Summer of enjoyable in downtown Naperville with previous favorites and recent provides

Downtown Naperville is gearing up for a busy summer season forward, with the return of some previous favorites and some new additions alongside the way in which.

“It’s going to be another exciting summer in downtown Naperville,” mentioned Katie Wood, government director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance.

Summer occasions, new and previous

Kicking off the season this Memorial Day weekend is the annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 25. The parade will weave east on Jackson, north on Washington, after which east once more on Benton Avenue, with a ten:30 a.m. begin time. It will probably be broadcast dwell on NCTV17 each on air and on-line.

Friday, June 5, is the Riverwalk Duck Race, which is making its return for one more yr. Participants should purchase a duck to “race” down the DuPage River, beginning on the Eagle Street bridge and ending earlier than Main Street. Proceeds from the duck purchases go towards the Naperville Riverwalk Foundation. Appropriately, this yr there will probably be 2,026 rubber geese launched.

The Summer Wine Walk returns on June 7, together with 13 wine tastings and a few small bites as individuals stroll by way of downtown, stopping at outlets and eating places.

The annual Father’s Day Car Show will happen over the vacation weekend on June 20. The free occasion will probably be alongside Jackson Avenue, that includes as much as 100 distinctive and vintage cars.

In July, the DNA will begin up its summer season music collection, River Sounds, which can return for its second yr close to Jaycees WiFi Park. On Tuesday nights from July 7 to August 11, musicians arrange alongside the Riverwalk and on the water for these free performances.

The week of July 9 by way of 12, native companies take their product to the streets for the annual summer season sidewalk sale.

New occasion “Park After Dark” coming this yr

A brand new occasion, Park After Dark, will happen from July 17 to 19 at Central Park. The three evenings will function intimate, immersive dwell performances on the Naperville Community Concert Center, together with participating family-friendly experiential artwork moments.

Performances will embody a Paul Simon tribute, feminine stars from the Fifties and ‘60s, and blended inspiration from Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, amongst different soulful artists.

Revisiting ‘Dog Days of Summer’ sculptures

The summer season sculptures this yr carry again a “pupular” theme from 2019, with a small twist.

“We’re going to do dogs, Dog Days of Summer,” Wood mentioned. “They come in all shapes and sizes, from real small dogs to very large dogs. Also, one cat, too.”

The sculptures will probably be put in on June 2 and keep all summer season lengthy.

Upcoming companies

“We have a lot of new businesses that have just recently opened, and many more to come,” Wood mentioned.

At the beginning of the season, athletic retailer Vuori will open at 110 West Jefferson Avenue, adopted by the Belmont Steakhouse at 35 South Washington Street, the place Catch 35 was beforehand positioned.

Bonci Pizzeria is coming to 22 East Chicago Avenue, and Slyce of NY will open at 215 South Washington Street.

On Water Street, new arrivals embody acai bowls at Deep Purple, and Italian restaurant Lizzano Focacceria and Spritzeria.

Just introduced this month, Naperville may also welcome Illinois’s second location of Brandy Melville on the Main Street Promenade late this summer season or early fall.

“There’ll still be more names that we’ll announce. We don’t know them all yet, but that’s the good news,” Wood mentioned. “There’s always new reasons to come downtown.”

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