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Friday, March 29, 2024

Things to do around Naperville through Thanksgiving Weekend

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Above / Wildlife along the Naperville Riverwalk is a featured attraction every day of every changing season. Just let the geese, ducks, great blue herons, squirrels and deer find food on their own. Let wildlife be wild!

Update, Nov. 19, 2022 / You’ve reached events for 2021. While many are traditions repeated annually, click here to a link to things happening through Nov. 27. 2022.

Remember turkeys featured in print November 2021 Naper Nostalgia!

Back in the day at the beginning of the new millennium, the Little Friends Turkey Shopping Cart Brigade as well as the Jaycees Snow Shovel Brigade were fun attractions during the Little Friends Hometown Holiday Parade on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. Now by evening beginning at 7PM on Fri., Nov. 26, the annual event returns to turn on its lights at night to put the spotlight on community spirit. (PN File Photo)
And more fun memories… The first Little Friends Hometown Holidays Parades also featured right in sync with the time, the Naperville Jaycees, prepared to promote their snow shoveling service along Jackson Avenue. (PN File Photo)

Click here for photo gallery of Nov. 2019 parade…

Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021

Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise Naper Lights (Weekends through the Holidays) along Water Street and throughout Jaycees Park for 2021 – After Dark!

All-American spirit resounded throughout the annual Turkey Raffle at the Judd Kendall VFW. The raffle included more than 100 turkeys, slabs of prime rib, beautifully-wrapped gift baskets as well as an abundance of revelry and gratitude from family and friends. Save the date for 2022 when the Turkey Raffle returns on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. (Updated! 2021 PN Photo)

Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 and Auxiliary Annual Turkey Raffle (Click Here) – 6PM at the VFW Post 3873 located at 908 W. Jackson Avenue. Public Welcome! Parking at the rear of the building and beyond.

Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021

Beckie Menzie & Tom Michael “re-Imagine The Beatles” – 6PM. Celebrating their 20th anniversary as a duo, the award-winning Chicago-based concert artists are thrilled to explore the songs and inside stories of the The Fab Four, the most phenomenal music group in history. Presented at North Central College Madden Theatre in the Fine Arts Center. Tickets: $35, 30.

Monday, Nov. 22, 2021 

City Council Workshop: Budget Workshop 3 6-9PM in Council Chambers, Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.

Naperville Police Department Kicks Off Thanksgiving Campaign for Safe and Sober Driving – From Nov. 22 through Nov. 29, Naperville Police Department is joining with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and nearly 200 other Illinois police and sheriff’s departments to remind motorists to Click It or Ticket and Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over throughout the Thanksgiving holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend

Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021 

Noon Lions Club 5K Turkey Trot returns on Thanksgiving Day Click Here – 8AM Thanksgiving Morning. Naperville Central High School, 440 W Aurora Ave.

Quigley’s Irish Pub Cheers for Turkey Trot Click Here8AM to 11AM after the Turkey Trot.

Complimentary Thanksgiving “TO-GO” Dinner at Meson Sabika *** FYI: 3,000 To-Go orders have been ordered available by advance reservation for 2021. All orders are booked for 2021. The restaurant is closed Thanksgiving Day, open for pick up on preorders only. Doors again open for in-person dining on Fri., Nov. 26. Happy Thanksgiving!

Shop small and local all weekend and every day whenever possible!

Friday, Nov. 26, 2021

Holiday Naperville Trolley-la-la-la… la-la-la-la  & Tours begin / Ding! Ding! 

Holiday Light Trolley Tours – November 26 to December 28, 2021 (Closed on Christmas)
Tours start and end at various locations North and South
Find dates, times and reservations at www.napervilletrolley.com.

Parade of Lights – 7PM | Click here for photo gallery of Nov. 2019 parade!
Downtown Naperville
Mark your calendars and plan to attend this popular annual holiday parade and tradition hosted this year by the Rotary Club of Naperville in partnership with the Downtown Naperville Alliance. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand to celebrate the season! Bundle up and enjoy an evening of festivities, brightly illuminated floats and musical entertainment! Immediately following the parade Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit with kids inside Nichols Library. Ho! Ho! Ho! Alert! Parade Route: The parade will start from the Centennial Beach parking lot and travel east down Jackson Street. The route will then turn left onto Webster north to Van Buren where it will pass by the viewing stand. The parade will go west on Van Buren to the end of the route at Naper School. 

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… Breakfast is served beginning at 10AM Saturdays and Sundays. Closed on Mondays, the Irish pub also offers a homemade “Soup of the Day!” Sláinte to 23 years!

Remember Russell’s Cleaners? This photo will never be replicated again! The corner of Main at Jefferson where Russell’s Cleaners used to be has been rebuilt! Come see all that’s new throughout downtown when the Parade of Lights begins at 7PM Fri., Nov. 26.  ‘Tis the season when giving also can help benefit the Little Friends Giving Tree, Toys for Tots and the Rotary Winter Coat Drive. Look for collection boxes throughout the community and at Busey Bank locations in Naperville Plaza and downtown Naperville. 

Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021

Sports Update / Cardinal Football Red Alert!  – 12PM / North Central College Cardinals football plans to open defense of their 2019 NCAA Division III National Championship at Benedetti/Wehrli Stadium. The Cardinals (10-0) will play the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Eagles in the tournament’s second round on Sat., Nov. 27. North Central College is expected to be the host site for that game. NCAA football playoff game ticket prices are $10/adults and $5/students, children 3 and up and seniors (62+). Tickets are available for purchase at the stadium ticket booth at 10:30AM Saturday.

Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021

Chanukah 2021  – Sundown, Nov. 28 / “Oh Chanukah, Oh, Chanukah. Come light the menorah,” for eight days of the Festival of Lights, Nov. 28 through Dec. 6.

Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021

Giving Tuesday – Nov. 30, 2021 / Giving Tuesday again is on the calendar as a way for individuals to come together to express generosity by giving to charities of choice. Known as #GivingTuesday, the day reminds/encourages everyone to collaborate and celebrate making a difference with planned giving throughout the year to the charities most valued that help fulfill unmet needs locally and around the world.

Year-round entertainment, shopping & dining…

Cheers to Dean’s, now celebrating its first 62 years! Stop by Dean’s Fine Clothing for Men & Women at 226 S. Main Street to discover what’s new for the holidays whenever shopping and dining throughout downtown Naperville. Shop small!

Think dinner & the show!

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 Naperville Art League, Naper Settlement or DuPage Children’s Museum. The Naperville Art League also has one-of-a-kind art for sale in its Gallery.

‘Tis the season to give DNA gift cards or to create an experience in 2021 or 2022. 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.

Or sponsor a donation of special gift certificates that includes 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 to all that’s new and coming soon!

Thanks for supporting live music such as the sounds of bands at Quigley’s Irish Pub* (Most Thursdays Fridays & Saturdays). No cover.  

In addition to lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, Meson Sabika provides a lovely setting for holiday dinners with family, friends and neighbors. Looking forward to all seasons, the historic site is a place for outdoor weddings and other special occasions inside the mansion, outside on the patio or in the spacious Pavilion. The beautiful mansion with intimate rooms also provides a romantic setting for date nights. Meson Sabika is located at 1025 Aurora Ave. 

Hospitality shows and matters in Naperville

For a listing of all 17 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.

Shop, bank & entertain locally, too!

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 winter, spring, summer or next fall.

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.

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 NewsIn 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.

PN’s Event Calendar features Things to Do, too!

Thanks for visiting this website! Thanks for reading PN!

This page will be updated through Nov. 30. Original post last updated, Nov. 21, 2021.

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PN Editor
PN Editor
An editor is someone who prepares content for publishing. It entered English, the American Language, via French. Its modern sense for newspapers has been around since about 1800.

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