It’s already Saturday! No matter how you’re experiencing the great outdoors this weekend, be mindful to be properly hydrated. Water plus electrolytes will be the secret to feeling good as the days grow shorter while heat and humidity welcome the Dog Days of summer beginning July 3. Keep pets well hydrated and protected during summer walks, too. Remember that sidewalks might be too hot for paws on long walks. Stay safe. Be cool.
Most Thursdays include a post of “Things to Do” for the upcoming Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Thursday evenings during the summer include Naperville Municipal Band Concerts beginning at 7:30 in Central Park. This week’s concert features the NMB Big Band under the leadership of Tracy Oliver. The community is welcome to “Big Band in the Park” with tunes by George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Cy Coleman just for starters. The complete program is presented song by song at www.napervilleband.org.
Friday
Brats at Kreger’s / 10AM to 3PM Fridays and Saturdays at Kreger’s Brat and Sausage Haus – 606 N. Ellsworth Naperville, IL 60563 / Stop by for lunch, conversation and camaraderie. While Bob grills, let Bill know that you know his wurst is the best, especially for weekend grilling. Brats are back. Stop by and find out what Bill’s been up to! www.kregersbrats.com.
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 most of the time), 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.
Naper Nights Community Concert Series / 5-10PM at Naper Settlement – 523 S. Webster St. Naperville, IL 60540 / Adult: $20, Youth (4-12): $15 / Get ready for a summertime tradition that features cold drinks, great food, and fabulous music! Naper Nights celebrate historic musical milestones with themed tribute concerts throughout the summer. Rock out with your community as you eat, drink, dance, and experience the best tribute bands performing your favorite music from the 1960s to today. Bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets and come find your spot on our lawn. Continues Saturday. More info and bands at www.napernights.com.
First day of summer begins at 9:42PM today, Friday, June 20 / Marked by the summer solstice, today is the longest day of the year. As noted in the Farmer’s Almanac, during the summer solstice, the Earth’s tilt brings its northernmost point closer to the sun, resulting in more sunlight before the days begin getting shorter tomorrow. ‘Tis the season to stay hydrated! Remind friends and family to drink water.
Saturday
Naperville Farmer’s Market / 7AM to noon at Fifth Avenue Station – 200 E. 5th Ave. Naperville, IL 60563 / Build a farm-to-table meal with a plethora of locally grown food. You’ll also find an array products, performances and events, making this a great destination for the whole family. The Market runs every Saturday through October.
Naperville Riverwalk Pickers / 9:30AM / The Naperville Riverwalk Pickers will strum their hum-along music, sometimes with accompaniment of a harmonica, from 9:30AM to 11AM Saturdays, weather permitting, in the Free Speech Pavilion located near the Civic Plaza with the Dandelion Fountain, Jackson at Webster streets in downtown Naperville. All pickers are welcome to join the group and make music! Listening is free!
Enjoy Every Day at Quigley’s Irish Pub / 11AM – 2AM / 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, including a dog patio for well-behaved dogs on a leash. Meanwhile, stop by for honest pub fare and an Irish Coffee or enjoy a cold pint in the friendly pub EDAQ, Every Day at Quigley’s.
International Day of Yoga at The Matrix Club / 1PM / One hour class – FREE! / Tune In… Breathe Deeply… Flow Gently. Join us for a special yoga class celebrating the global spirit of International Day of Yoga, led by Shebani Kulkarni, a Certified Yoga Instructor (YCB Ayush, Govt. of India). Proceeds from donations support Mission Meghna, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to uplifting the lives of women and young girls with training and wellness resources. The Matrix Club is located at 808 S. Route 59. All are welcome.
Naper Nights Community Concert Series / 5-10PM at Naper Settlement – 523 S. Webster St. Naperville, IL 60540 / Adult: $20, Youth (4-12): $15 / Get ready for a summertime tradition that features cold drinks, great food, and fabulous music! Naper Nights celebrate historic musical milestones with themed tribute concerts throughout the summer. Rock out with your community as you eat, drink, dance, and experience the best tribute bands performing your favorite music from the 1960s to today. Bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets and come find your spot on our lawn. More info and bands at www.napernights.com.
Sunday
Summer Painted Sculptures – DUCKS! / Splash into Summer in Downtown Naperville! The annual popular tradition is back for Summer, 2025. Come find and enjoy the artistry of 18 Painted Duck Sculptures that are on display all summer long in Downtown Naperville. downtownnaperville.com. What’s more there’s a scavenger hunt featuring theme- decorated jumbo rubber ducks hidden inside many downtown shops. Visit Treasures, a toy and game shop at 121 S. Washington Street, as a great first stop to learn more about the scavenger hunt.
Naperville Native returns for book talk and signing / 2 – 4PM at Anderson’s Bookshop – 123 W. Jefferson Ave. Naperville, Illinois 60540 / Naperville native, Chuck Spinner returns to his hometown for a talk and signing for his latest book, “Look What Sports Did To This Little Kid!” Chuck’s book has been endorsed by Bob Costas, Bill Raftery, and Digger Phelps. To register for a ticket for this event, go to andersonsbookshop.com.
Go Fish! / Mornings & Evenings / Encourage kids to buddy up and enjoy carefree days angling for bass, bluegills, carp and catfish in local ponds, Whalon Lake and the DuPage River. Reports this week are that big bass are biting for catch and release at May Watts Pond. Looking for worms for bait? Try Walmart. Click here for a few big fish memories with photos of fishing and a listing of ponds in Naperville.
Reserve a Table at Mesón Sabika for any day / 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. And patio days have arrived!
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 in its second printing. Soon free copies again will be available at the Naperville Art League Gallery, Naper Settlement and Hotel Indigo. When you have a colorful copy, keep it handy in a drawer. Then from time to time, take a self-guided free-winding tour throughout downtown any day— winter, spring, summer or fall!
Discover Naperville choices to whet every appetite north, east, west and south! / Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch & Dinner / Featuring approximately 400 eateries, Naperville serves up tastes to please all ages and budgets in between shopping, bowling, pickleball, golf, swimming, 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! And if you find a place that truly suits your taste, tell you friends! Help all restaurants thrive. Bon Appetit!
Every day… Dine Naperville!
Did you know? Downtown Naperville features plenty of other things to do every day and every month. Kindly note ’tis always the season to use and/or purchase Downtown Naperville Gift Cards for many things happening as the school year ends with graduations and commencement. Take a stroll to discover all that’s new and coming soon to whet every appetite for shopping and dining. And watch out for ducks! Now until after Labor Day, 18 whimsical and beautifully-painted duck sculptures are on display for the summer.
When 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.
One more time! The Summer Sculptures have returned with tales to tell! Find everything you need to know about taking a quack to participate in this year’s splash of special events on the downtown Naperville website under, of all things, “events.”
Then… Visit local shopping destinations N.E.W.S. and all the way west along Aurora Avenue to Block 59. Venture all along Ogden Avenue as it winds through Naperville, showcasing car dealerships, other service centers and businesses that welcome support, here and there.
Every day… Visit Naperville!
Note also that this post may be updated throughout the weekend. Thanks for reading.
