Naperville’s entertainment schedule chock-full of special events from late February through December

The annual Naperville Irish Fest will move its date and location in 2023. With its traditional slate of Irish music and dancing, food and more, the event will be Sept. 22-23 in Central Park near downtown Naperville. (James Hoch Photography / HANDOUT)
Naperville will be home to 40 special events in the coming year that reflect the city’s history, the arts, sports and multicultural heritage.
The Naperville City Council has approved a 2023 calendar of events requiring city services and/or the closure of streets so that sponsors and organizers to proceed with planning and the city’s special events team can begin scheduling logistics meetings to review routes, staffing levels and traffic control plans.
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Events team members include staff from the community services, police, fire and public works departments, Naper Settlement, Naperville Public Library and the Transportation, Engineering and Development department. Other organizations, such as Edward Hospital, Naperville Park District and the Downtown Naperville Alliance, are also involved.
The 40 events over 105 event days fall mostly on the weekends from Feb. 25 through the end of December.
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The council still can review details for individual events throughout the year.
One change for 2023 will be with Irish Fest, which is scheduled Sept. 22-23 in Central Park. In 2021 and 2022, the West Suburban Irish had held the event in August in Frontier Park on the city’s south side.
The other special events planned for the coming year are:
Feb. 25 — Naperville Winter Ale Fest, Frontier Park;
March 11 — St. Paddy’s Day 5K, downtown and north along city streets;
March 11 — St. Patrick’s Day parade, from Naperville North High School to downtown;
April 23 — Naperville Women’s Half Marathon, downtown and city streets;
April 29-30 — Soap Box Derby, corner of Diehl and Frontenac roads;
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May 4 — Characters on Water Street;
May 6 — Naperville Food Truck Festival, Naper Settlement;
May 7 — MS Walk, Naperville Park District’s Grand Pavilion and city streets;
May 20 — G.L.O.W. 5K Run, Fifth Avenue/Plank Road;
May 29 — Memorial Day Parade, downtown;
June 3-4 — Soap Box Derby, corner of Diehl and Frontenac roads;
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June 16-17 — Naper Nights, Naper Settlement;
June 17 — Classic Car Show, downtown;
June 17 — Juneteenth Celebration, Rotary Hill;
June 24-25 — Naperville Women’s Club Art Fair, Naper Settlement;
June 30-July 3 — The Salute July 4 Celebration, Rotary Hill;
July 4 — Community fireworks, Frontier Sports Complex;
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July 8 — Summer Ale Fest, Naper Settlement;
July 14-15 — Naper Nights, Naper Settlement;
Aug. 4-6 — Festa Italiana, Naper Settlement;
Aug. 6 — Naperville Sprint Triathlon, downtown and city streets;
Aug. 12 — Naperville Food Truck, Naper Settlement;
Aug. 13 — India Day Parade and Celebration, Rotary Hill and city streets;
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Aug. 18-19 — Naper Nights, Naper Settlement;
Aug. 20 — Old Naperville Days, downtown;
Aug. 26 — Scott School Scoot, city streets;
Sept. 1-4 — Last Fling, downtown;
Sept. 4 — Labor Day Parade, downtown;
Sept. 9 — Pride Fest, Naper Settlement;
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Sept. 9-10 — Soap Box Derby, corner of Diehl and Frontenac roads;
Sept. 16-17 — Riverwalk Fine Art Fair, downtown;
Sept. 16 — Hispanic Fest, Central Park;
Sept. 22-23 — Irish Fest, Central Park;
Sept. 24 — Water Street Dinner, Water Street;
Sept. 30 — Multicultural Fest, Rotary Hill;
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Oct. 6-7 — Oktoberfest, Naper Settlement;
Oct. 7-8 — Soap Box Derby, corner of Diehl and Frontenac roads;
Oct. 11 — Witches Night Out, Naper Settlement;
Oct. 20-21 — All Hallow’s Eve, Naper Settlement;
Oct. 22 — Naperville Half Marathon and 5K, downtown;
Oct. 27-28 — Howlin’ at the Moon, Naper Settlement;
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Oct. 29 — Trick or treating hosted by the Downtown Naperville Alliance;
Nov. 22-Dec. 31 — Naper Lights, downtown on Water Street and Smart Park;
Nov. 23 — Turkey Trot, downtown;
Nov. 24 — Naperville Rotary Holiday Parade of Lights, downtown.
subaker@tribpub.com