Thursday
Naperville Municipal Band Patriotic Concert / 7:30PM at Central Park – 104 E. Benton Ave., Naperville, IL 60540 / 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. (If you missed the concert in Central Park, the Naperville Municipal Band plays again at 7:30PM Fri., July 4, down at the Wagner Pavilion, south of the 95th Street Library, before the fireworks in Frontier Sports Complex. And the summer Thursday night series in Central Park continues thru Aug. 14.)
Spread the news! The Washington Street Bridge is finished and wide open! Head to downtown Naperville to discover all that’s new this Independence Day weekend! Then save the date for July 11 when the community will be welcome to celebrate at 11AM for a ceremonial bridge reopening event with live music. Special surprises will be available for the first 150 attendees. (Meet at 419 S. Washington Street by JC Licht). Meanwhile, wing it among 18 beautifully painted duck sculptures that now dot the downtown landscape until after Labor Day. And remember to flock downtown when the annual Sizzling Sidewalk Sales return July 10-13. Quack! Quack!
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.
Friday – Happy Independence Day!
Naperville Responds Freedom Ruck / 7AM to 2PM at Riverwalk Grand Pavilion, 912 Honorary Sindt Memorial Ct., Naperville, IL 60540 / Join Naperville Responds for Independence Day: Freedom Ruck March at 8AM / After Party BBQ at the Naperville VFW Featuring OMT – 10:30AM-ish to 2PM / Details: On Friday, July 4, 2025, take a stand and show your support for our Veterans by participating in the 5-mile Ruck March. Kick off at 8 AM sharp at the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion, 912 Honorary Sindt Memorial Ct., Naperville, IL. Don’t miss out—arrive early. Registration Costs: $40 – for the Ruck March / $65 – for the Adult Ruck (includes food and beverage wristband) / $35 for the Adult food and beverage wristband only and after party – includes BBQ and Beverages / $15 for the Kid food and beverage wristband only. After the march, after party filled with delicious food, refreshing beverages, lively music by OMT, and entertainment for the whole family at the Naperville VFW. REGISTER.
Save about 10 minutes to read the Declaration of Independence / Written by 33-year-old Thomas Jefferson, he presented the draft of what would determine a new nation in the days before July 4, 1776. Jefferson also was a Founding Father, a statesman and a leading advocate for democracy and individual liberties.
The historic document is easy to find on the internet. It’s also featured in the Freedom Shrine on the backside of the Naperville Municipal Center, located just up the steps from the Sept. 11 Memorial along the Riverwalk.
Naperville Municipal Band Pre-Fireworks Performance / 7:30PM at Wagner Pavilion – Behind 95th St. Library / The Naperville Municipal Band will perform patriotic music at Wagner Pavilion prior to the Naperville Fireworks. NMB performances are free to attend.
Naperville Community Fireworks / 9:30PM at Frontier Park – 3380 Cedar Glade Dr. Naperville, IL 60564 / For the fourth year in a row, Naperville will host a free fireworks show in celebration of Independence Day at the Frontier Sports Complex, 3380 Cedar Glade Dr. Fireworks will begin at 9:30PM on Friday July 4. There is no charge for admission or parking. Those attending can watch from a field within the park or from their vehicles. The complex has 906 parking spaces, with an additional 1,000 parking spaces at Neuqua Valley High School, 2360 95th St. Before the fireworks show, the Naperville Municipal Band will perform at 7:30PM under the Wagner Pavilion at 95th Street Community Plaza located next to 95th Street Library. The Naperville Municipal Band is partnering with the Naperville Park District to celebrate the Fourth of July with performances of patriotic classics. More information and maps of available parking, including additional parking options, will be posted at www.naperville.il.us/eventinfo before the event.
Be safe… Remember… Leave the fireworks to the professionals. In addition, heightened enforcement of speeding and all other Rules of the Road will be on the radar. The speed limit in Naperville is 25mph unless otherwise posted.
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!
Gettysburg Day at Naper Settlement / 10AM to 4PM at Naper Settlement – 523 S. Webster St. Naperville, IL 60540 / 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.) $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. Tickets.
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.
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!
Sunday
Rise & Shine! Paris Bistro Introduces New Breakfast Menu / 7AM / Free coffee with any breakfast order, 7AM to 9AM. Try their new Blintzes! Find Paris Bistro west of Route 59 and north of 95th Street and AMC Naperville 16, located at 2656 Showplace Drive and open seven days: Sunday and Monday, 7AM to 8PM; Tuesday thru Thursday 7AM to 9PM; Friday and Saturday 7AM to 10PM. Phone (630) 357-1005.
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 may 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. Thanks for supporting the hospitality industry right here in Naperville. Bon Appetit!
