Friday
NaperLights along Water Street / At dusk along Water Street in downtown Naperville / NaperLights, the dazzling free holiday light display, is a gift to the community from the Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise and sponsors including Marquette Companies and Gerald Cares. It features more than 150,000 lights and a growing collection of giant lighted holiday figures including skating polar bears, penguins sliding on an igloo, skaters, snow men, carolers, gifts, baubles, and dancing trees. By day, find plenty of photo opportunities with seating near the taller-each-year Holiday Tree.
Holly Jolly Days / Naper Settlement – 523 S. Webster St. Naperville, IL 60540 / December 6-8, 13-15, 19-20 Thursday/Friday Hours: 3-7PM (last entry 6PM) | Saturday/Sunday Hours: 1-6PM (last entry 5 PM) / $5/Person; Free for Children Under 4 / Recommended for families with children 12 and under Celebrate the wonder and joy of the holiday season with holiday crafts, stories, and more. Learn how reindeer shoes are made with a special story time and demonstration by the blacksmith at the forge. Create your own holiday crafts to take home in the Meeting House. And listen to holiday stories in the museum’s one-room schoolhouse. End your visit with a special family photo at the Victorian Christmas photo stop at the Paw Paw Post Office. Don’t forget to send a letter to Santa while you’re there for an extra touch of holiday magic. New this year, several of Naper Settlement’s historic buildings will be lit for the holiday season. More info at www.napersettlement.org/659/Holly-Jolly-Days.
Chicago a cappella Presents “Holidays a cappella” / 7:30PM at Wentz Concert Hall – 171 E. Chicago Ave. Naperville, IL 60540 / $38-48 / The nostalgia and magic of Christmas come to life as we’re joined by actor Greg Vinkler for a program of timeless carols, including “Carol of the Bells” and “Good King Wenceslas,” woven between a delightful retelling of Dylan Thomas’ “A Child’s Christmas in Wales.” Format: Full-length concert program (90 minutes without an intermission) recommended for ages 8+, enjoyable for all generations of the family. Tickets at www.chicagoacappella.org.
Saturday
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day / This day marks December 7, 1941, with time to honor the continued service and commitment inspired by the “Greatest Generation.” Take a moment to learn and reflect upon that “Day of Infamy” in remembrance of the Greatest Generation for all their sacrifice, courage and perseverance.
Firefighter Memorial Ceremony / 8AM / Community is invited to a remembrance organized by the Naperville Fire Department at the Firemen’s Memorial Park, 1072 W. Jefferson Avenue, just west of the bridge.
TubaChristmas returns to downtown Naperville and Fox Valley / Dec. 7 / Gather to hear jolly holiday songs and Christmas carols at 10AM on the lawn at US Bank, Jefferson Avenue at Washington Street. Soon after, at noon, a second 45-minute concert will take place at the Fox Valley Mall, Round 1 Event Area (east side of mall, lower floor, near entrance #2), 195 Fox Valley Center in Aurora. Both concerts are free of charge.
Enjoy Every Day at Quigley’s Irish Pub / Quigley’s Irish Pub is located at 43 E. Jefferson Ave in downtown Naperville / Quigley’s Irish Pub features live music Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The pub also offers a variety of spaces for all types of special events and fundraisers. Meanwhile, stop by for honest pub fare and a cold pint in the cool pub EDAQ, Every Day at Quigley’s. Patio is open for lunch, dinner and beverages, weather permitting. Save 6PM Tues., Dec. 31, for New Year’s Eve Dublin Time at Quigley’s. Open New Year’s Eve until 8PM.
Century Walk Tours Every Day / Around the Clock – Daylight / The recently published 88-page Naperville Century Walk Public Art Guide to more than 50 locations featuring local stories with public art by renowned artists is now available at the Naperville Art League Gallery, Naper Settlement, Hotel Indigo and the Naperville Municipal Center. Pick up a free copy today. Then take a self-guided free-winding tour throughout downtown.
Naperville Chorus “Swingin`into Christmas” with the Pete Ellman Big Band plus “Gloria” by John Rutter / 7:30PM at Wentz Concert Hall – 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, IL 60540 / $25-30 / Feel a rush of holiday spirit with the Naperville Chorus’s “Swingin’ into Christmas with the Pete Ellman Big Band,” featuring both foot-tapping jazz and traditional arrangements of seasonal music. These holiday classics will be paired with John Rutter’s “Gloria”, composed in 1974, and described as “exalted, devotional, and jubilant” by the composer. The Naperville Chorus has performed concerts during both the holiday season and the spring for nearly 50 years. This year’s Christmas concert will be the 8th collaboration between the Chorus and the Pete Ellman Big Band. Tickets at northcentral.vbotickets.com.
Sunday
Reserve a Table at Mesón Sabika / 11:30AM to 9PM – Almost Any Day / Find a choice in dining rooms and private spaces at Mesón Sabika to sample Spanish tapas and delicious sangria for lunch and dinner every day. 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.
The Naperville Men’s Glee Club Presents “Christmas Presence” / 3PM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church – 1310 Shepherd Dr. Naperville, IL 60565 / $10-15 / Take a break from shopping for those Christmas presents. The whole family will enjoy this concert featuring some new Christmas music as well as holiday favorites sure to put you in the holiday spirit. Don’t miss the Holiday Bake Sale Fundraiser at intermission! This is a Christmas concert for the whole family, brought to you by the Naperville Men’s Glee Club! Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for students. Tickets may be purchased online and printed at napervillemensgleeclub.org or from any Glee Club member. Tickets may also be purchased at the door (cash or check only). For ticket information or group rates (10 or more) call (630) 291-2569. www.napervillemensgleeclub.org.
Remember to book a Naperville Trolley Holiday Lights Tour / See the long list of times and places for public and private tours at www.napervilletrolley.com. Trolley la la la, la la la! Ding, ding, too!
Water Street Family Holiday Stroll at NaperLights / 4PM / Merchants and restaurants of Water Street in Downtown Naperville will join Marquette Companies and Naperville Sunrise Rotary to celebrate NaperLights from 4-7PM. Santa will greet youngsters young and old on his brightly lighted red throne in Jaycees Park by the Great Tree. The free festivities will host a friendly elf handing out Rotary’s popular holographic light-viewing glasses while a balloon twister and glitter tattoo artist will be stationed in the street level entry to Hotel Indigo. Naperville’s popular Road Show Choir will perform at 4:45PM under the colored arch on Foyo Plaza. Enjoy free hot chocolate and holiday cookies outside of Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop. Adult guests can find mulled wine at SixtyFour Wine Bar.
Looking for additional events and so on?
Check PN’s recently updated event link to find more concerts, entertainment and local happenings. Plus, event planners can post upcoming things to do. Find the “EVENTS” link available 24-7 on the navigation bar.
Enjoy the music of the season! With memories of Bing Crosby in “White Christmas,” sing along now… “Count your blessings instead of sheep.” The December issue of PN is out and about, available for pick up from more than 30 locations.
The newsy print edition also features photos from the Holiday Parade of Lights, community columnists, can-do spirit as well as some silly Gender Chuckles. Keep up with many things to do. Thanks for reading!
One more thing about how Naperville loves its parades… The West Suburban Irish announced that it’s now taking registration for the Annual St. Patrick’s Parade set to step off at 10AM Sat., March 15, 2025, in downtown. Registration is now in progress. The announced deadline to register is Dec. 31, 2024.
Every day… Dine Naperville!
Naperville Municipal Band Holiday Concert / 7:30PM Next Friday / “Home for the Holidays” will take the stage at Wentz Concert Hall at 7:30PM Fri., Dec. 13, presenting a program of 13 seasonal favorites including a Christmas Sing-A-Long and Auld Lang Syne. Note the change to a Friday evening performance. Concert is free of charge and open to the public. No tickets needed.
Did you know? Downtown Naperville features plenty of other things to do all month. Kindly note ’tis the season to purchase Downtown Naperville Gift Certificates. Take a stroll to discover all that’s new and coming soon.
Recently, the Rotary Club of Naperville-Sunrise and high school Interact Clubs volunteered to turn Water Street into a spectacular holiday display of lights, music and magic beginning at Main Street and running toward Jaycees Park along the Riverwalk. From now through the New Year, NaperLights will accent all the tiny bright white lights throughout downtown Naperville celebrating the holiday season.
Then… Visit local shopping destinations N.E.W.S. and in the central business district, aka “Downtown Naperville.”
Every day… Visit Naperville!
One more thing… From now through December 14, look for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots logo marking many collection sites throughout the community and at Naperville Park District facilities where new UNWRAPPED toys can be donated to serve requests of less fortunate young boys and girls up to age 13. Need a local toy store? Find Treasures at 121 S. Washington Street and Anderson’s Toyshop at 111 W. Jefferson Avenue, both in downtown Naperville. For more info, visit dupage-il.toysfortots.org.
