Above / By day and by evening, this year skeleton crews dot the autumn landscape throughout Naperville. Below / The .89-mile trail around the pond in May Watts Park provides an attractive view of the changing season and May Watts Elementary School. Meanwhile, dress up to discover plenty of choices every day that are traditional and new for shopping, dining and remembering throughout the community. Trick or Treat! Be safe. (PN Photos, Autumn 2022)

First Up! Pumpkin Race / Noon Sat., Oct. 29 near Moser Tower

Oh! The memories of this smash hit of an event! The Naperville Pumpkin Race, hosted by Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, returns at noon today, Sat., Oct. 29, 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, then later on your own driveway no matter where you live. This event is great fun for all whom participate and/or watch. The elimination races may take several 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 to experience a special time of your life!

Welcome to autumn in Naperville! Enjoy our views!

Oh! What a beautiful autumn! Go walk! Go bike! Go fish! Go picnic! Go explore!

The posts on this page are arranged miscellaneously and/or by hosting location or organization. Events are among the traditions of this active community with many choices, including raking leaves for the City’s curbside pick-up now in progress.

Enjoy seasonal changes from Lake Osborne to Knoch Knolls 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 Safety Tips / Here & There

Since 1984, October has been National Crime Prevention Month! Be a Naperville Crime Stopper, now celebrating 40 years. 

Now & Every Day / 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.

Naperville Curbside Leaf Collection now in progress

Oct. thru Nov. / The City’s bulk curbside leaf collection program is now in progress. This free program provides every neighborhood three collection opportunities (also beginning Oct. 31 and Nov. 14) 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 covering storm drains.

Enjoy the delights of Naperville Trolley & Tours 

Now thru Oct. 31 / Then again Thanksgiving weekend thru Dec. 27 / Naperville Trolley & Tours announces it’s time to book public trolley rides and tours for the holidays, Halloween through Dec. 27. Book PUBLIC (individual) Halloween and Nov/December Holiday Lights. (No tours Christmas Day or after Dec. 27.) Reservation opportunities are now live! Halloween trolley tours end Oct. 31. Find info about Halloween tours, the fun trolley-la-la-la, la-la-la la tours and trips to the Christkindlmarket in Aurora at www.napervilletrolley.com.

Downtown Naperville, home of the Riverwalk

Discover the heart of the city in downtown Naperville!

Now / Dog Days of summer may be over, but patio days of autumn for well-behaved pets and their best friends continue at Quigley’s Irish Pub, 43 E. Jefferson Avenue, weather permitting. Inside find what all the regulars call “EDAQ” camaraderie with classic Irish fare, bar bites and cold beverages. Enjoy live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. And if you wish to book a party, special event or meeting at Quigley’s, just call General Manager Andy Nosek at (630) 428-4774. Andy!

Meson Sabika / Discover a warm welcome every day!

Now / Enjoy lunch or dinner in the historic mansion at Meson Sabika any autumn day. For information about “complimentary” Thanksgiving dinners to-go to folks in need, call (630) 983-3000 x 2 before Nov. 17, 2022. To place advance reservations for lunch or dinner, fundraisers, weddings, holiday private parties or other special occasions, visit www.mesonsabika.com.

Presentation about the SAFE-T ACT is on YouTube

Trick or Treat!

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. Click here for the City’s suggested ways to stay safe. And be safe.

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 may be updated throughout the month with new events. Some events may be deleted soon after they have happened.

Looking toward November with gratitude…

Nov. 3 / Cheers for Veterans! Naperville Responds for Veterans is set to host Cheers for Veterans Reverse Raffle & Fundraiser from 6 to 10PM Thurs., Nov. 3, 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. Cheers! Thank you!

Nov. 5 / Annual Naperville Marines Ball / Naperville Marines host annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball beginning at 5PM Sat., Nov. 5, at the Marriott in Naperville. Purchase tickets by Nov. 1. (Sold Out!)

REMEMBER! TIME FALLS BACK ONE HOUR ON NOVEMBER 6.

Nov. 6 / Naperville Municipal Band Fall Concert / The Naperville Municipal Band will host its fall concert at 3PM Sun., Nov. 6, at Wentz Concert Hall. Titled “Happy Birthday, John Philip Sousa,” the program will pay tribute to the world-renown music conductor who was born on Nov. 6, 1854. FREE!

Nov. 7 / Delightful Downtown Naperville / Experience the beginning of twinkling lights throughout the heart of the central business district featuring 150-plus shops, 30-plus eateries and plenty of places for a variety of seasonal treats.

Nov. 8 / General Election Day / Vote today in the mid-term election of hopefuls wanting to serve Naperville in DuPage County, Will County, Springfield and Washington, D.C.

Polls are open from 6AM to 7PM.

CLICK HERE FOR LISTING OF HOPEFUL CANDIDATES.

Nov. 10 / Happy Birthday to the U.S. Marines! The Naperville Marines will hold a flag raising at the Riverwalk Veterans Plaza at 9AM Thurs., Nov. 10, to celebrate the 247th birthday of the United States Marine Corps.  The ceremony will include members of the Marine recruiting station Naperville, the combined Color Guard from American Legion post 43 and Judd Kendall  VFW post 3873.  Naperville Marines Officer in Charge, Col. Dan Brush USMC Ret. will offer comments and the group’s Chaplin, Larry Nyman, will deliver the benediction. The public is invited. FREE!

Nov. 11 / Veterans Day / The annual observance at 11AM Nov. 11 (a.k.a. “11-11-11”) at Veterans Park, 300 E. Gartner Road, again will recognize all those individuals who have served to protect this nation, expressing to them an attitude of gratitude. The brief tribute for safety seems especially significant for the month when America also celebrates Thanksgiving. Thanks to all.

PN File & Recent Photos / Last Updated on Oct. 30, 2022