Above / Downtown Naperville will host its annual Halloween Hop from 10AM to noon on Sun., Oct. 31, 2021. (See more for October under “Downtown Naperville” below.) Meanwhile, discover plenty every day that’s traditional and new for shopping, dining and remembering throughout the community. 

Consider new & returning seasonal choices for October

The posts on this page are arranged miscellaneously and/or by hosting location or organization. Obviously, most photos are from PN files as most events are yet to occur. Events are among the traditions of this active community with many choices, including raking leaves for the City’s curbside pick-up that begins Mon., Oct. 18.

Oh! What a beautiful autumn where the bike path toward the Lake Osborne Pavilion appears golden! Go walk! Go bike! Go fish! Go picnic! Lake Osborne is located just west of the Naperville Public Safety Center along Aurora Avenue.

Enjoy seasonal changes from Lake Osborne to Whalon Lake! “Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn,” noted quotable Elizabeth Lawrence (1904-1985), internationally-known garden writer. 

Go fish this autumn! Hint: Autumn anglers say they like to concentrate their efforts for bass this time of the year in the midday sunshine. The sun warms the shallow water and by noon, bass bite. Click here to find one of this website’s most popular pages while considering the catch of the day!

Miscellaneous / Here and There

***Today Thru Oct. 31 and then thru New Year’s / Naperville Trolley & Tours announces it’s time to book public trolley rides and tours for the holidays, Halloween through New Year’s. Book PUBLIC (individual) Halloween and Nov/December Holiday Lights. Reservation opportunities went live at 10AM on Fri., Oct. 1, 2021. Halloween tours begin Fri., Oct. 15. Find info about the fun trolley-la-la-la, la-la-la la tours at www.napervilletrolley.com.

*** Now & Every Day / It’s 2021 National Police Week & Weekend, Oct. 11-17, postponed from May. Just in time to help promote “Respect! Honor! Remember!” and public safety, Safe Suburbs USA yard signs are beginning to populate throughout the community in support of law enforcement. For more information about Safe Suburbs USA and yard signs, visit www.safesuburbsUSA.com.

Oct. thru Nov. / The City’s bulk curbside leaf collection program began on Mon., Oct. 18, 2021. This free program provides every neighborhood three collection opportunities (also beginning Nov. 1 and Nov. 15) during a six-week period, weather permitting. To participate, rake leaves into the street next to the curb by 6AM on the first day of each collection cycle. Care should be taken to avoid storm drains. click here to website)

Downtown Naperville this Halloween weekend

Note also! Travel aboard the Trick or Treat Trolley from 10AM until Noon on Halloween in downtown Naperville. Pick up and drop off at two locations: Water Street by Hotel Indigo and Van Buren Street by the Main Street Promenade. Costumed riders welcome!

Naperville Plaza / Washington at Gartner

Oct. 30 / Casey’s Foods and Oswald’s Pharmacy are set to host a ‘Mini-Fall Festival” from 10AM to 3PM Sat., Oct. 30, in Naperville Plaza, Washington at Gartner. Dress to trick or treat for pictures in the Photo Booth. Enjoy treats. Enter gift-basket drawing. FREE!

Naper Settlement  / 523 South Webster St. (click here)

Oct. 31 / Happy Halloween! Trick or Treat at Naper Settlement from 1PM to 4PM, Sun., Oct. 31. Kids can dress up in costumes and take a stroll through Naper Settlement, stopping at historical homes to grab their treats. The blacksmith shop also will be open up that day. Pre-registration required. Adults-Children $5

October also is Crime Prevention Month! Be a Naperville Crime Stopper. McGruff the Crime Dog invites the community to join him as he aims to make Naperville a Safer Naper every day of the year.

Naperville Pumpkin Race (click here for website)

Oct. 30 / Naperville Pumpkin Race, hosted by Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, returns at noon Sat., Oct. 30, to Rotary Hill along the Riverwalk. Create/purchase a pumpkin racer (Kits are $25) and be ready to run a heat in-person at Rotary Hill near Moser Tower or in your own driveway no matter where you live. (Check the TPAF website for details about mail orders.) This event is great fun for all who participate and/or watch. The elimination races take three to four hours. A costume contest, vendors, pumpkin decorating contest, live entertainment and other creative surprises add to this fun Halloween event that includes several smash hits. Cheering spectators welcome!  FREE! ***(Fundraiser)

Naperville Evangelical Covenant Church (click here)

Oct. 30 / 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat Halloween Extravaganza is set for noon to 2PM Sat., Oct. 30, at Naperville Evangelical Covenant Church, located at 1150 Hobson Road. All are welcome to the festivities that will include games, entertainment, a firetruck, food truck, and all those car trunks filled with treats for Halloween. For info, call (630) 369-2741 or email nechurch@napercov.org.

Boo! Happy Halloween! 

Oct. 31 / Though the City of Naperville has no set hours for Trick or Treating, most families respect times from 4PM to 8PM as hours when they permit their youngsters to visit homes, door to door, on Halloween. Follow local protocols for public safety.

And so on…

365 days a year! If planning a weekend or a staycation in Naperville, consider overnight stays at www.visitnaperville.com. Check out more than 270 dining locations at www.dinenaperville.com.

NOTE! Pre-registration is recommended/required for most events. Expect admission charge unless marked FREE! “FREE” admission is compliments of the sponsoring organizations. (Remember, nothing is really free of charge. Some individual or some business foots the bill for your pleasure.) Also note that event details, dates, times and policies are subject to change.

Thanks for your participation and patience! We’re keenly aware this post is long as October always is a busy month. Thanks for reading all the way down!

Note also that this post will be updated throughout the month with new events. Some events may be deleted soon after they have happened.

Looking toward November…

Nov. 4 / Naperville Responds for Veterans is set to host Cheers for Veterans Reverse Raffle & Fundraiser from 6 to 10PM Thurs., Nov. 4, at Bobak’s in Woodridge. Cocktail Reception is from 6-10PM.  Reverse Raffle Drawing (not necessary to be present to participate) starts at 7PM followed by Live Auction at 8PM. Click here to check out Cheers! fun, games and prize-winning opportunities that come in support of assisting Veterans and their families in need of home repairs and renovations, especially those with low and moderate income. Thank you!

Nov. 9-11 / The week of Nov. 9 (Safe Suburbs USA inaugural fundraiser at Aurelio’s), Nov. 10 (Marine Corps Birthday Ball hosted by Naperville Marines at the VFW) and Nov. 11 (Veterans Day observance at “11-11-11” at Veterans Park) is shaping up in Naperville to recognize all those individuals who serve to protect us, expressing to them an attitude of gratitude. That observance of safety seems especially significant for the month when America also celebrates Thanksgiving. Thanks to all.

PN File Photos

Last Updated, Oct. 30, 2021