Attractive colorful light displays known as NaperLights will make finding Santa easy on Water Street in downtown Naperville this holiday season.
Santa’s helpers suggest it will be hard to miss all the joyful celebrations along Water Street in Downtown Naperville this holiday season.
Already the NaperLights dazzling illuminated display with synchronized music has returned to Water Street, thanks to The Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise. The display—a gift to the community by Sunrise Rotary, Water Street and a number of local corporate sponsors— features over 150,000 lights and is free to tour by foot or car.
New elements include skaters in the Imburgia Fountain and more lights along the Riverwalk, with music that can be enjoyed north of the DuPage River in downtown. The multi-colored arch over Foyo Plaza offers the perfect spot for family photos.
Santa visits begin Fridays and Saturdays in December
Santa will be appearing by the Great Tree at Jaycees Park on Friday and Saturday evenings from 6-8PM beginning the first weekend in December. Safety protocols will be followed with social distancing and free photo opportunities. Santa also will make time for a visit on Thurs., Dec. 23.
Selected evenings will bring musical entertainment as well. Organizers say singing, humming or yelling will activate the singing tree, and those popular holographic light-viewing glasses will be back. Donations to Rotary’s youth and family community causes are welcome. Lights will remain on until after New Year’s.
For updates, visit www.naperlights.com.
For more information about everything featured along Water Street that will be enhanced by NaperLights this holiday season, visit www.waterstreetnaperville.com.
For more than 40 opportunities to dine throughout downtown Naperville, visit downtownnaperville.com/directory with restaurants.
Additional choices of things to do for the holidays…
1. Santa’s Mailbox awaits holiday wish lists at the corner of Main at Van Buren in Downtown Naperville. Santa and his elves recently set up the mailbox with a call for kids. Santa will reply if letters are received by Dec. 20, 2021. No postage required or cost. Just remember to include your return address.
2. The Friday after Thanksgiving streets were lined with families enjoying festivities and community spirit when the Parade of Lights returned to downtown Naperville on Nov. 26, 2021. Folks arrived early to enjoy dinner and stayed afterward to shop for holiday treasures in the glow of the Grand Illumination. And they keep returning, by day and by night.
3. The following Friday, Dec. 3, Rich Janor and Matt Baker, creators of Reindeer Road, were delighted to host a ribbon cutting where dozens of Ambassadors from the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce joined Santa, Mayor Steve Chirico, families and friends to welcome spectators to a new “drive-thru” light show featuring a 40′ tall “reindeer,” touted to be “the largest in the world,” sparkling red nose and all.
The massive illuminated Erector Set-inspired structure changes colors among other dancing and brilliant lights in the display. The giant reindeer is featured with Frosty, Teddy Bear and and other seasonal characters at the new holiday attraction, set in the spacious parking area at Highpoint Church, located at 1805 High Point Dr. in Naperville. A vehicle full of spectators is welcome for $10 per car.
Proceeds from the new attraction will benefit two organizations the serve local youth programs, KidsMatter and The Alive Center.
Vehicles may enter Reindeer Road from 6:30PM to 9:30PM Wednesdays through Sundays. The giant reindeer can be seen fully illuminated from 6:30PM to 10PM through Dec. 25, visible from I-88 near Naperville Road. (Christmas Eve and Christmas hours will be announced at a later date.)
Seeing is believing! For complete details with all the special highlights, visit reindeerroad.com.
4. For many decades residents have been enjoying the brilliant choices that suddenly appear here during the holiday season. From the grand illumination in downtown Naperville and throughout glistening neighborhood displays, holiday decorations are attractive N.E.W.S. that can be enjoyed aboard Naperville Trolley & Tours with a trolley-la-la-la, La-la-la-la.
Thanks to everybody who helps make the season bright.
Take time to include Raintree Drive from River Road to River Road on your tour. Cheers!
