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-August. This week the NMB promises to fill Central Park with songs about water, water, water from sea to shining sea.
Note also that the July 24 evening program will begin at 6:30PM with a performance by the DuPage Symphony Orchestra. That concert will be followed at 7:30PM by the Naperville Municipal Band.
All concerts in Central Park provide opportunities for BYO picnics, snacks and other take-out menus available at downtown eateries. All NMB concerts are free of charge.
Stay tuned for weather advisories during this summer dog day. A little rain will not disrupt the concerts titled, “The Wonder of Water.” If lightning and thunder occur, the big stage door will close and the DSO concert will be postponed until 7:30PM and it will be followed by an abbreviated NMB concert if all is clear. Whatever the weather, all dedicated summer music fans are appreciated!
For more information about weekly themes for the 2025 summer concert series that runs until August 14, visit www.napervilleband.org.
Then at 7:30PM on Thurs., Aug. 21, the Naperville Men’s Glee Club will perform a free pops concert, “Under the Stars” in Central Park. For more info, visit www.napervillemensgleeclub.org.
Kindly note a stormy forecast is in progress for the weekend, mindful that rain is needed and humidity is high. Stay informed. Stay safe. Stay hydrated.
Friday
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.
Pinot’s Palette Painting Parties / Afternoon & Evening / Customize a friendly paint party for most ages (recommended age 6 and up) and abilities. No experience necessary. Everybody goes home with a lovely painted memory, rain or shine. For prices (they vary), information and party planning, visit www.pinotspalette.com/naperville/events. Pinot’s Palette, now in its 16th year, is located at 175 Jackson Avenue in downtown Naperville.
Kreger’s is open again! / 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. Also find out what Bill’s been up to and if he had a good break. www.kregersbrats.com.
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, kicking off at 8PM Thurs., July 24, with The Jesse Perez Experience! At 9PM Friday, it’s New Groove Revolution and at 9PM Saturday Velvet Rose Band Chicago is back to cap off what’s sure to be a most excellent weekend! 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.
DuPage County Fair / 11AM-11PM / For more than 180 years, the DuPage County Fair has been a showcase for agriculture, farming and livestock judging; judging of produce, flowers, grains and baked goods; exhibits of new farming equipment and various contests for the entire community to enjoy, now with live music and entertainment. The DuPage County Fair is held at the DuPage Events Center and Fairgrounds located at 2015 Manchester Road in Wheaton , Illinois. For ticket info, schedules and more thru Sunday, visit dupagecountyfair.org.
Naperville Park District’s: A Night at the Movies – Elf / 8:30PM at Rotary Hill – 443. Aurora Ave. Naperville, IL 60540 / This free community movie night at Rotary Hill will feature the holiday classic Elf. Movie-goers are encouraged to bring their own snacks, chairs and blankets.
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 Noon Lions Recycle / 9AM / Illinois Senator John Curran has invited the Naperville Noon Lions back for a second year to participate in his Recycle Event from 9AM to Noon, Sat., July 26, at the Compass Church, Naperville Campus, 1551 Hobson Road. Noon Lions will be on hand to collect eyeglasses, including sunglasses and readers, hearing aids, lace-up running shoes, key fobs, keys, ink jet printer cartridges and brass. (Note: No Styrofoam will be collected at the July 26 event hosted by Senator Curran. The City Sustainability Office is sponsoring another Styrofoam recycling event Sat., Sept. 6. Details will come in Sept.)
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!
DuPage County Fair / Noon-11PM / The DuPage County Fair, a showcase of agriculture, farming and livestock judging; judging of produce, flowers, grains and baked goods; exhibits of new farming equipment and various contests for the entire community to enjoy, now with live music and entertainment, continues at the DuPage Events Center and Fairgrounds located at 2015 Manchester Road in Wheaton , Illinois. For ticket info, schedules and more thru Sunday, visit dupagecountyfair.org.
Downtown Naperville Latin (sub)URBAN Art Walk / The Latin (sub)URBAN Art Walk in Downtown Naperville is 1-4PM on Saturday, July 26 from. FREE TO ATTEND. Held in partnership with the DuPage Hispanic Alliance, come stroll through a variety of downtown shops and restaurants and immerse yourself in Latin culture and artistry from acclaimed Latin Artists. A map will be provided and you can stroll at your own pace, see the art plus visit with the artists in person at each location. downtownnaperville.com.
Sunday
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. Walk this way… patio days have arrived!
Enjoy the Great Outdoors Every Day! / 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 continue to bite 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!
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.
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. Free copies again are available at the Naperville Municipal Center, 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!
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. 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.
Listen for the Ding! Ding! of the Naperville Trolley!
Reserve a spot and climb aboard the Naperville Trolley at 11AM for an historic tour of the City on Trolley Tuesdays. www.napervilletrolley.com.
Listen for the music every Tuesday along the Riverwalk
Weather permitting, find live entertainment beginning at 6:30PM near the Riverwalk Covered Bridge at Webster Street near Jaycees Park and at 7PM enjoy a Carillon Concert at Moser Tower. Hint: Stand on the Eagle Street Bridge and hear selections from both productions!
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.
