Naperville will have no Holiday Parade of Lights this year. It's the first time in more than two decades. The parade used to fill downtown the day after Thanksgiving, and nobody needed a ticket. Most of what's left on the 2026 calendar needs a reservation or a ticket, and sign-ups open weeks before the events. For several of December's best-known events, the first deadline is October 20, about two weeks from now.
The Night With Nothing Scheduled
The Rotary Club of Naperville canceled the 2026 parade, according to a city staff report covered by NCTV17 in February. City communications director Linda LaCloche said the club cited the "high cost of producing the event relative to its return," and gave no other details.
The money behind the decision is modest. Naperville charges a 1% tax on food and beverages to fund community events and arts groups. The Special Events and Community Arts Commission, known as SECA, recommends how that money gets divided. For 2026, the Rotary Club asked SECA for $26,773, and the commission recommended $22,300. NCTV17 reported that the money goes back into the SECA fund unless it's assigned to another event.
Katie Wood, who led the Downtown Naperville Alliance at the time, responded when the news broke:
"We're grateful for the years they dedicated to bringing this cherished tradition to our community. While this news is disappointing, we remain hopeful and committed to preserving the warmth and holiday spirit downtown for children and families alike."
That leaves one free, drop-in event that lines up with the old parade weekend. Naperville Sunrise Rotary's Naper Lights is a light-and-sound display along Water Street, Foyo Plaza, Jaycees Park and the Riverwalk. Its page lists it as running "Thanksgiving through New Year," 4 to 10 p.m., with free 3D viewing glasses handed out at the event. The page gives no 2026 dates, so check it before planning Thanksgiving weekend around it.
Three Dates That Decide December
The parade asked nothing of anyone ahead of time. This year's biggest holiday events all have sign-up dates, and they come weeks early:
- Tuesday, October 20, at noon. Registration opens for Santa's Naperville Workshop through the Naperville Park District. Reservations are required, and walk-ups won't be accepted.
- Monday, October 26. Tickets go on sale for the Downtown Naperville Holiday Wine Walk on Thursday, December 3. Check-in starts at 4 p.m., with groups starting every 30 minutes through 6 p.m. Proceeds benefit Little Friends.
- Monday, November 2. Tickets go on sale for the Downtown Naperville Cookie & Sweets Walk on Sunday, December 6, noon to 4 p.m. Ticket holders get a bag and a map of treat stops.
November 2 is also the evening of Downtown Lights Up for the Holidays, which the Downtown Naperville Alliance lists for 5 p.m. That makes it the only day this season when one downtown event starts and tickets for another go on sale. The Alliance's pages don't list prices for either walk yet.
Naper Settlement's Holiday Tree Lighting is free but also needs registration. It's on Wednesday, November 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. The ceremony starts at 5:15, with refreshments and Santa visits throughout the evening. The format matches 2025.
Santa's Workshop Now Runs One Family at a Time
The Park District's workshop shows the change most clearly. In 2025, it ran December 1 to 21, and up to four families could book the same time slot. The 2026 run is November 30 to December 20. Only one family will be inside the workshop at a time for a short conversation with Santa. Families take their own photos and video, since no professional photos are offered, and the line waits outdoors.
Hours are 5 to 8 p.m. on weekdays and noon to 8 p.m. on weekends. Two nights have a theme. Tuesday, December 1, is Pet Night, and Wednesday, December 9, is Military and First Responders Night. Last year's announcement included Special Needs Nights on December 3 and 4. Those nights aren't on the current 2026 schedule.
The run is the same length, shifted one day earlier at each end. Each slot now holds one family instead of up to four, so the October 20 booking date matters more than it used to.
Naper Settlement Is Shortening Its Schedule Too
Naper Settlement has cut its schedule in a similar way. Holly Jolly Days ran across two weekends in 2025, December 6–7 and 13–14. In 2026, it's one weekend. Hours are Friday, December 11, from 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, December 12 and 13, from 1 to 6 p.m. Admission is $6 per person and free for children under 4. The weekend includes crafts, stories, a blacksmith demonstration and a Victorian Christmas photo stop.
The museum's fall season changed first. All Hallows Eve, a scare event for preteens and teens that ran for more than two decades, is gone. Family Spooktacular, aimed at kids ages 3 to 12, replaces it on October 24 and 25 at 523 S. Webster St. Marketing director Brittany Tepper told the Chicago Tribune in June that over 73% of All Hallows Eve attendees in 2025 were families with children 12 and under, and that attendance had dropped. The new event has trick-or-treat stops at historic homes and a fright-free haunted house. Disney tribute band The Little Mermen & The Princess Pals plays two shows each day. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for ages 4 to 12, and free for kids 3 and under. Howlin' at the Moon, the adults-only event, returns October 23 and 24 from 5 to 10 p.m. The Lantern Tour scheduled for October 6 is listed as canceled.
The Park District is bringing one event back. Pumpkin Smash, the free composting drop-off at 811 S. West St., returns Saturday, November 7. It was skipped in 2025 because of construction at the garden plots.
The Full Season, Sorted by What It Asks of You
| Date | Event | Ticket or registration |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 23–24 | Howlin' at the Moon, Naper Settlement | Adults only |
| Oct. 24–25 | Family Spooktacular, Naper Settlement | $15 adults, $10 ages 4–12 |
| Oct. 25 | Halloween Happening, Riverwalk Grand Pavilion | Free, ages 10 and under |
| Nov. 2 | Downtown Lights Up for the Holidays, 5 p.m. | None listed |
| Nov. 7 | Pumpkin Smash, 811 S. West St. | Free |
| Nov. 14–15 | Holiday Open House Weekend, downtown shops | None listed |
| Nov. 18 | Holiday Tree Lighting, Naper Settlement | Free, registration required |
| Thanksgiving onward | Naper Lights, Water Street and Riverwalk | Free, confirm 2026 dates |
| Nov. 30–Dec. 20 | Santa's Naperville Workshop | Registration opens Oct. 20 |
| Dec. 3 | Holiday Wine Walk | Tickets on sale Oct. 26 |
| Dec. 6 | Cookie & Sweets Walk | Tickets on sale Nov. 2 |
| Dec. 11–13 | Holly Jolly Days, Naper Settlement | $6, free under 4 |
A New Riverwalk Stretch for the Free Events
The new North Central College Riverwalk Park could make the free parts of the season more appealing. The park sits at 430 S. Washington St., across the river from Fredenhagen Park. It fills a gap in the Riverwalk by connecting the south extension, Washington Street and the North Central College campus by way of the Moser Covered Bridge. As of the city's September 23 update, brick pavers were going in, two river-facing plazas were taking shape, and the park was still expected to open by the end of October. The project cost an estimated $2.1 million, with $1.3 million from the State of Illinois. The landscaping is being planted to bloom in spring, so the park's first winter will show mostly paths, plazas and lamp posts. If it opens on schedule, it adds a new section of riverfront for anyone walking the Naper Lights route on a December evening.
There are new places to stop along the way. Bonci Pizza opened at 22 E. Chicago Ave. on August 28. It's the brand's first location outside Rome and Chicago. Lola's Handcrafted Churros, known for churro sundaes, held its grand opening at 8 W. Jefferson Ave. on September 28. Men's clothier State & Liberty is aiming for a mid- to late-November opening at 144 W. Jefferson Ave., possibly just after Holiday Open House Weekend on November 14 and 15. Taco Grill Cantina at 15 W. Jefferson Ave. had planned to open September 15. The owner says unforeseen issues pushed that back, and the restaurant now plans to open this fall.
The Downtown Naperville Alliance's 2025 holiday guide also listed Breakfasts with Santa and Letters to Santa, so check the Alliance's events page for 2026 dates. Santa's Workshop registration opens October 20 at noon, and it's the first deadline of the season.
If a holiday move is part of your plans this year, The Jarnagin / Kohler Group can build a listing or closing schedule around the dates above, so your move doesn't land on Holly Jolly weekend. Schedule a Complimentary Market Consultation, and we'll walk you through the timing.
