We wait and wait for it and, in a flash, it is over. I am talking about summer, the season that calls us to celebrate longer days and those summer nights. With its outdoor spaces primed for audiences, the Naperville Park District (NPD) is ready to immerse you in a months-long whirlwind of free concerts and activities that will keep you busy until the leaves begin to drop.
July opens with a bang as NPD hosts the Naperville Community Fireworks Show, an Independence Day celebration at the Frontier Park Complex, 3380 Cedar Glade Drive. Park in a field within the complex and watch the vibrant display from your car. Additional parking spaces are available at Neuqua Valley High School. The sky lights up on July 4 at 9:30PM. More information will be posted at Naperville.il.us/eventinfo soon.
NPD’s Concerts in Your Park returns to neighborhoods around town with a full roster of bands that will make you want to dance the night away. Scheduled on Sunday evenings, these concerts feature cover bands that rock out with everything from classic tunes to current hits. Friends and families, equipped with lawn chairs and blankets, can gather in spaces close to home. The musical entertainment runs from 7–8:30PM. Check out napervilleparks.org/concertsinyourpark for details.
In partnership with NPD, BrightSide Theatre launched its Theatre in the Park summer series comprising family-friendly concerts that showcase music from award-winning Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals. These hour-long revues feature songs from popular productions, including The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita, and Sunset Boulevard. Set in parks throughout Naperville, these programs are accessible to everyone. Performances begin at 7PM, and attendees should plan to bring chairs or blankets. A complete listing of dates and locations is posted at napervilleparks.org/summerintheparks.
If you are looking for a quiet Friday night experience, NPD has got you covered. A Night at the Movies beckons with a lineup of films that will please all ages. Cinema lovers may arrive early with snacks, blankets, and chairs to grab their favorite spots before the entertainment begins when the sun goes down. Start times vary as the days get shorter. For locations and more details, go to napervilleparks.org/anightatthemovies.
Gather the kiddos and get ready for some daytime activities with Children’s Lunch Hour Entertainment! The fun begins on Tuesdays in July and features engaging performances by beloved professionals that will delight multi-generational audiences! Held at various locations, these charming programs begin at 11:30AM and run for 45 minutes. Arrive 10 minutes early for Naperville Public Library’s story time. Find a full description at napervilleparks.org/childrenslunchhourentertainment.
NPD maintains 137 parks that offer recreational, creative, and environmental elements for the benefit of everybody. Swim, hike, picnic, rent paddle boats, play pickleball, or commune with nature. Even when no special events are scheduled, the parks provide no-cost entertainment that will make your summer a memorable one.
Naperville Park District
630.848.5000
Napervilleparks.org
