019. Aug. 8 is titled “So Long for A While.” The final concert will feature the NMB Big Band and more. Admission always is free of charge. Fill the park benches or BYO lawn chairs or blankets. Strike up the band that’s been here quite some time! Click here for a look at the NMB performing some all-American sounds from out West on Aug. 1.
YMCA presents its outdoor family summer movie series in Central Park. Admission is free of charge. Enjoy “Incredibles 2” on Fri., Aug. 9, and “Aquaman” on Fri., Aug. 23.
Guitarist Steve Vai performs at Wentz Concert Hall for Little Friends Aug. 4
Think Dinner & the Show at North Central College
And there’s more latest news…
Look forward with photo-enhanced stories every day on PN’s Latest News. In 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 & Walks, 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.
PN’s Event Calendar features Things to Do, too!
Plus… Event planners can post events.
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