If it’s Thursday, it’s the day the “Things to Do” listing is posted for the weekend.
If it’s summer, Thursday also is when the Naperville Municipal Band performs at 7:30PM in Central Park through mid-Aug. This week the NMB promises to fill Central Park with lots of laughs during a concert titled “Comedy Tonight” beginning at 7:30PM tonight, Thurs., June 27.
Then next week the big blast of real live cannons will punctuate the Independence Day tribute at 7:30PM Thurs., July 3, a longstanding musical tradition that began at the request of Mayor Chester Rybicki back in the 1980s. Cannons will accompany the 1812 Overture as well as Stars and Stripes. Be prepared for blasts from 7PM to 8:30PM.
All concerts in Central Park provide opportunities for BYO picnics, snacks and other take-out menus available at downtown eateries.
For more information about weekly themes for the summer concert series, visit 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. With brats on the grill, let Bill know that you know his wurst is the best, especially for weekend grilling. Stop by and find out what Bill’s been up to and why he’ll be open 10AM to 3PM on Wed., July 2! Also, note after Thurs., July 3, Bill’s taking a summer break from July 4 to July 17, reopening Fri., July 18. Get those Fourth of July orders in now by calling (630) 355-4418. Be prepared to pick up by 3PM July 3. 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.
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!
Naperville Woman’s Club Fine Art & Artisan Fair / 10AM to 5PM at Naper Settlement – 523 S. Webster St. Naperville, IL 60540 / This is the 65th year the Naperville Woman’s Club has hosted this 2-day event featuring over 100 juried artists from around the country. Customers are drawn to the quality of art, entertainment and family-friendly activities including an interactive 8×12 ft mural selected from one of the exhibiting artists. Free Admission.
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.
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.
Enjoy the Great Outdoors! / Mornings & Evenings / Encourage kids to buddy up and enjoy carefree days discovering many varieties of wildflowers or 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. Stay hydrated!
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.
Save the Dates! Downtown Naperville’s Sizzling Summer Sidewalk Sales return Thursday thru Sunday, July 10-13.
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.
