Above / Keep cool with thoughts of the gentle spray from the Dandelion Fountain along the Riverwalk. Headed to downtown Naperville to shop, dine or conduct business? Remember that one level of the parking deck at the Municipal Center currently is closed for repairs, likely through the end of August or beginning of September. Plan ahead.
Thanks for reading. Be sure to hydrate. Stay safe.
Thursday
Remember… The final three Naperville Municipal Band concerts for the 2023 summer season begin at 7:30PM Thursday, July 27, Aug. 3 and Aug. 10 in Central Park. Celebrate Conductor Ron Keller’s long career on Aug. 10 with “Thanks for the Memories” that will include his musical compositions such as the “Spirit of the Jaycees” march. FREE!
***Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Friday
Brats at Kreger’s / 10AM to 3PM Fridays and Saturdays / Kreger’s Brat and Sausage Haus, 606 N. Ellsworth / Stop by for lunch, conversation and camaraderie. Plan a barbecue and pick up handcrafted bratwurst for the grill. And be sure to tell Bill Kreger that you know his wurst is the best.
***DuPage County Fair / 10AM to 11PM / Saturday noon to 11PM. Sunday noon to 8PM. The DuPage Event Center and Fairgrounds are located at 2015 Manchester Road in Wheaton, just north east of Roosevelt and County Farm Road, directly east of the DuPage County Complex. Fair Admission: Adults (ages 13 & up): $10; Seniors (ages 62 & up) and Children (ages 3-12): $5; Children (2 & under) and Active Military Personnel w/ID: FREE. Tickets available at the gate. Click here for the schedule of traditions including entertainment, animals, food, exhibits and carnival rides.
‘Walk On for Chuck’ at 6PM Fri., July 28… The 2023 Naperville Lymphoma Walk honoring the late Chuck Papanos covers 1.5 miles in Riverwalk Park, including the Chuck Papanos Honorary Garden, just west of the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion. The event kicks off at 6PM with a short program and the auction, featuring items such as Chicago Bears tickets. Raffle drawings are set for 7:30PM. To register a team or make a donation for 2023, visit lymphoma.org/walkonchuck.
***Summer Place Theatre Presents Disney’s Newsies this weekend! / 7:30PM / Newsies will be performed at the Naperville Central High School Auditorium Friday and Saturday at 7:30PM on July 28 and July 29; Aug. 4 and Aug. 5. Sunday Matinees are 3PM on July 30 and Aug. 6. Purchase tickets ($20 adults / $15 Seniors & 18-Under) at summerplacetheatre.org/Tickets or call the Box Office at (630) 355-7969 and leave a message stating your name, contact number, desired number of tickets, and credit card information. Note: We enjoyed this musical in the cool auditorium during its first weekend. If Positively Naperville were a daily publication, our headline might proclaim, “Look for the Newsies Banner!” This high-energy, well-cast production continues Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for the next two weekends.
Summer Outdoor Movie “Minions: The Rise of Gru” / 8:30PM at Rotary Hill along the Riverwalk / Naperville Park District invites the community to enjoy movies in the park, this week at Rotary Hill. The Park District is grateful to community sponsors of this series when A Night at the Movies brings free, family-friendly movies to the parks. The audience is reminded to bring folding chairs or a blanket. Visit napervilleparks.org/anightatthemovies to see the full series schedule. FREE! FYI: With the forecast of thunderstorms this evening and for the safety of everyone, the showing of “Minions: The Rise of Gru” was cancelled and at this time, it will not be rescheduled.
Live Music at Quigley’s Irish Pub / 8:30PM at Quigley’s Irish Pub – 43 E. Jefferson Ave. Naperville, IL 60540 / And Quigley’s Irish Pub features live music Thursdays, Fridays Saturdays. Stop by for a cool pint, live music and honest pub fare. The patio is open!
Saturday
Naperville Farmers Market / 7AM to Noon at Fifth Avenue Station – 200 East 5th Ave. Naperville, IL 60540 / The Farmers Market runs June through November with June-November we host 50-plus vendors every Saturday 7AM-noon.
Open House Saturdays at HarborChase Naperville / 10AM to 2PM at HarborChase Naperville – 1619 N. Mill Street Naperville, IL 60563 / Tour the senior living facility on Naperville’s north side. Enjoy perusing on-site eateries and attractive amenities. HarborChase Naperville is located at 1619 N. Mill Street. Unable to visit this week? Consider any weekday or next Saturday. For information, call (630) 349-2783.
***Summer Sights along the Riverwalk / Now through Labor Day Weekend and then some… / The Paddleboat Quarry (with paddleboats and kayaks for rent), Carillon Concerts (7PM Tuesdays) at the site of Moser Tower, Jaycees Playground and Centennial Beach now are open for the summer season. Stroll the winding Naperville Riverwalk available every day of the year from the Jefferson Avenue Bridge to the Hillside Road Bridge. And, of course, right now, passersby can pause to watch construction underway for rebuilding the Washington Street Bridge near Fredenhagen Park. Remember! With progress comes patience.
***Summertime on the Patios at Mesón Sabika / Find a choice in patios at Mesón Sabika to sample Spanish tapas and delicious sangria. Located just west of downtown Naperville at 1025 Aurora Avenue, Mesón Sabika has been serving the community since 1990. Built in 1847, the historic mansion with eight air-conditioned dining rooms is set in a beautifully landscaped four-acre estate, providing a welcoming sight with plenty of parking for lunch, dinner, special events, benefits, weddings, meetings and family gatherings throughout the year.
Sunday
“Be patient and calm – for no one can catch fish in anger.”
—Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) 31st U.S. President
***Enjoy Centennial Beach, a summertime favorite in the heart of Naperville!
Every day this summer… Dine Naperville!
***Flying into Summer in downtown Naperville / YESTERDAY, NOW, TOMORROW AND THE NEXT DAY THIS SUMMER! / Come-see-ums, a.k.a. benches in the shape of dragonflies, welcome folks to explore talents of local artists such as teens at the Alive Center that tell encouraging and vibrant stories from now until September on the streets where local residents live. Come shop, dine and/or sit for a spell! Click here for story about 19 benches “Flying into Summer.”
Visit Naperville Bank and Trust, Washington Street at Benton Avenue, to see an exhibit of vintage photos and artifacts that help tell the story of the Naperville Municipal Band that dates back to 1859.
***Visit Naperville Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in Veterans Park / Veterans Park, 301 Gartner Road / Dedicated on Memorial Day weekend, the beautiful, peaceful setting for the Gold Star Families Memorial in Veterans Park, one of 53 public art sites on the Century Walk Tour, is a place to pause and reflect with gratitude every day of the year. Note also that on the last Sunday in September (Sept. 24, 2023) Gold Star Mothers and Family Day honors the mothers, fathers and families of fallen military service members. Veterans Day every year is observed at 11AM Nov. 11 a.k.a. “11-11-11.”
Again, thanks for reading.
Enjoy summertime. Be sure to hydrate. Stay safe. If you’re reading this post while vacationing away from Naperville, safe travels, too.
