FROM KEVIN Apologies for the late newsletter! Today got the best of me.
That being said, highly recommend everyone take their kiddos to Brookfield Zoo. The Dino animatronics are fantastic! We enjoyed them. Also, shout-out to Steve, Naperthrill reader, who suggested I made a submission page. Please send along any suggestions or events in your area I should include in future newsletters. Here's the link but it's also a button at the top right of the Naperthrill website 👉https://app.naperthrill.co/submit |
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HEADS UP Wheaton Public Library is running a toy swap on Saturday, June 27: drop off gently used toys at the Youth Services Desk between June 19 and June 26, get one ticket per toy (10 max), then come back June 27 to shop from 10 to 11 a.m. at 225 N. Cross St. in Wheaton. Ticket holders get first pick before anything leftover goes public at 11 a.m., so the drop-off window this Friday through next Thursday is the part not to miss. |
Naperville Public Library is running a puzzle swap Thursday, June 25 at 200 W. Jefferson Ave: drop off your puzzles at 5:30 p.m., pick through everyone else's at 6 p.m. Free, no registration mentioned, and anything left over goes to the library instead of your donate pile. |
Wheaton Park District's Flight Club on June 24 is a dad-and-kid night built around paper airplanes and pizza, and registration is per adult-child pair. If your 4-year-old is currently obsessed with throwing things, this is the sanctioned version. |
| THE READ The list earns the read. A few that stood out: the Troll Bridge at Pioneer Park, a quarter-mile walk off Washington. Astronomy Club stargazing on the third Thursday of the month at the downtown dandelion fountain. Milliy's on 75th, Uzbeki food with a real kids' play area. And Playgrades.app, a free playground map a Naperville dad built, searchable by shade and splash pad. Two caveats before you drive over: the Winding Creek tall slide is out of commission, and the Artspace Lombard art drop-in is unconfirmed for 2026. |
| NEW THIS WEEK  Noon Whistle Brewing in Lombard has a Pour Your Own Epoxy Workshop on Wednesday, June 24 at 6 p.m., where you make a river charcuterie board, lazy Susan, coasters, or a few other options with a beer in hand. As a wanna-be home chef, I am personally way too excited about that charcuterie board. Register at pouryourownepoxy.com before it fills up, because this is exactly the kind of thing that sells out quietly. |
 For all the Miss Rachel fans in the house, this is the live-music upgrade. The Morton Arboretum's Jamming with Jules is back on Thursday, June 25, and last year it was genuinely one of those evenings you'd have felt smug about attending. Two concert slots, 4:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., plus a post-show meet-and-greet at 6:30 p.m. open to everyone. Members get a bonus 9 a.m. private session, which is a solid argument for finally buying that membership you keep meaning to buy. Tickets at arb.eco/4epZzLN. |
 Fresh churros steps from Naper Nuts and Sweets. The block's sugar density is about to spike. |
 Hacienda Real's new Bolingbrook spot is open and soft-launching now, so you can go before the grand-opening crowds find it. Flavors of Mexico from a family that has been at this a while. |
| THE WEEKEND The Forecast Friday's a coin flip on storms—there's a decent chance of rain throughout the day, so bring an umbrella and dress in layers since temps stay stuck around 71. Saturday is your window: cool start in the low 60s, then a solid climb to near 80 and full sun, so jackets go in the car, not on your back. Sunday turns wet and unsettled with storms likely, especially afternoon into evening, so plan indoor backup and leave the dry cleaning at home. |
DuPage Children's Museum is doing Mess Fest this Saturday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and it's covered under regular admission or your membership. If you've been looking for an excuse to let kids ages 3-8 absolutely destroy themselves in a controlled environment, this is the one. |
 Noon Whistle's Summerfest on Saturday, June 20 (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.) is the kind of day where you can drop the 4-year-old in the bounce house from 2-7, play giant Tetris until American Idiots goes on at 5, and call it a full Saturday without driving into the city. It's in Lombard, not Naperville proper, but that's 15 minutes and totally worth it if your crew needs a loose, all-day hang with beer that isn't a chain restaurant patio. |
 If you've been waiting for a reason to day-drink and scream 'Crazy Train' at an outdoor venue, Saturday, June 20 at Naper Settlement is your night. Downpour opens with the AC/DC set, Crazy Train headlines with Vinny Cormier doing the Ozzy thing, and tickets are at NaperNights.org. |
 The Classic Car Show runs Saturday, June 20 from 9 a.m. to noon on Jackson Avenue along the Riverwalk, free to attend and a genuinely easy Father's Day morning. Ages 3 and up will find something to stare at, and the downtown shops are right there if you still need a gift. |
| THE TIP JAR  The Downtown Glen Ellyn Wine Walk is Saturday, June 20 from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m., and if you tag a friend on the @discoverdupage Instagram post before Monday, June 8 at 11:59 p.m., you're in a drawing for 4 free tickets ($140 value). Twenty-plus boutiques, 3 wine shops pouring, and honestly a nice reason to get a babysitter and take the train 2 stops west for an afternoon. |
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YOUR TURN Running an event, or know something happening around town? The best stuff out here spreads by word of mouth. Be the word, we read every submission. |
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