Naper Settlement is pleased to present the following events and programs during July 2025. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 AM-4PM and Sunday from 1-4PM with general museum admission $12 for adults (13+), $10 for seniors (62+), and $8 for youth (4-12). Naperville residents with proof of residency, children under 4, and members receive complimentary admission.
For more information about a specific event or program and to purchase museum admission tickets, please visit NaperSettlement.org.
Naper Settlement Farmers Market
Tuesday, July 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 • 3-7PM
Free admission | Learn More
The Naper Settlement Farmers Market features live music, educational classes and demonstrations, as well as an assortment of goods from local vendors such as coffee, skincare products, fresh produce, bakery items, honey, and more. The Naper Settlement Farmers Market takes place every Tuesday from July 1 through September 23.
Gettysburg Day
Saturday, July 5 • 10 AM-4PM
Included in general admission | Tickets
Commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg with a variety of special programs dedicated to the crucial summer of 1863. Hear Abraham Lincoln deliver his famous Gettysburg Address, visit a house in mourning over a fallen soldier, and more. Children ages 6-13 can pre-register to learn how to drill like a Civil War soldier. (Special note: drilling includes the use of wooden toy muskets.)
Saturday STEM Drop-In Program
Saturday, July 5, 19, 26 • 10AM-4PM
Included in general admission
Dive into the world of science, technology, engineering, and math at Naper Settlement’s Saturday STEM Drop-In Program! Each week brings a new hands-on activity or experiment designed to spark curiosity and inspire young minds. This program is perfect for families looking for fun and educational weekend adventures.
Origins of Naperville Walking Tour
Thursday, July 10 • 5:30-6:30PM
$15/person | Register
Listen to stories from Naperville’s founding to the generosity of Caroline Martin Mitchell on a walking tour of the west side of downtown Naperville. The tour lasts approximately 60 minutes and covers about two miles. Open to all ages. Pre-registration is required.
Teacher Summer Camp: Inclusive Local History
Thursday, July 17 • 10 AM-4PM
$40/teacher | Register
Discover innovative ways to make history come alive in your classroom! This professional development equips educators with hands-on activities and interactive strategies to engage students in exploring the past. From immersive simulations to tactile projects, learn how to inspire curiosity and critical thinking while meeting curriculum standards. Leave with ready-to-use resources and fresh ideas to create memorable learning experiences for your students.
Downtown Naperville Architecture Walking Tour
Thursday, July 17 • 5:30-6:30PM
$15/person | Register
Learn about the important and interesting architecture from the 1800s to today that makes downtown Naperville a beautiful place to live, work, and play. The tour lasts approximately 60 minutes and covers about two miles. Open to all ages. Pre-registration is required.
Naper Nights Community Concert Series
Friday, July 18 & Saturday, July 19 • 5-10PM
July 18: $25/adult (13+), $15/youth (4-12) | Tickets
July 19: $40/adult (13+), $15/youth (4-12) | Tickets
The Naper Nights Community Concert Series will feature high-energy music performances paired with local food and beverages plus a children’s area with activities. On July 18, enjoy a tribute to Radiohead by Android Paranoid from 8-10 PM and a tribute to Incubus by Morning View from 6-7:30 PM. On July 19, WAR is coming to Naper Settlement to celebrate 50 years of their 1975 multi-platinum album, “Why Can’t We Be Friends.” Experience the electrifying sounds of the original street band performing everyone’s favorite hits including “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” “Low Rider,” “The Cisco Kid,” and more from 8-10 PM. Opening for WAR will be a Santana tribute by Rico! from 6-7:30 PM. For more information and tickets, visit NaperNights.org.
The Great Decoding Escape Room
Saturday, July 19 • Available at 10:30AM, 12PM, or 1:30PM
$15/person | Register
The year is 1915 – the second year of the first World War. You and your party are cargo shipping analysts for the Great Lakes Naval Intelligence Office. They need your help in figuring out where to land an Allied ship full of secret cargo. Recommended for ages 12+.
Dungeons and Dragons Experience
Saturday, July 19 & 26 • 12-3PM
Included in general admission | Register
Step into the shadows for a Dungeon and Dragons experience like no other in Naper Settlement’s Blacksmith Shop on July 19 or July 26. Participants can come dressed for the game. Recommended age group is 12+. Pre-registration is required.
Cabbage Patch Tea Party for Kids
Sunday, July 20 • 1-2PM
Included in general admission | Register
Join Naper Settlement for a playful and nostalgic afternoon in the Tavern. Bring your own doll or borrow one from Naper Settlement. Drinks will be provided; no actual food is served. Recommended age group is under 12. Pre-registration is required.
Sensory Friendly Saturdays
Saturday, July 26 • 10-11AM
Included in general admission
Visit Naper Settlement for Sensory Friendly Saturday, where families can explore the museum’s historic grounds in a calm and welcoming atmosphere. Enjoy hands-on activities and sensory stations designed for those with sensory sensitivities.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Historian – Down in the Mine: American Coal Miners and Their Songs, 1890-1960
Saturday, July 26 • 1-2PM
Included in general admission
Coal miners in Illinois and the rest of the US have a long tradition of writing poetry and music related to their occupation. This program brings that tradition to the forefront. “Down in the Mine” combines music performance (guitar and vocal) and spoken commentary. The presentation features songs and poems by coal miners, including Illinois miners. The commentary places this important folk tradition in a broader historical context and offers details on coal mining, coal-miner bards and songwriters, early country music, and individual songs.
Cabbage Patch Tea Party for Adults
Sunday, July 27 • 1-2PM
Included in general admission | Register
Celebrate your inner 80s child by joining Naper Settlement for a Cabbage Patch Tea Party. Bring your own doll or borrow one from Naper Settlement for a playful afternoon! Light refreshments will be provided. Recommended age group is 12+. Pre-registration is required.
Speakeasy Escape Room
Sunday, July 27 • Available at 1PM or 2:30PM
$15/person | Register
You have been recruited to help a local detective agency track down Prohibition’s most notorious crime boss. It is up to you to gain entry into the speakeasy. Recommended for ages 12+.
About Naper Settlement
Naper Settlement is a nationally accredited, award-winning outdoor living history museum set on 13 magnificent acres in the heart of Naperville. Located 30 miles from Chicago, the museum is home to thirty-one historical structures dating back as early as the 1830s. Featuring exhibits, special events, educational programming and more, Naper Settlement is where history comes alive and the community comes to connect. For more information, visit www.napersettlement.org or call (630) 420-6010.
