Update, March 16, 2025 / An image of legendary St. Patrick led Grand Marshal Mike Havala, CEO of Loaves & Fishes Community Services, in the West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Parade on Sat., March 15. Recognizing Loaves & Fishes was a tribute to Ireland’s history marked by the Great Hunger of the mid-1800s, “which led to the death and emigration of millions. That experience remains deeply ingrained in the Irish spirit,” noted Rich Janor, chairman of the now-annual parade that first started in 1993.
Friday
Serendipity Resale Shop Benefits Little Friends, Inc. / 10AM-5PM / Volunteers give time to benefit Little Friends, recognized as a leading service provider for children, adults and families challenged by autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities. The retail resale shop accepts donations of clean, quality clothing (especially winter wear), household items, bedding and jewelry when the shop is open 10AM to 5PM Monday thru Saturday. Donors and shoppers will find convenient storefront parking at Serendipity Resale Shop, located at 461 S. Route 59 in Aurora.
Judd Kendall VFW Friday Night Fish Fry / 4:30PM to 7:30PM at Judd Kendall VFW – 908 Jackson Ave., Naperville, IL 60540 / The Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 will host its Friday Night Fish Fry will return beginning at 4:30PM Fri., March 7, and will continue Friday evenings through April 18, 2025. Draft Picks in Naperville again will cater the popular menu. Four pieces of fish and fries will be served for $15 a plate. For another $5, add a slice of pizza or shrimp. A cash bar will be available.
Saturday
Naperville Sunrise Rotary’s St. Paddy’s Day 5K Run-Walk / 7AM at Centennial Beach – 500 Jackson Ave. Naperville, IL 60540 / Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a race that gives back. Make a difference for local charities in Naperville. $45 – adults, $40 – kids under 14. Register at www.napervillesunrise.com.
Lisle Free Recycling Event for Foam, Batteries, Electronics, Paint & More / 9AM / Items accepted #6 foam, clean foodservice foam, electronics, rechargeable and household batteries, bicycles, textiles, latex paint, household items, CFL bulbs, and more. TVs and monitors will be accepted for a fee of $25 – $35 depending on size. Participants will also be able to bring paper documents for shredding on site. Event runs 9AM to Noon. If capacity is reached prior to noon, event may close early. Benedictine University’s Rice Parking Lot, 5700 College Rd, Lisle. Cars must enter campus at Maple Ave, west of the University and exit to College Rd northeast of the parking lot. No public restrooms are provided.
WSI St. Patrick’s Day Parade / 10AM in downtown Naperville / Celebrate Irish Heritage at the West Suburban Irish (WSI) 2025 Naperville St. Patrick’s Day Parade! Get ready for a day of Irish pride and community spirit at the Naperville St. Patrick’s Day Parade. For 2025, Loaves & Fishes Community Services will be honored as Grand Marshal. One of Naperville’s most cherished traditions, this family-friendly event draws thousands of spectators eager to celebrate Irish heritage, community spirit, and festive fun. Hosted by WSI, The St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been a beloved Naperville tradition since 1993. UPDATE! PN PHOTO GALLERY / SMALL SAMPLING OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT!
Come for the 5K Run and the WSI Parade, then stay for lunch and discover plenty that’s new in downtown Naperville.
Benet Academy Goes to IHSA Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship Play in Champaign / Update! Benet tops Warren Saturday night at State Farm Center in Champaign, 55-54. Congratulations, Redwings, all players and Coach Gene Heidkamp!
Sunday
Place Orders for VFW Annual Plant Sale Online around the Clock / Now thru March 31 / For information about the annual fundraiser, visit www.napervfw3873.org/index.php?id=101 to download an order form and see photos of all the beautiful annuals offered for sale for the 2025 planting season. Plants ordered will be ready for pick up on May 2. Orders are due by Mon., March 31, and can be dropped off or mailed with a check (payable to the VFW Post 3873) to VFW Plant Sale, 908 Jackson Avenue, Naperville, IL 60540.
Reserve a Table at Mesón Sabika / 11:30AM to 9PM / 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.
DuPage Symphony Orchestra “Young at Heart” / 3PM / A gala celebration of the extraordinary talent and accomplishment of young musicians in DuPage County, with the 2025 DSO Young Artists Auditions Winner presenting the winning concerto from this year’s competition. Also a joint performance by the DSO and the Young Naperville Singers under direction of Angie Johnson. Check availability of tickets to this special program are $10 to $43 at Wentz Concert Hall, 131 E. Chicago Avenue.
Selection Sunday for March Madness! / 5PM / Let the NCAA Division I brackets begin! (Also, the Big Ten named to Purdue’s Braden Smith its player of the year and Michigan State’s Tom Izzo coach of the year.) Boiler Up! UPDATE! Hurray! Illinois and Purdue are among eight Big Ten schools selected to advance to March Madness. Purdue will play High Point on Thursday. Illinois will follow against Texas/Xavier on Friday. In 22 days, the Madness will be over for 2025!
Monday – Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Enjoy Every Day at Quigley’s Irish Pub & Especially St. Patrick’s Day / 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 an Irish Coffee or enjoy a cold pint in the warm, friendly pub EDAQ, Every Day at Quigley’s. No reservations. The Pub opens at 10AM for St. Patrick’s Day. Music lineup: Noon until 4PM – Celtic Roots / 5:30PM – Highland Guard Bagpipers / 8PM – Chicago Irish Band.
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 and Hotel Indigo. Pick up a free copy. Then take a self-guided free-winding tour throughout downtown any day— winter, spring, summer or fall!
Early Voting Begins / 8AM / Go to the polls early beginning March 17 to cast a ballot in the nonpartisan local Naperville Consolidated Election. Vote early especially before travels during Spring Break. Voting booths will be set up at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street. Early Voting polls will be open daily until Election Day, April 1.
Discover choices to whet every appetite every day! / Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch & Dinner / Featuring approximately 400 eateries, Naperville serves up tastes to please all ages and budgets in between shopping, bowling, pickleball, concerts and all the activities that keep families and friends busy. In fact, consider that folks can even dine out at a Naperville eatery every day of the year without eating at the same place twice! Bon Appetit!
Look ahead for additional events and so on…
The newsy print edition also features the Voters Guide to the Consolidated Election on April 1 (The Voters Guide also linked here if you’re looking for something educational to do online…), community columnists, can-do spirit as well as some silly Gender Chuckles. Keep up with many things to do. Thanks for reading!
Published monthly, PN’s March issue is now available at a location near you this weekend and every day! Meanwhile, stay dry, warm, appreciate sunshine and hope more sunny days arrive before the first day of spring, especially for the St. Patrick’s celebrations on March 15.
Every day… Dine Naperville!
Did you know? Downtown Naperville features plenty of other things to do all month to have a hot time in the old town as it warms up for springtime. Kindly note ’tis always the season to use and/or purchase Downtown Naperville Gift Cards. Take a stroll to discover all that’s new and coming soon to whet every appetite.
Also if time permits while visiting downtown Naperville to shop and dine, the Riverwalk welcomes folks to the city’s natural treasure where can-do spirit is on display from the Jefferson Avenue Bridge to the Hillside Road Bridge, all along the path of serpentine-shaped bricks.
Then… Visit local shopping destinations N.E.W.S. and all along Ogden Avenue as it winds through town, showcasing car dealerships and other service centers, here and there.
Every day… Visit Naperville!
Looking forward to next weekend…
St. Baldrick’s / In honor of the Naperville North High School 55th anniversary, Paul Felstrup again has joined their annual St. Baldrick’s event and will be among shavees having a haircut at NNHS on Friday March 21, 2025. This year will mark Felstrup’s 24th shave for the cause to help conquer kids’ cancers. For info, visit www.stbaldricks.org/participants.
Lenten Fish Fry / The VFW Fish Fry continues! Remember that every Friday through April 16, the VFW Fish Fry returns from 4:30PM to 7:30PM, at the VFW Post, 908 W. Jackson. Dinners are $15. Cash bar.
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