OnGoing Events – Here is a listing of events that have multiple dates.
ADULTS Naperville Area Diversity Dinner Group – Naperville Area Diversity Dinner Group offers respectful discourse – Discussion, Dinner and Democratic Decision making. Groups of 10-12, couples/singles decide on potluck dinner/topics once per month at member homes. Contact Mary Glatz at 720-205-8944.
ART Festivals – Weekends thru Summer. Amdur Productions presents summer juried art festivals at various venues throughout the Chicagoland area. amdurproductions.com.
ART SALE Juried Selections – 8/11-12. Features 80 top artists offering pottery, glass, wood, jewelry, painting, photography and sculpture. Sat 10 AM-5 PM, Sun 10 AM-4 PM. Flat Iron Park, downtown Lake Geneva. 800-345-1020. visitlakegeneva.com.
ARTISTS WANTED – 7/1-8/15. “The Art of Illinois: A Bicentennial Celebration” a juried fine art show accepting submissions of 2d and 3d work. All media except film/video are welcome. Notifications of acceptance will be sent the week of 8/28. Gallery Seven, Lockport. galleryseven.net.
COMMUNITY National Night Out – An annual community-building campaign of festivals, provides, cookouts, etc., that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Most states celebrate it the first Tuesday in August. Contact your local law enforcement or park district, or the organization at natw.org.
CONCERTS Music By The Lake – Weekends thru 8/11. From classic rock to orchestral works, these concerts offer outdoor entertainment overlooking beautiful Geneva Lake. Bring your own picnic or purchase food at the College Inn. Rain or shine. Ferro Pavilion overlooking Geneva Lake on the George Williams College Campus (of Aurora University). 262-245-8536. musicbythelake.com.
CONCERTS Millennium Carillon Summer Recital Series – Tue 7/3-8/21. Bring a picnic for the lawn as you listen to Carillonneurs from Naperville and around the world perform. Rain or shine. 7 PM. Post-recital moonlight tours available 8:00-8:30 PM. Rotary Hill, Naperville. 630-848-5000 or napervilleparks.org.
CONCERTS In the Park – Thru 8/23. Bring a picnic or purchase some street food while enjoying concerts. Thursdays, 6-8 PM. Flat Iron Park, downtown Lake Geneva. 800-345-1020. visitlakegeneva.com.
CONCERTS Live at White Pines – 6/27, 8/18, 8/24. Live music, bar menu and drinks. 7-10 PM. White Pines Golf Course, Bensenville. 630-766-0304 or whitepinesgolf.com.
CONCERTS In Your Park – Sun 7/8-7/29. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for family Sunday evenings of different bands providing musical entertainment. 7-8:30 PM. Various parks around Naperville neighborhoods. 630-848-5000 or napervilleparks.org.
CONCERTS Independence Grove – 7/10-8/7. Enjoy a different band each week – oldies, blues, rock, reggae and jazz. Before concerts enjoy time at the preserve swimming, fishing, boating and hiking. All ages welcome at concerts. Concerts 7:30 PM. Lake County Forest Preserve. 847-968-3499 or lcfpd.org.
CONCERTS On The Village Green – Fridays, 7/13-8/24 (no concert 7/6). Various music styles each week. Bring your sports chairs, blankets, coolers, food, and your favorite beverage for a relaxing, enjoyable night out with your neighbors and friends. 7-8:30 PM. Burr Ridge Village Center. burr-ridge.gov.
CONCERTS Wednesdays at the Plaza – 7/18, 8/15. Monthly summer music series featuring food trucks, local and regional talent, and exciting original music. 5-9 PM. Downtown Aurora. auroradowntown.org.
CONCERTS Summer Entertainment Series – Wed 7/18-8/8. Enjoy a variety of bands each week in the newly renovated performing area. Bring blankets, lawn chairs, family and friends. 7:30-9:30 PM. Lisle Community Park. 630-964-3410 or lisleparkdistrict.org.
CONCERTS Naper Nights – 7/20-21, 8/17-18. Tribute rock and roll bands with a variety of sounds, cold drinks, delicious food and dancing. Family-friendly. Naper Settlement, Naperville 630-420-6010 or napersettlement.com.
CONCERTS Music at the Mansion – Wed thru 8/15. Various music styles on beautiful historic grounds. 7-8:30 PM. Ellwood Mansion, DeKalb. ellwoodhouse.org.
CONCERTS Summer Nights at the Zoo – Fri and Sat 7/6-8/18. Guests can relax and listen to live music, roaming performers and see a laser show. Dining options, beer and wine available. All ages. 4-9 PM. Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield. czs.org.
EQUINE Horse Event Showcase – 7/25-8/12. Hunter and jumper competitions and other equine events showcased in a state-of-the art outdoor facility with beautiful grounds to view these standout athletes and horses. Lamplight Equestrian Center, Wayne. Lamplightequestrian.com.
EXHIBIT Amazing Arachnids – Thru 9/3. View 100 live arachnids in three themed areas that highlight their unique characteristic and their important influence in medicine, music, literature, folklore and conservation. Themed kids play area. Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield. 708-688-8000. czs.org.
EXHIBIT Greek Refugee Crisis – Thru Spring 2019. “Lives Afloat: The Greek Refugee Crisis Through The Lens of Tasos Markou” has photographs, artifacts and the largest collection of oral histories anywhere about the plight of Greeks fleeing Syria. 312-655-1234 or nationalhellenicmuseum.org.
EXHIBIT Roller Skating – Thru 11/4. “Chicago Rink Rats: The Golden Age of Roller Skating” shows the glory age of roller skating following the Great Depression. Nostalgic memorabilia on display. Sun-Tue 1-5 PM; Sat 10-5 PM. Elmhurst History Museum, Elmhurst. 630-833-1457 or elmhursthistory.org.
FAMILY Lionel Train Adventure – Year round. Ride the train at Lincoln Park Zoo to enjoy forest and canyon scenery and a rquaint country bridge. Departs and returns to a charming red brick station. All ages. 10 AM-5 PM. Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago. 312-742-2000 or lpzoo.org.
FAMILY Nature Days – Thru September. Join Lincoln Park Zoo and the Chicago Park District for nature play days at a park near you! Play with natural items like stumps and seeds, brush up on your bird-watching or nature hiking skills, or venture out on a family scavenger hunt. Open-house style with varying stations, rain or shine. Times vary, locations throughout city. Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago. 312-742-2000 or lpzoo.org.
FAMILY Music Series – Sun 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29. “Concerts In Your Park” is a summer music series for families in neighborhoods throughout Naperville. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for Sunday evenings of entertainment. 7-8:30 PM. Naperville Park District. napervilleparks.org.
FAMILY Children’s Lunch Hour Entertainment – Tue 7/10, 7/17, 7/24. Pack a lunch, bring sunglasses and an umbrella for fun Tuesday afternoons at the Naperville Riverwalk’s Grand Pavilion at (Sindt Court) or Frontier Sports Complex (Book Rd). Entertainment and interactive performances. All ages. 11:30 AM, lasts 45 min. Naperville Park District. 630-848-5000 or napervilleparks.org.
FAMILY Summer Adventures: Voyages – 7/20-8/15 (except 7/4). An exploration of language, history, geography and art. Each week centers on a different part of the world. Ages 5-12, with and adult. 1-3 PM. Des Plaines History Center, Des Plaines. 847-391-5399 or desplaineshistory.org.
FAMILY Nature Play Dates – Tue 7/31-8/28. Enjoy this new event with other families as a “play date among the trees.” Hop on the Acorn Express Tram to one of the Arboretum’s play spots and explore and discover nature as a group. 11 AM-Noon. Morton Arboretum, Lisle. mortonarb.org/events.
FAMILY Thursday Family Nights – Thu thru 8/16. Enjoy live music, kid-friendly are and entertainment after hours in the Children’s Garden. 5-8 PM. Morton Arboretum, Lisle. mortonarb.org/events.
FAMILY Music and Food – Wed thru 8/29 (except 7/4). New “Arbor Evenings: Music and More.” Unwind with family and friends and mingle and dance as you enjoy live music from top local bands as well as enjoy lawn games, beverages and tapas on a green clearing surrounded by beautiful trees. 5:30-8 PM. Morton Arboretum, Lisle. mortonarb.org/events.
FAMILY Cruisin’ Nights and Street Fair – Thu 7/5-8/30. Music, classic cards on display, food. 5-9 PM. Downtown Westmont. westmontevents.com.
GARDENING Tour – 7/14, 8/14. “Second Saturday Garden Tours” allow you to accompany the horticulturists for a walkabout through the zoo’s incredible gardens. Learn about new plants and landscapes, changing through the seasons. All ages. 10-11 AM. Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago. 312-742-2000 or lpzoo.org.
HOBBYISTS Pond, Koi and Gardens – 7/21-22 and 28-29. The Midwest Pond and Koi Society hosts the 2018 four self-guided regional pond and garden tours. 312-409-2081 or www.mpks.org.
KIDS Wild Wednesdays – Wed thru 8/8. Weekly themed hands-on nature programs allow exploration through games and crafts. Ages 3-10. Cancelled if inclement weather. Visitor Center Backyard, Cantigny Park, Wheaton. 630-668-5161 or cantigny.org.
KIDS History Connections and History Alive! – Tue thru 8/28 and Thu thru 8/30. Explore a different theme each week and learn something new about our country’s military history. Ages 6-12. 1-3 PM. First Division Museum, Cantigny Park, Wheaton. 630-668-5161 or cantigny.org.
MOMS Batavia Mother’s Club Open House – 8/29. Friendship and support come together to improve the lives of families and children in the area. 7-9 PM. Panera, Batavia. membership@bataviamothersclub.org.
MOVIES On The Green – Wed thru 8/8. Oakbrook Center will feature popular films on its outdoor digital LED screen. Bring blankets and snacks or purchase dinner at the mall’s dining options. All ages. 7-9 PM. Oakbrook Center Mall, Oak Brook. 630-573-0700. oakbrookcenter.com.
MOVIES In the Park – Fri 7/6-8/31. Celebrate summer with family movies under the stars. Blankets, chairs and snacks welcome. 8 PM. Cantigny Park, Wheaton. 630-668-5161 or cantigny.org.
MOVIES A Night at the Movies – 7/14, 8/4, 9/22. Family-friendly enjoyment in the park. All ages. 8:30 PM in June/July and earlier in August/September depending on time of darkness. Various Naperville parks. 630-848-5000 or napervilleparks.org.
SENIORS Volunteering – RSVP is the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of North Cook and Northern DuPage Counties. For opportunities, call 847-228-1327 or handsonsuburbanchicago.org/rsvp.
SENIORS – Year-round activities, programs, special events, trips and classes. Senior Center, Northbrook Park District. 847-291-2988 or nbparks.org.
