"We have to have between 200 and 250 volunteers, folks from our club, the local performing groups, folks to run the sound and film it and drive the vehicles. So it's a big logistical undertaking," Rotary Club of Naperville president Mike Calabrese told the Daily Herald in February, explaining why the club would not stage the 2026 Holiday Parade of Lights.
The parade had a fixed spot on the calendar. It went through downtown the night after Thanksgiving, with lit floats, decorated cars, local dignitaries, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a live broadcast on NCTV17. This year that night is smaller. Most of the season's big moments are now spread across December, and many of them need a reservation or a ticket bought ahead.
Why the parade stopped
Two of Naperville's local outlets gave slightly different reasons, and the reasons fit together. NCTV17 reported that City of Naperville communications director Linda LaCloche described the decision as resting on the "high cost of producing the event relative to its return." In the Daily Herald, Calabrese pointed to trouble finding enough volunteers, falling participation from sponsors, and costs that kept going up: "Costs go up every year, and the amount of funds folks are willing to dedicate don't necessarily go up every year."
The city's own funding shows how tight things were. Naperville charges a special 1% tax on food and beverages to help local groups pay for community events and arts. The Special Events and Community Arts Commission recommends how that money is divided. For 2026, Rotary asked for $26,773, and the commission recommended $22,300. A parade that needs a couple hundred volunteers and still came up about $4,500 short of its own request depends on sponsors to make up the difference, and sponsors were the part pulling back.
The event had a long history before Rotary took it on. It began as the Friends of Little Friends Hometown Holidays Parade, a partnership between the Downtown Naperville Alliance and Little Friends, Inc. Rotary became the organizer in 2021 and gave entry-fee and sponsorship money to charities the club chose. It was billed as "Naperville's Parade with a Purpose," and over the years it raised money for local nonprofits, especially ones that serve children. Calabrese said the club believes it "could probably get more bang for our buck raising our funds in a different way," and it is looking at bringing back older fundraisers such as "Soup's On!"
What happens on Friday, November 27
The Downtown Naperville Alliance has kept the date. Its free Downtown Holiday Glow runs Friday, November 27, from 3 to 6 p.m. It will have roaming performers, face painters, free hot chocolate, and holiday giveaways while supplies last.
Santa still comes. The Alliance says he will drive through downtown around 5 p.m. "in his red pickup truck — his sleigh isn't quite ready yet!" The parade happened after dark. This event starts in the afternoon, follows Black Friday shopping, and ends at 6 p.m., with the Alliance suggesting you "let one of our downtown restaurants do the cooking." When NCTV17 covered the cancellation, Alliance executive director Katie Wood said the group was "committed to preserving the warmth and holiday spirit downtown for children and families alike." The Holiday Glow shows what that commitment looks like at a scale one organization can run.
Dinner downtown after 6 p.m. has some new options compared with last November. Bonci Pizza held its grand opening in late August at 22 E. Chicago Ave. On West Jefferson Avenue, Lennon's has closed at 16 W. Jefferson. Cantina Taco Grill at 15 W. Jefferson was scheduled to open October 29, according to NCTV17's business roundup, after an earlier September target was pushed back. Call ahead before planning around it.
The rest of the season, by date
Without one big kickoff night, the season is a series of smaller dates. Downtown's lights have been coming on gradually since November 2 and stay up through December 31.
| Date | Event | Where | Cost or entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 14–15 | Holiday Open House Weekend | Downtown shops | Not listed |
| Nov. 14, 3–8 p.m. | Winter Craft Market | Barrel & Heritage, 21 W. Jefferson Ave. | Not listed |
| Nov. 14–Jan. 2 | Illumination | Morton Arboretum, Lisle | Ticketed |
| Nov. 18, 5–7 p.m. | Holiday Tree Lighting | Naper Settlement | Free, registration required |
| Nov. 26, 8 a.m. | Naperville Turkey Trot | Naperville | $40 for ages 15 and up |
| Nov. 27, 3–6 p.m. | Downtown Holiday Glow | Downtown | Free |
| Nov. 28–29 | Small Business Saturday Weekend | Downtown | Free to browse |
| Nov. 30–Dec. 20 | Santa's Naperville Workshop | Paddleboat Quarry | Reservation only |
| Dec. 3, 4–8 p.m. | Holiday Wine Walk | Downtown | Ticketed |
| Dec. 6, noon–4 p.m. | Cookie & Sweets Walk | Downtown | Ticketed |
| Dec. 11–13 | Holly Jolly Days | Naper Settlement | See listing |
The Naper Settlement tree lighting is the closest thing left to a community-wide opening ceremony. It runs from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18, and the ceremony starts at 5:15 p.m. Holly Jolly Days runs December 11 from 4 to 8 p.m., then December 12 and 13 from 1 to 6 p.m., with crafts, stories, and a blacksmith demonstration.
Where planning ahead matters
The parade was free, and you could simply show up on the curb. Many of this year's events work differently.
- Santa visits. Santa's Naperville Workshop takes reservations only. Weekday sessions run 5 to 8 p.m. and weekend sessions run noon to 8 p.m. December 1 is Pet Night. The Park District's Donuts with Santa on Saturday, December 5, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. was already marked full in late October.
- The downtown walks. The Holiday Wine Walk on December 3 uses staggered check-in times between 4 and 6 p.m. The Cookie & Sweets Walk on December 6 is also ticketed.
- Holiday High Tea. Le Chocolat du Bouchard at 127–129 S. Washington St. lists seatings from noon to 2:30 p.m. on December 5–6, 9–13, and 16–20. It costs $66 plus tax and gratuity and is for ages 12 and up. The listing's header shows a shorter date range than the booking details, so check the date you want when you book.
- Concerts at Wentz Concert Hall. North Central College's December calendar includes Chicago a cappella's Holidays a cappella on December 6 at 4 p.m. for $10 to $55, the Naperville Chorus on December 12 at 7:30 p.m. and December 13 at 3:30 p.m. for $25 to $30, Apollo's Fire performing Handel's "Messiah" on December 17 at 7 p.m. for $35 to $100, and the DuPage Symphony Orchestra's "Holiday Splendors" on December 20 at 3 and 5 p.m. for $10 to $29.
- The Turkey Trot. The $35 early price for ages 15 and up ended October 31. It is now $40.
There is also a free option you don't need to plan for. The Millennium Carillon's regular recital series runs Sunday afternoons from 3 to 3:30 p.m. in November and December, plus Saturdays from noon to 12:30 p.m.
The parade's spot is still open
Calabrese told the Daily Herald, "We are hopeful that another organization will have a renewed interest in it and take it over. We just haven't identified anyone to do that yet." The money is not gone either. According to NCTV17, the SECA funds set aside for the parade go back into the fund unless they are given to another event. Whether the night after Thanksgiving gets a parade again in 2027 depends on a group stepping forward with the volunteers, sponsors, and a SECA request. For 2026, the plan is the Holiday Glow from 3 to 6 p.m. on November 27, with Santa's red pickup coming through downtown around 5 p.m.
Seasons like this one show how Naperville changes year to year, and that local knowledge is what Kathy Szuba brings to every conversation about the town, in English or Polish. If you're thinking about what your Naperville home could sell for next spring, start with a free home valuation and a conversation with someone who follows the town closely.
