Since 1961, the Naperville Garden Club has been hosting a “party” to begin the holiday season. At first, it was a Christmas Tea, with tickets sold for $1.25. Handmade decorations and gift items were sold as participants sipped tea or coffee in a commemorative teacup and enjoyed home-made cookies, baked by the garden club members.
This event has grown from the “Cup O’ Cheer” Holiday Market and Tea to the “Cup of Cheer™ House Walk, Holiday Market and Tea.”
Ever evolving, this year is a big change for us as North Central College is now on semesters, needing to feed their students during our event, in the space that we used to host our Holiday Market and Tea.
The Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, 908 W. Jackson Street – just past Centennial Beach, on the left – is our new Holiday Market and Tea location. We will miss the college, being so grateful for their support over many years, and look forward to greeting you at the VFW and being able to use their ample parking lot.
Four homes are decorated for the holidays, including the Martin Mitchell Mansion at Naper Settlement as we help them celebrate their 50th birthday. The commemorative teacup has a black and white contemporary design that we think you’ll like and we know you will find our cookies festive and delicious!
Tickets are available for our annual Cup of Cheer™ House Walk, Holiday Market and Tea on Thursday, December 5 and Friday, December 6 from 9AM to 4PM. They are $55 for Thursday as a limited number are sold to ensure no waiting in line. Friday tickets are $40. Tickets are available at Naperville Bank and Trust on Naper Blvd. (Market Meadows, next to Dunkin’ Donuts), Nona Jo’s (Mill and 5th Avenue, behind Naperville North High School), both Oxford Bank and Trust locations (Book and 75th, Rt. 59 and 83rd St.) and The Growing Place in Naperville on Plank Rd.
This event is a lovely way to start the holidays. More information, including how to purchase tickets through PayPal, is on our website napervillegardenclub.org. Proceeds support our civic projects, outreach to the community and our scholarship program. Cheers!