Above / Youth choral performance on July 15, 2025, adds magic to Naperville Riverwalk in downtown Naperville. (Photo courtesy Cecily Morse for Young Naperville Singers)
Update, July 7, 2026 / River Sounds, a free outdoor music series, returns to downtown Naperville “built around a single, unhurried arc,” organizers say. The Tuesday evening programs run from 6:30PM to 9:30PM through Aug. 11.
Each performance begins on land before moving to the water as the light fades, where a floating stage on the DuPage River becomes the centerpiece of the evening. The series features a different act each week, keeping the lineup a secret on purpose so attendees can focus on letting the night unfold.
Audiences are encouraged to arrive early with blankets, lawns chairs, picnics or books to settle into the relaxed gathering space along the Riverwalk.
Many attendees make a full evening of it by enjoying downtown ice cream shops, strolling the paths or dining at a downtown restaurant.
River Sounds is presented by the Downtown Naperville Alliance, produced by Arranmore Events, and made possible through support from the City of Naperville’s Special Events and Community Arts (SECA) Grant Program. Performances run rain or shine.
And let there be more music & picnicking in downtown Naperville…
Families that enjoy outdoor music also will discover Naperville Municipal Band Concerts at 7:30PM Thursday evenings in Central Park through Aug. 13. Concerts are free of charge.
In addition, Millennium Carillon Recitals are held along the Riverwalk at Rotary Hill beginning at 7PM every Tuesday evening through Aug. 18. Concerts are free of charge. Other recitals are held on weekends. Stay tuned!
Sizzling Summer Sidewalk Sales begin July 9
Remember four days of Sizzling Summer Sidewalk Sales begin this Thurs., July 9, throughout downtown Naperville. Perhaps sing along, “East side, west side all around the town…” and shop until you stop to plan a picnic for the Naperville Municipal Band concert with dinner-to-go from a downtown eatery.
River Sounds begin along the Riverwalk
Original Post, July 18, 2025 / On a beautiful summer evening, the Riverwalk in the heart of downtown Naperville became the stage for another unforgettable celebration of music and community when the Young Naperville Singers performed on Tues., July 15.
The Tuesday evening series of live musical performances begins at 6:30PM, part of Downtown Naperville Alliance’s River Sounds through July 29, weather permitting. This past Tuesday, YNS alumna and local jazz musician Isabella Isherwood stunned the crowd with a surprise acoustic set from a boat floating gently on the river.
More than 50 youth singers from Young Naperville Singers lined the Riverwalk and joined Isherwood in a harmonious rendition of “Turn” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Onlookers on both sides of the river were visibly moved, with spontaneous applause.
“Last night was a beautiful example of how music can inspire us,” said Angie Johnson, Artistic Director, Young Naperville Singers. “The element of surprise and excitement when our fifty young singers joined Isabella Isherwood in song was unforgettable. Watching the crowd’s faces light up as they experienced this unexpected moment of harmony was truly magical. It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do – fostering a love of music and creating unforgettable experiences for our community.”
“This series is about creating moments that surprise and inspire,” said Shannon Greene Robb, one of the event’s organizers. “To see the community pause, come together, and experience something so unique is the kind of magic we hoped to achieve with River Sounds.”
The event along the Riverwalk emphasized Downtown Naperville’s creativity in using the DuPage River as a vibrant venue. “The river is an incredible resource, and bringing music to life on the water creates something unlike anything this community has experienced before,” added Greene Robb.
River Sounds continues through July 29
Organized by the Downtown Naperville Alliance with support from SECA (Special Events and Community Arts), the River Sounds seven-week series, 6:30PM to 9PM Tuesdays through July 29, is designed to surprise and delight both scheduled attendees and spontaneous passersby. The events intend to provide a perfect blend of artistry and community.
“Tuesday’s event brought people together, filled the air with music, and reminded us of the magic that summer evenings on the river can bring,” organizers added.
Young Naperville Singers since 1984
YNS is proud and excited to begin its 42nd year of making beautiful music and growing exceptional human beings. Founded in 1984 by the late Helen Grubbs, YNS has developed into a premier community-based children’s choral music education program in Chicago’s western suburbs and the Fox River Valley. This organization has grown from its founding into a dynamic 11-choir, 450-voice nationally recognized children’s choir. The mission of YNS is to sing with excellence and to share music with the community and the world and we welcome singers from kindergarten through 12th grade. It is the belief of the YNS staff, parents and Board of Directors that singing touches the heart, stimulates the mind and sets the spirit free.
Under the musical leadership of Artistic Director Angie Johnson, YNS has flourished, with choirs performing locally, nationally and internationally, promoting the highest level of artistic excellence in choral music through educational and performance opportunities.
For more information on YNS, visit www.ynschoirs.org.
Editor’s Note / Families that enjoy outdoor music also will discover Naperville Municipal Band Concerts at 7:30PM Thursday evenings in Central Park through mid-August. What’s more, Millennium Carillon Recitals are held along the Riverwalk at Rotary Hill at 7PM every Tuesday evening. Stay tuned. Let there be music!
