Above / Hello! Throughout the year, the Naperville Riverwalk provides the natural setting for many annual charity walks, concerts and special events. Right now, plans for those spring and summer events are on hold at least until May Day. Still it’s springtime and the Riverwalk Civic Plaza is blossoming beautifully to welcome the season. For now, keep a 6′ social distance, save gathering for later and stay safe. Thanks.

Above / The Riverwalk Covered Bridge at Webster Street crosses over the DuPage River to connect downtown Naperville and Water Street. As one of three covered bridges along the winding brick path, this bridge was among the first amenities built with local private/public funds when the winding brick path was begun in 1981 to commemorate the city’s sesquicentennial.

In 2018, thanks to funds raised by the Riverwalk Foundation’s Duck Race, a new flag pole and American flag were placed near the Riverwalk Covered Bridge at Webster Street near the Naperville Township Building.

The Riverwalk Foundation also contributed funds for the pedestrian path along the Naperville Township parking lot. This location between Jackson Avenue and Water Street attracts visitors to cross the DuPage River in downtown Naperville where more than 300 shopping and dining experiences help create the vibrant heart of the community every day of the year.

Naperville’s upbeat musical tradition since 1859!

Above / From autumn through springtime, the Naperville Municipal Band performs indoors, mostly on stage at the Wentz Concert Hall in the North Central College Fine Arts Center. 

Note the Naperville Municipal Band Spring Concert on Sun., April 26, at Bolingbrook High School is canceled. Stay tuned for the Naperville Municipal Band Summer Concert Season, at 7:30PM on Thursdays in Central Park, June through August 2020. Announcement will be made in May about their beginning.

All Naperville Municipal Band Concerts are free of charge. Thanks for attending and supporting the arts!

Stay tuned to strike up memorable music classics and upbeat marches with the city band that’s been around since 1859!

2020 Updates & Bold Shout-outs…

Welcome to longstanding and more recent traditions! Instead of mixing, mingling and connecting in this active community, every event is on hold while everybody fights against COVID-19.

Remember! Help keep the community safe. Stay home as much as possible. Wear a face mask or bandana. Help protect physical and mental health of everyone around you. Cover coughs and sneezes.

Wash your hands often, but don’t wash away your commonsense.

Hold onto hugs for future giving. Keep a 6′ social distance. Take walks and appreciate the flowers of spring in every neighbor’s garden. Call family and friends.

Have faith, hope and charity to fulfill unmet needs of less fortunate with appreciation for all critical care providers and first responders.

Be safe and continue vigilance as signs on April 13, 2020, indicate the curve of infections is beginning to flatten.

Then celebrate safely. Thank you.

Longstanding events posted here are open to the public, providing plenty of happenings featuring local culture, social engagement and community spirit in Naperville, Illinois.

Events featured here are repeats. First-time events have yet to become traditions. Inaugural events may be submitted to PN’s calendar via click here.  (Note, your submitted entry will go through an editing process. It will not appear immediately.) Thanks for sharing this service that also extends to other local media outlets.

Please note that some special event organizers send printed invitations via their acquired mailing lists with “save the date” messages as reminders. Invitations to community fundraisers listed here are not intended to be exclusive. Everyone is welcome. It’s likely once you attend, you will receive invitations in the mail.

The events listed here, many free*** of admission charge, invite all individuals to catch the spirit whether by personal invitation or not. (Note! At this time, all events are in limbo, depending on success of the fight against COVID-19.

Not all exact dates for 2020 have been determined through the end of the year, but place-holder dates are listed as reminders when events are still pending.

Students often participate in parades and other local traditions; however, school concerts and performances are not necessarily listed here. Thanks for supporting the arts at North Central College and in our schools.

Have a meaningful, safe and happy year. Peace.

PN’s perpetual calendar of traditions

Local events not featured on the perpetual calendar likely are featured on PN’s other event calendars by category. Click “Events” on PN’s Navigation Bar at the top of this page for a drop down of other calendar choices. Enjoy finding plenty of cultural events that welcome your attendance in this active city.

Events are listed in order by month, not necessarily by day.

April 2020 – Most Events Canceled

Above / Throughout the year, Moser Tower with the 72-bell Millennium Carillon is illuminated with different colors to heighten awareness for important initiatives such as Autism Awareness Month in April. This event happened!

April events canceled, postponed or moved forward as noted…

Vote! Consolidated Election 2021 (Every other ODD year) (6AM to 7PM first Tuesday)

National Autism Awareness Month! Look for blue lights! (Events canceled. Blue lights shine!)

West Suburban Irish Quiz Nights at Quigley’s Irish Pub (7PM First Tuesday of most months) Played virtually!

Strength & Honor Luncheon hosted by Naperville Responds for Veterans (April 22, 2020) Postponed

Jaycees Easter Egg Hunt  (April 11, 2020) Instead Jaycees hosted food collection at Oswald’s. Thanks! ***

American Legion Post 43 Annual Past Commanders & Citizens of the Year Dinner (April 18, 2020) Canceled. Click here to a link suggested by Wayne Fischer that includes John Wayne and friends singing “God Bless America.”

DuPage Children’s Museum Annual Benefit Ball  (April 18, 2020 / Now set for June 20, 2020) 

***Spring Spruce Up! Keep Naperville beautiful. Note opportunities to keep a trash bag and disposable gloves handy with you on your walks with 6′ social distance. Pick up litter along the way. Pick up after your dog and dispose in proper containers. Help spruce up the landscape along the trails in local parks and parkways in your neighborhood. Help keep Naperville litter free every day.

Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 Annual Plant Sale Post is now closed through April. Mail-in orders due April 19, 2020, for pick up May 12, 2020. (April 19, 2020) 

National Jelly Bean Day at Naperville Nuts & Sweets! Order at (630) 355-5330. Pick up pre-orders curbside at 10 W. Jefferson in downtown Naperville. (April 20, 2020.)

Jaycees DSA Recognition (And More!) (Usually April. Sometimes May) Details to come.

Naperville Municipal Band Spring Concert at Bolingbrook High School (April 26, 2020) *** (Canceled)

Above / Search for yoga poses online. Take it easy. Stretch. Relax. Breath. Meditate. Exercise. Relieve some stress. Find balance to care for yourself and others. With more than 300 positions, surely several of them will set your moving in the right direction for comfort.

PN’s Perpetual Calendar

Click here for the link to PN’s perpetual calendar featuring every month of the year, focused on the long-standing traditions of this active community.

We’re told some important fundraising events and concerts might be held virtually. They all welcome your support while golf courses, banquet facilities, special event locations, restaurants, etc., are closed.

Other event planners are waiting until May 1, 2020, to set summer events.

No matter what month, connect to laughter

Last week I was struck by the thought that my chances to die laughing at all the humor being spread around were more likely than to die from COVID-19.

Old Johnny Carson and Carol Burnett clips bring back so many memories of comedy. Plus, some of the YouTube videos being created to address the current pandemic are priceless, literally.

When I was a teenager, after my folks urged lights out at 11PM, I used to sneak back down to the rec room in the basement every night to watch Johnny Carson. His show aired beginning at 11:30PM in Muncie, back when the Johnny Carson Tonight Show was 90 minutes. Then I’d get up to catch my ride at 7:30AM with our neighbor, Mr. Tischer, who was the Circulation Director at the Muncie Star, located near Muncie Central High School. School started at 8:10.