This Labor Day weekend, take a moment to give hope that Hurricane Dorian with potentially catastrophic winds weakens as it approaches the southern coastal states. And to use a quote recently received that dates back centuries, “Let us be kind to one another, for most of us are fighting a hard battle.” Celebrate safely!
Friday
Trolley Tours of Naperville – 10:15 and 11AM | $8-16
This Day Only! Trolley Stop on Jefferson 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.
Naperville Jaycees’ Last Fling – 5PM Friday & All Weekend | $10 per day – Free admission to Midway
Downtown Naperville along Jackson Avenue
The Naperville Jaycees’ four-day, end-of-summer festival in downtown Naperville will begin Friday evening, August 30 and run through Labor Day on Monday, September 2. Friday hours are 5PM to 11PM. Events, carnival and live music will occur along the Riverwalk on Jackson Avenue and at Rotary Hill near the Moser Tower with the Millennium Carillon. www.lastfling.org. (Note that the family-friendly event aims to open early Friday evening, about 4:45PM.) TKT Booths available at Jackson & Main and Jackson at Eagle and top of Rotary Hill. TKTS: $10 per day. $30 for all four days.
Last Fling Hours: 5-11PM Friday / 10AM-11PM Saturday & Sunday / 10AM-8PM Monday
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. (This weekend: Windy City Dueling Pianos on Friday and Super Chair on Saturday) Note: Breakfast is served beginning at 10AM Saturdays and Sundays. The patio with a special section for well-behaved dogs is open, too.
Local fishing ponds provide plenty of pleasure every season!
Saturday
Naperville Farmer’s Market – 7AM-noon | Free Admission, $ for Items
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 until October 26 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.
2019 Ashley Whippet K-9 Frisbee World Championships – 9:30AM | Free Admission
Ashley Whippet/Tom Wehrli – Nike Park, Mill Street at Diehl Road Naperville, IL 60563
Come watch the fur fly Saturday and Sunday as teams from all over the world compete for the 2019 title of World Champion. Sponsored by Naper Auto Works, Dog Patch Pet & Feed, Braconi’s Pizza, Lizzy’s Fund and many other local businesses.
Opt Out of Recreational Marijuana Stores in Naperville Rally – 10AM-11:30AM | Free Admission
Central Park – 104 E. Benton Avenue, Naperville, Illinois
Newly formed residents-driven group, being led by Jennifer Bruzan Taylor, will host an OPT OUT Rally around the Gazebo in Central Park. Speakers will begin promptly at 10:15AM. Brief presentations will allow time for interested participants to mix and mingle afterward until 11:30AM. OPT OUT information will be distributed. OPT OUT Petitions will be available for Naperville residents to sign if they wish. Rain or shine. For more info, kindly friend Opt Out Naperville on Facebook, visit www.optoutnaperville.org or use the Instagram handle #OptOutNaperville. Anyone unable to attend is welcome to the next rally from 6PM to 6:45PM Tues., Sept. 3, in the Free Speech Pavilion near the Riverwalk Covered Bridge at Webster Street preceding the City Council Meeting that begins at 7PM.
Last Fling Family Fun Land / 10AM – 5PM / $10 ages 13 & Older (Ages 12 & under FREE)
Naper Settlement – 523 S. Webster St. Naperville, IL 60540
The Naperville Jaycees Family Fun Land area at Naper Settlement 523 S. Webster St., which is part of the Last Fling, provides a family-friendly atmosphere with bouncy rides, pony rides, an entertainment stage, arts and crafts area, food and beverages, family-focused business expo booths and much more on Sat., Sun., and Mon. For more information, visit www.lastfling.org/familyfunland. Mini-Concert PLUS Meet and Greet with Issac Ryan Brown, Co-Star of Raven’s Home, from 2PM-3:30PM on Sunday.
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.
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 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 1, 2019. 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 October 6 and November 3. For more information, call (630) 355-5208.
See Saturday above as Last Fling and Ashley Whippet K-9 World Championship are slated on Sunday, too.
Monday – Labor Day
Jaycees Fling Mile – 8:45AM
The Jaycees and Frank E. Fling will host the Fling Mile right before the Labor Day Parade along Mill Street. www.lastfling.org
Labor Day Parade – 10AM
The Jaycees will host the Labor Day Parade in downtown Naperville. Starts at Naperville North High School, proceeds south on Main Street, west on Porter and ends near Naperville Central High School. (Last Fling also continues Monday, Labor Day, from 10AM to 8PM.)
Centennial Beach – 11AM | Admission
Centennial Beach – 500 W. Jackson Ave. Naperville, IL 60540
Centennial Beach is open Saturday and Sunday for its regular weekend schedule. On Labor Day, The Beach will open 9AM-10:55AM for Member-Only Adult Float. Members and the public are welcome 11AM-6PM for Open Swim. As 6PM, Centennial Beach closes for the 2019 season.
By day or evening, spectators are welcome to view the just-completed work of art that tells the story of Greg Gordon’s mission to find forever homes for rescued cats and dogs. Adopt!
Year-round entertainment, shopping & dining…
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, 175 W. Jackson; or Trails & Tides, 120 Water Street; or Vom Fass, 121 S. Washington. 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* and many destinations N.E.W. and S, discover more than 260 delicious places to dine in or take out, and find many with a patio* at www.dinenaperville.com.
Note that 40-plus 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.
In addition to lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, Meson Sabika provides a lovely setting for outdoor weddings and other special occasions inside the historic mansion, outside on the patio or in the spacious Pavilion.
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 or sporting 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.
Support OSOT-America via Over the Edge Fundraiser / Sept. 14 at Hotel Arista
Also at CityGate Centre in September…
From 11AM to 5PM Sat., Sept. 21, Tap In Pub presents PAWpalooza, an end-of-summer, pet-friendly event to benefit the Naperville Area Humane Society. Details at www.TapInPub.com/pawlooza. Tap In Pub is at 2155 CityGate Ln., Naperville on the east-facing side of the building.
From 6PM to 8PM Friday, Sept. 27, Che Figata’s Table Italiano explores Umbria. Details & ticket link at www.chefigatakitchen.com/specials-events. Che Figata is at 2155 CityGate Lane along side Hotel Arista.
For CITYGATE’s up-to-date events calendar visit www.citygatecentre.com/events.
CityGate Centre Discount: Teachers and other school employees will receive 20 percent savings at CityGate Grille, Che Figata, Tap In Pub and Lavazza when they show their employee ID.
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.
