Things to do around Naperville this weekend: December 20-22

Thursday evening it began snowing in Naperville! Throughout the community’s bright light displays, such as along Oakton east of River Road, many snowmen were showcased among season’s greetings. By early morning, approximately two inches, sometimes more, had accumulated here and there. (PN Photo)

Friday

From Main Street to Jaycees Park, colorful NaperLights continues through the New Year along Water Street. (PN Photo)

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.

Weed Ladies Winter Sale (During Holly Jolly Days in the Daniels House!) / 3PM / The Weed Ladies will be selling their floral arrangements during Holly Jolly Days! The Weed Ladies Winter Sale features creative seasonal floral arrangements for sale. Each one-of-a-kind silk or dried floral creation has been designed by the Weed Ladies of the Naperville Heritage Society volunteer group. Stay tuned for dates of the Weed Ladies Spring Sale in March 2025.

Naperville Art League Fine Art Gallery / Open today until 4PM / NAL, will be closed from Dec. 21 through Dec. 26. Find many gift ideas today from art classes to one-of-a-kind artistic treasures by local artists. For more info, visit www.napervilleartleague.com.

After dark, brightly illuminated snowmen, vintage and contemporary, fill the yard along Buttonwood, just west of Plainfield-Naperville Road. Will there be a white Christmas? Perhaps Santa knows. (PN Photo)

Saturday

**Photo Update** / At 3:30PM Dec. 19, PN wondered if May Watts Pond still would be honking with Canada geese in about 12 hours when winter begins.

Winter begins! / 3:21AM / Winter begins with the winter solstice, a time in the Northern Hemisphere when a pole faces most away from the sun and the sun appears at its southernmost point in the sky. The first day of winter is also the shortest day of the year, when the sun appears at its lowest, or southernmost point in the sky. From every day forward until spring begins in June, every day will be a little longer.

Give a Downtown Naperville Gift Card, the One-Size-Fits-All Gift! Accepted at more than 150+ Shops, Restaurants and Spas in Downtown Naperville, Downtown Naperville Gift Cards allow the recipient to choose where they want to use it. Every gift card is enclosed in a festive gift card jacket, ready for gift giving in any amount from $10-$500. Purchase at one of the following convenient locations: Karisma Boutique, 232 S. Washington Street; Pro Image Sports, 120 Water Street, Suite 118; Peace, 143 W. Jefferson Avenue; Tinker – A Children’s Boutique, 227 S. Main Street. OR purchase online at downtownnaperville.com/gift-cards/.

**UPDATE** / At 11:30AM Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium was shining in the sun, prepared for the semi-final match up, set to begin at 2:30PM. (PN Photo)

North Central College Football / 2:30PM / North Central College Football National Semifinal at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium – 455 S Brainard St, Naperville, IL 60540 / Watch the undefeated Cardinals take on Susquehanna University in the DIII National Semifinals with the winner earning a trip to the Stagg Bowl. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Update / The final game of 2024 at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium won the Cardinals (14-0) another spot in the Stagg Bowl, as @nccfootball hosted Susquehanna in the @ncaadiii national semifinals. Today’s North Central 66-0 victory will send the Cardinals to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, Shell Energy Stadium, on Jan. 4. With the win, the Cardinals will take on Mount Union, another 14-0 team, in the Division III National Championship, aka the Stagg Bowl. Cheers!

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

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. Gift Certificates are always available!

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.

Take a tour along Buttonwood for some surprises and the fun of it. (PN Photo)

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?

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.