Friday
Holly Jolly Days / Naper Settlement – 523 S. Webster St. Naperville, IL 60540 / December 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.
Naperville Municipal Band Holiday Concert / 7:30PM at Wentz Concert Hall – 171 E. Chicago Ave. Naperville, IL 60540 / The Naperville Municipal Band is set to wrap up its 2024 performance season beginning at 7:30PM on Fri., Dec. 13, with “Home for the Holidays.” The holiday concert returns to take the stage at Wentz Concert Hall on the campus of North Central College. Admission is free of charge. Update: In case you missed the concert, watch and listen to one of the seasonal songs now available here:
Saturday
North Central College Football LIVE / Noon / North Central College Football National Quarterfinal Round at Benedetti – Wehrli Stadium. Watch the undefeated Cardinals LIVE take on Springfield College Pride all the way from Massachusetts. Update: With about eight minutes to go in the Army-Navy game, it was exciting to see the Cardinal victory (27-3) scroll across the bottom of the TV screen with many other scores of the day.
ARMY-NAVY Football Game / 2PM / Watch passion and patriotism on the field during the 125th gridiron match-up between Army and Navy featured today on CBS. Listen for local cheers coming from the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873. Update: The final score in the Army-Navy tradition was 13 to 31. Thanks to all military families for their service and sacrifice. God bless, America!
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. NaperLights is aglow every evening through New Year’s.
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.
Sunday
Brunch with Santa at Fat Rosie’s in downtown Naperville / 11AM / Reserve a table at Fat Rosie’s Taco & Tequila Bar, 22 E. Chicago Avenue, the fun family-friendly restaurant group featuring modern takes on traditional Mexican cuisine from 11AM to 3PM. This date features festive holiday music and a special appearance from the jolly old elf in his big red suit, as well as one complimentary photo per guest with the option to purchase a larger photo and frame.
Enjoy Brunch with Santa at Elements at Water Street / 9:30AM seating available / Santa is coming to Elements at Water Street. Families are welcome to Brunch with Santa at 9:30AM seating. 123 Water Street, 2nd Floor. View Menu and Make Reservations Here!
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.
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!
Looking for additional events and so on?
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!
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. Note! Mayor Scott Wehrli announced earlier this week that Barnes & Noble will return to downtown just steps from its former location. It’s expected to open by April 2025 at 9 W. Jackson Avenue.
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.
