On the Friday after Thanksgiving last year, the Holiday Parade of Lights was set to step off at 7 p.m. and wind through downtown to Naper Elementary. This year, by 7 p.m. that Friday, Downtown Holiday Glow, the Black Friday event planned for downtown, will have been over for an hour.
That one change sets the rest of the season. The night that used to start the holidays in Naperville no longer anchors them. The big lighting moments now come earlier in November, and most of them happen outside the downtown core.
Why the Friday-night parade ended
The parade had a long run. NCTV17 notes that it began as the Friends of Little Friends Hometown Holidays Parade. According to Patch, Little Friends first presented it in 2003, and the Rotary Club of Naperville took over organizing it in 2021.
In February, NCTV17 reported that the Rotary Club had canceled the 2026 parade. The city's communications director, Linda LaCloche, told the station the club cited the "high cost of producing the event relative to its return."
The city has a special 1% tax on food and beverages, and money from that tax funds local events and arts groups on the recommendation of the Special Events and Community Arts Commission. For 2026, the Rotary Club asked for $26,773 and the commission recommended $22,300. NCTV17 reported that the money would go back into the SECA fund unless it was given to another event.
Katie Wood, executive director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance, told NCTV17:
"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 hope shows up in the 2026 calendar. It just shows up at other hours and in other places.
The November light-ups, in order
Here is how the season opens this year. Only the last two dates fall on Thanksgiving weekend.
| Date | What happens | Where | Ceremony? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon., Nov. 2 | Holiday lights start coming on around 5 p.m., nightly through Dec. 31 | Downtown Naperville | No |
| Fri., Nov. 13 | The Rink grand opening with a tree lighting | Block 59, 404 IL Route 59 | Yes |
| Wed., Nov. 18 | Holiday Tree Lighting, 5 to 7 p.m. | Naper Settlement | Yes, at 5:15 p.m. |
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Naper Lights opens, 4 to 10 p.m. nightly through Jan. 1 | Water Street, Foyo Plaza, Jaycees Park, Riverwalk | No |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Downtown Holiday Glow, 3 to 6 p.m. | Downtown Naperville | Santa drive-through around 5 p.m. |
Downtown's lights have been on since Monday, Nov. 2. The Alliance planned for them to light up gradually with no ceremony, so the first organized tree lighting of the season is on Route 59.
Route 59 gets the first ceremony
The Rink at Block 59 is back for its second season. NBC Chicago called it new last year, when it opened Nov. 20, 2025. This year it opens a week earlier, with a grand opening on Friday, Nov. 13.
Block 59's event page lists the opening from 5 to 10 p.m., with event admission listed at $12 to $14. The program includes:
- Real snowfall starting at 6 p.m., produced by SnowBiz Chicago
- A snowman character and a stilt walker handing out Block 59 treats, both from 6 to 8 p.m.
- A tree lighting ceremony
- Live-looping sets from Chicago singer-songwriter Michael C. Hayes, then a closing performance by DG Sax
After opening night, the rink is a regular part of the week. Hours are 2 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, with separate hours in January. Admission is $14, skate rental is $5 a pair, and each session lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes.
For families who used to save the day after Thanksgiving for the holiday outing, the Rink offers an evening that does not depend on one fixed date. A Saturday session runs until 11 p.m., which is later than anything downtown has planned for Black Friday.
A Wednesday evening at Naper Settlement
Five days later, the second ceremony moves to the Settlement. The Holiday Tree Lighting at Naper Settlement runs Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 5 to 7 p.m., and the lighting itself starts at 5:15 p.m. The event is free with registration and includes lights, hot drinks, cookies, and Santa.
The early start matters. A 5:15 p.m. lighting on a school night means leaving work or after-school activities early, and registering ahead of time is part of the plan. It is a short, early, weeknight event, very different from a 7 p.m. holiday-weekend parade.
Black Friday downtown now runs from 3 to 6 p.m.
Downtown still has its Thanksgiving weekend moment. It just looks different. Naper Lights opens Thursday, Nov. 26, the night before Black Friday. It runs 4 to 10 p.m. nightly across Water Street, Foyo Plaza, Jaycees Park, and the Riverwalk through Jan. 1, 2027, and the Downtown Naperville Alliance lists it as free.
On Friday, Nov. 27, the Alliance hosts Downtown Holiday Glow from 3 to 6 p.m., with roaming performers, face painters, free hot chocolate, and giveaways while supplies last. Around 5 p.m., Santa drives through downtown in a red pickup truck. The Alliance's own explanation is that "his sleigh isn't quite ready yet."
So the evening is shorter and earlier. Shopping fills the afternoon, Santa comes by just before dark, and the Alliance suggests ending the night at a downtown restaurant. Families who used to stake out a curb spot before 7 p.m. can now catch Santa, eat dinner, and walk the Riverwalk lights in the hours the parade used to fill. Naper Lights runs every night for five weeks, so the Riverwalk visit can also wait for a quieter weeknight in December.
Driving into downtown should be easier by then. The first phase of water-main work on Ogden Avenue between Washington and Wright streets, and on Washington Street between Ogden Avenue and Bauer Road, was expected to finish Nov. 13. NCTV17 reported that the second phase, heading west toward Mill Street, has been pushed to 2027 because of IDOT permitting.
December books up before November ends
With the kickoff spread across November, December's reservation-only traditions are already filling. In order:
- Santa's Naperville Workshop, Nov. 30 through Dec. 22. Visits are one family at a time by reservation, with special pet, military and first-responder, and special-needs nights. Most listed slots already show as full.
- Santa's Hotline, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 6 to 8 p.m. The Naperville Park District's free call-from-Santa program shows 2026 registration as full.
- Holly Jolly Days at Naper Settlement, Dec. 11 through 13. Hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Expect holiday crafts, Christmas stories, a Victorian photo stop, and a blacksmith telling a story about shoeing reindeer. Admission is $6, and kids under 4 get in free.
- Park District natural ice rinks, on or after Dec. 15. The rinks at Centennial Park, Nike Sports Complex, Wolf's Crossing Community Park, and Gartner Park depend on the weather and usually open mid-December at the earliest.
Put together, the dates that need planning ahead are all in November or early December: registering for the Nov. 18 lighting, booking a Workshop slot, and picking a night at the Rink. The Friday after Thanksgiving is now the most flexible part of the season.
If you're making your own holiday plans, from the Block 59 opening to an evening on the Riverwalk, the Lori Johanneson Team is glad to share what we're seeing around Naperville this season. And if the new year might bring a move, we're happy to put together a current value for your home whenever you'd like to start that conversation.
