Come on down! Downtown Naperville store windows are inviting with plaid tidings and cheerful penguins, all signs that the colorful holiday shopping and dining season is here.
Click here for updated calendar posted Dec. 22, 2021.
***Date open and ongoing…
This weekend…
***Now thru Dec. 31 / Cheers to Dean’s, now celebrating its first 62 years! – Stop by Dean’s Fine Clothing for Men & Women at 226 S. Main Street where they’re “mad about plaid” for the holidays! Discover all that’s new for the holidays whenever shopping and dining throughout downtown Naperville. Shop small!
***Dec. 3 / Ribbon Cutting for Reindeer Road Drive-Thru at 4PM Dec. 3
***Dec. 3 – Open Wednesdays, Thursday, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays thru Christmas / Reindeer Road Drive-Thru – Now open at 6:30PM every evening Tuesday through Sunday until 10PM (Last vehicle tour begins at 9:30PM) through Christmas at Highpoint Church, located at 1805 High Point Drive. The giant reindeer can be seen fully illuminated and looking down on by passers-by on I-88 near Naperville Road. The new charitable event will benefit KidsMatter and The Alive Center. Admission for the drive-thru attraction is only $10 per carload, not per person, so carpooling with family and friends is encouraged. For information on ticket presale, dates and times, sponsorship and vendor opportunities, and all event details, visit ReindeerRoad.com. Note! Reindeer Road is dark every Monday and Tuesday.
Now thru Dec. 11 / Park Police Collecting Donations for Toys for Tots – Drop off new, unwrapped toys at any of five Naperville Park District locations, including NPD
Administration Building, 320 W. Jackson Ave., Fort Hill Activity Center, 20 Fort Hill Drive, and 95th Street Center, located at 2244 W. 95th St. Thanks! (Did you know? Walt Disney designed the Toys for Tots logo for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves in 1947.)
Dec. 3 / Santa Claus begins his weekend visits at NaperLights – After dark Fridays and Saturdays for the next three weekends, Santa will greet families and friends. Stroll through the colorful lights and the grand illumination of downtown Naperville. Though Santa will be headed back to the North Pole on weekdays, NaperLights will shine every evening until the New Year. For more photos and activities of NaperLights, click here.
***December through a happy New Year / NaperLights – At dusk, bright holiday lights all along Water Street provide many colorful locations for family photos.
***Dec. 4 / All through the year! Naperville Art Gallery of Gifts – 10AM to 4PM Saturdays, located at 508 North Center Street. The Gallery also is open Tuesday through Friday from 10AM until 5PM. For information about Naperville Art League membership, classes, rotating displays, art competitions or the Riverwalk Fine Art Fair, call (630) 355-2530. Original art available for sale makes a great gift. Thanks for supporting local artisans.
Dec. 4 / North Central College hosts quarterfinal round NCAA Division III football playoff game against the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Engineers – 12PM Sat., Dec. 4, at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. NCAA football playoff game ticket prices are $10/adults and $5/students, children 3 and up and seniors (62+). Tickets are also available for purchase at the stadium ticket booth Saturday beginning at 10:30AM. Update! Cardinals win, 55-6, and advance to the NCAA Division III Football Semi-Finals against The Mount Union Purple Raiders (13-0) next Saturday at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio. Go, Cardinals!
***Now thru Dec. 28, 2021 / Holiday Light Trolley-La La La – La La La La Tours – (Closed on Christmas) Climb on board Naperville Trolley & Tours to share holiday cheer while discovering many of the bright spots of Naperville. Start and end at various locations North and South. Find dates, times and reservations at www.napervilletrolley.com. Ding! Ding! with caroling bells and a Ding Dong, too!
Dec. 4 / Jim Brickman presents ‘The Gift of Christmas’ at the Wentz Concert Hall – 8PM Sat., Dec. 4. Click here for details.
Dec. 5 / Chanukah 2021 – 10AM Sun., Dec. 5 / “Oh Chanukah, Oh, Chanukah. Come light the menorah,” for eight days of the Festival of Lights, Nov. 28 through Sundown Dec. 6. Family Fun Day and Helicopter Gelt Drop begins at 10AM with fun for the whole family including an actual Helicopter gelt drop, DIY menorah making, Chanukah cookie decorating, and more at the Abrams Center for Jewish Life, 651 Amersale Dr. / At 4PM, the community is welcome to join the Menorah Car Parade beginning at the Abrams Center for Jewish Life. Drive through Naperville spreading the light of Chanukah, end in downtown Naperville with the last menorah lighting of the year at the Riverwalk Amphitheater with the Labyrinth (corner of Jackson and Eagle).
Weekdays
https://go.boarddocs.com/il/naperville203/Board.nsf/vpublic?open
Dec. 7 / Little Friends Giving Tree & Essential Needs – Click here for everything to know about the annual Holiday Giving Tree Program and other programs throughout the year that benefit Little Friends. Thank you.
Dec. 9 / Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners Meeting – 7PM Thurs., Dec. 9 / Fort Hill Activity Center – Multipurpose Rooms, 20 Fort Hill Drive. Agenda/ LifeStream.
Weekend #2 – Dec. 11-12
Dec. 11 / America’s heartland is hurting with heartbreaking news of devastation and deaths caused by severe storms and tornadoes that touched down in five states during the night, including Edwardsville, Illinois. Such sadness is seen. God bless America’s resilience with can-do spirit and all first responders during this time of rescue and recovery. Update: The Naperville American Legion Post 43 sent out news late Dec. 12, 2021, regarding a Go Fund Me site dedicated to relief efforts to help Illinois and Kentucky. In addition, the Wheaton Memorial Post 2164 (VFW) and DuPage Honor Guard are collecting water, non-perishables, blankets, coats [all sizes] for those that lost everything in Kentucky and Illinois due to the devastating tornadoes. The public is welcome to help. From now through December 15, drop off much-needed supplies at the Wheaton VFW at 0N731 Papworth St, Wheaton, IL 60187. Thank you.
Dec. 11/ North Central College Cardinals meet up with the University of Mount Union Purple Raiders in the semi-final NCAA Division III football playoff game – 11AM Sat., Dec. 11, at Mount Union Stadium at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio. Game will be broadcast on ESPN. Gather with fans and friends to stake out a table near a big-screen TV at a local sports bar. Join a watch party! Go, Cardinals! (Cardinals win! Next Fri., Dec. 17, they’ll vie for the Championship! Stay tuned.)
Dec. 11 / ‘Tis the season when Santa is everywhere, even Naperville Crossings! – 1 to 4PM Sat., Dec. 11. Santa will be stationed on the main patio area between MOD Pizza and Panera. Naperville Crossings in located at Route 59 and 95th Street. Bring your wish lists!
Dec. 11-12 / A Shoppers Christmas Carol at the Riverwalk Amphitheater – 2PM & 5PM Sat. and Sun., Dec. 11 & 12. All performances outdoors. Bundle up! Find info at www.magicalstarlight.org.
Above / Santa enjoys a hug during Pictures with Santa and the Leprechaun at Quigley’s Irish Pub. Note for 2021, safety protocols will be followed.
Dec. 12 / Pictures with Santa & the Leprechaun at Quigley’s Irish Pub – 11AM-1PM Sun. Dec. 12 / Santa welcomes families to bring your own camera. Bring your own holiday attire. Bring your smiles! Pet Photos on the Patio at 10AM, weather permitting. For 2021, again remember no holiday hats will be provided. Bring your own! Note also that Santa will stand behind folks for photos. Save hugs for later.
Weekdays
Dec. 15 / REFUEL – 1-5PM Wed., Dec. 15 / REFUEL is a FREE one-day, virtual and in-person event featuring world-class speakers. Attendees must pre-register at www.DealerInspire.com/REFUEL. REFUEL 2021 will center around a day of reflection and the chance to recharge looking toward 2022. Attendees also will have the opportunity to donate to Loaves and Fishes; Girls Who Code; Clean Air Task Force, and My Block My Hood My City.
Weekend #3 – Dec. 18-19
Dec. 18 / The Nutcracker “Live on Ice!” – 1PM Sat., Dec. 18 / Creative Ice Theater and Seven Bridges are once again preparing local skaters to perform The Nutcracker on Ice during the 2021 holiday season. Performances will be held at 1PM and 7PM Sat., Dec. 18; and at 1PM Sun., Dec. 19. Seven Bridges Ice Arena is located at 6690 IL 53 in Woodridge, Illinois. Advance purchase tickets are available at www.creativeicetheatre.com. Masks required for all attendees.
Dec. 19 / Naperville Municipal Band Holiday Concert at The Wentz – 3PM Sun., Dec. 19. Public welcome! Free of admission charge.
Click here / Community Events Calendar
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 some with a heated 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.
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 News. In 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!
Post Last Updated, Dec. 15, 2021
