Above / Located at 500 W. Jackson Avenue, Centennial Beach is open most days, weather permitting, from now through Labor Day. Hours of daily operation may vary. (PN Photo, June 17, 2022)
For 17 days, June has been busting out all over and we aim to continue updating and spotlighting many special activities during the month named for the Roman goddess Juno, patron of marriage and women. While downtown streetscapes receive attention, we’re also mindful that progress requires a little patience.
Events and celebrations provide opportunities for friends, family and communities to prepare for summer’s arrival on June 21.
Meanwhile, be mindful of Primary Election Day, Immigrant Heritage Month, Flag Day, Pride Month, YMCA Founders Day, Juneteenth and Father’s Day as well as other events, many free of admission charge, that might be featured on PN’s Event Calendar. Event planners are welcome to add events and post images there, too. Thanks for your input!
June through 2022 Labor Day Weekend / Naperville Noon Lions Annual Summer Raffle is now in progress. Purchase raffle tickets now, throughout the summer, and in time for the drawing on Tues., Sept. 6. In case you missed it, click here for PN story about the Naperville Noon Lions Annual Summer Raffle with four opportunities to win cash prizes and what the fundraiser benefits. Thanks. (Note also that the Noon Lions Club will host the Naperville Municipal Band Concert Bake Sale on July 21!)
Now! / Naperville Responds for Veterans seeks volunteers for The Salute, July 1 thru July 4, at Rotary Hill. The Salute – a family-friendly Independence Day Hometown Celebration – will be held July 1-4, 2022, featuring local bands, kids’ activities, family fun and food. For information about the event with many volunteer opportunities for friends, family and neighbors, visit www.napervillesalute.org. Thanks.
Now! / Tour banner days flying high with gratitude! From the Riverwalk to Central Park and along Jefferson Avenue and Mill Street, Naperville Salutes its Veterans, past and present with 150 banners. Click here for details to participate next time or thereafter.
Summertime is the season for Naper Settlement & Centennial Beach
Naper Settlement, with its entrance at Webster and Aurora, is a nationally accredited, award-winning outdoor living history museum set on 13 magnificent acres in the heart of Naperville. Located 30 miles from Chicago, the museum is home to 31 historical structures dating back as early as the 1830s. Featuring exhibits, special events, educational programming and more, Naper Settlement is where history comes alive and the community comes to connect.
For more information, visit www.napersettlement.org or call (630) 420-6010. ***Other Naper Settlement events are in this listing.
In 1931, 100 years after Captain Joseph Naper and his family settled along the banks of the DuPage River, Naperville resident Judge Win Knoch proposed the purchase of the original Von Oven property (45 acres and two abandoned quarries) in honor of the City’s 100th birthday. Located on what then was the western edge of town, the land was presented as a gift to the City to mark its centennial celebration and became known as “Centennial Beach.”
All these years later, the historic landmark attracts all ages every summer. Beach-goers have noted the 72-bell carillon built for the new millennium along the Riverwalk is silent for now while final restoration is completed on Moser Tower. Stay tuned. It’s expected to chime again this fall.
With or without bells, a slide, lap lanes, diving piers, diving boards, volleyball, cornhole toss and a sandy beach as well as shade from tall trees provide plenty of opportunities for fun in the sun through Labor Day.
Now thru mid-September / Downtown Naperville Streetscape is taking shape. And painted sculptures shaped like small pickup trucks are Cruisin’ into Summer to help showcase wit and artistic talent from one street corner to the next. Shops, banks, restaurants and treat shops are open, so plan to visit to check out all the changes soon.
Moving right along because it’s June, June, June!
June 17 & 18, 2022 / Naper Nights Community Concert Series at Naper Settlement, 5-10PM, July 15-16 & Aug. 19 & 20 $20/adult (13+), $15/youth (4-12) | Tickets / Get ready for cold drinks, great food, and fabulous music! Naper Nights celebrates historic milestones in rock music and pop culture with themed tribute concerts throughout the summer. Visit NaperNights.org for more information and tickets for Naper Nights in July and August.
June 18, 2022 / Classic Car Show in Downtown Naperville. Once again, vintage and antique autos, trucks, tractors and other classic vehicles will return for their annual exhibit Saturday morning along Jackson Avenue between Eagle and Main Street. Experience a showcase of cars from yesteryear while discovering plenty that’s new throughout downtown Naperville. Same time next year.
June 18, 2022 / Inaugural Juneteeth Celebration at Rotary Hill. The Juneteenth (June 19) “Freedom Day” celebration will be held from 1 to 4PM Sat., June 18, at Rotary Hill along the Naperville Riverwalk. Public is welcome. Admission is free of charge.
June 18, 2023 / Look ahead to Father’s Day… Celebrate locally every day!
Father’s Day 2022 is behind us. Celebrate every day with an attitude of gratitude for all the father-figures in your life. Meanwhile, Naperville offers restaurants, treat shops and bakeries to whet every appetite. For more information, visit www.dinenaperville.com. Thanks for supporting local enterprise.
June 20-23 / Western Junior Golf Championship / Naperville Country Club, now in its 101st year, is preparing to host the prestigious 4-day Western Junior Golf Championship. The Western Junior, the oldest national junior golf championship in the United States, will be in Naperville June 20-23, 2022. Fore! Spectator Information / thewesternjunior.com/schedule-of-events.
June 21, 2022 / Summer begins! The living is easy and the weather is perfect for historic Centennial Beach! During this heat wave (98 degrees at noon), drink plenty of water. Just don’t drink The Beach water.
June 23, 2022 / Downtown Naperville Architecture Walking Tour, 5:30 to 6:30PM
Thurs., June 23, $15/person | Register.
Learn about the important and interesting architecture from the 1800s to today that makes downtown Naperville a beautiful place to live, work, and play. The tour lasts approximately 60 minutes and covers about two miles. Pre-registration is required.
June 23, 2022 / Naperville Municipal Band Thursday Summer Concert Series begins at 7:30PM Thurs., June 23, on stage at the Community Concert Center in Central Park. FREE. This concert will feature the NMB Big Band under the leadership of Tracy Oliver. Pack a picnic or pick up dinner to go from a downtown eatery, then plan to enjoy treats at the Bake Sale at the Gazebo. The Bake Sale will be hosted by Congregation Beth Shalom. Central Park is located between East Jefferson and East Benton in downtown Naperville. NMB Summer Concerts are slated for every Thursday evening through Aug. 11. FREE.
June 25-26, 2022 / The Naperville Fine Art and Artisan Fair 2022. Hosted by the Naperville Woman’s Club, the Naperville Fine Art and Artisan Fair will be held June 25 and June 26 on the beautiful grounds of Naper Settlement, a 13-acre outdoor history museum. Hours are 10AM to 5PM both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is FREE of charge. Click here for story.
June 26, 2022 / Concerts in Your Park is a Sunday evening summer music series for families and neighbors; each concert is held at a different neighborhood park. Join friends and neighbors, bring your lawn chairs and blankets to experience a FREE evening of outdoor musical entertainment from 7-8:30PM featuring Good Clean Fun at Walnut Ridge Park, 2304 Keim Road.
June 28, 2022 / Primary Election Day. Polls open 6AM to 7PM. Your educated vote matters.
June 30, 2022 / Town and Gown Walking Tour, 5:30-6:30 PM, Thurs., June 30, $15/person | Register. Explore the east side of downtown Naperville and learn about the ways the community developed along with North Central College. The tour lasts approximately 60 minutes and covers about two miles. Pre-registration is required.
June 30, 2022 / Annual Patriotic Concert to commemorate Independence Day. Blast the cannons! Naperville Municipal Band Thursday Summer Concert Series begins at 7:30PM Thurs., June 30, on stage at the Community Concert Center in Central Park. FREE. Pack a picnic or pick up dinner to go from a downtown eatery, then plan to enjoy treats at the Bake Sale at the Gazebo, hosted by Naperville League of Women Voters. This NMB concert is the seasonal favorite featuring patriotic marches, all-American songs and the 1812 Overture. Park benches are available. Many families, friends and neighbors bring blankets and collapsible chairs. The audience spreads out all over Central Park to celebrate America’s birthday. Cheers!
WSI Quiz Night returns September 13 / Quigley’s is open daily… Teams of up to 8 are welcome to test their collective knowledge of more or less useless information. Trivia play is free of charge. And there’s even a silly sweet prize for the team that comes with the best team name. Kindly remember to BYO pen or pencil to fill out the quiz. Quigley’s Irish Pub is located at 43 E. Jefferson Ave. Meanwhile, note that after the June Quiz Night, the popular almost-monthly competition will take a pause in July for Independence Day and in August for Irish Fest. The 2022 Naperville Irish Fest, also hosted by West Suburban Irish, is slated for Aug. 5 & 6 at Frontier Park. For more info or to volunteer, visit www.wsirish.org. Stay tuned for the fun to return at Quigley’s on the second Tuesday in September. That’s 7PM Tues., Sept. 13.
Events may be added to this post as the month progresses.
One more thought: Since June offers the most hours of daylight of any month of the year, enjoy evening walks. Go fishing. Do something different. Watch the sun set. Turn porch lights on at dusk.
