Naperville To Host Its 1st Hispanic Heritage Festival

NAPERVILLE, IL — Naperville is set to host its first Hispanic Heritage Festival with live music, food and drink specials, a vendor market, interactive art and more Sept. 18. The festivities will celebrate Naperville's Hispanic population, along with two of its Sister Cities: Cancun and Patzcuaro, Mexico, Patty Gustin, liaison for Naperville's Sister Cities Commission told Patch.

“Embracing and loving and celebrating each other is the way people will unite," Gustin said.

Local businesses will offer food and drink specials, kid-friendly activities and creative projects throughout the weekend, but the main event and "Mexican marketplace" will kick off with live DJ music in Central Park at 5:45 p.m. Guests are encouraged to grab carryout food from a nearby restaurant and take it to the event with them, Gustin said. Belgio's Catering will also be on hand to serve up beer, wine and nonalcoholic refreshments.

Sept. 18 Music and Marketplace

5:45 p.m.: Live DJ music

6 p.m.: Welcome ceremony and awards presentation featuring Mayor Steve Chirico, Sister Cities commissioners and other local officials

6:25 p.m.: Naperville Municipal Band

7 p.m.: Jesus Ramos

7:50 p.m.: Young Naperville Singers

8:15 p.m.: Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl

From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. festival goers can browse a "Mexican marketplace" that will offer items imported from Patzcuaro, Mexico, handmade pottery, flan and horchata and traditional games and activities.

Other Family-Friendly Activities

Kids can learn about Hispanic culture and have fun via a variety of activities planned in and around downtown Naperville Sept. 17 and 18, including:

Nichols Library

Visit the children's service desk at Nichols Library between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sept. 18 to make a pinata-inspired craft or take part in a scavenger hunt.

From 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., the library will host bilingual story time at the Riverwalk Amphitheatre.

Pottery Bayou Sugar Skull Painting Class

Visit Pottery Bayou for a Sugar Skull Painting Class from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 18. Click the link to register for the Sugar Skull Painting Class.

Downtown Naperville Scavenger Hunt

Explore 20 downtown Naperville shops and eateries as part of a scavenger hunt from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 18. Click the link to download the scavenger hunt instructions and passport. Prizes include one $100 gift card for downtown Naperville, four $50 gift cards for downtown Naperville, one $40 gift card for Pottery Bayou, eight $25 gift cards for downtown Naperville and 20 $10 gift cards for downtown Naperville.

Adult-Oriented Activities

"Thank God It's Frida" Painting Class at Pinot's Palette

Pinot's Palette hill host an in-person and virtual "Thank God It's Frida" painting class Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. Local artists will guide participants as they create a customizable portrait inspired by Frida Kahlo. Click the link to sign up for the $39 in-person painting class, which will have Frida-themed drink specials available.

An interactive $35 virtual version of "Thank God It's Frida" will be conducted for students who prefer not to attend an in-person class. Students who need art supplies can pick up a take-home painting kit between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Pinot's Palette Sept. 17. Call 331-457-5440 to have someone from the studio bring your supplies outside to you during this time. To arrange to pick up supplies the day before class, send a email to Naperville@pinotspalette.com.

Students who have their own art supplies get a discounted rate of $15 for the lesson.

Click the link to register for the virtual painting class.

Food and Drink Specials

A number of restaurants will offer up special discounts and items before, during and after Naperville Hispanic Heritage Festival. Featured eats include a taco grilled cheese at Everdine Grilled Cheese, spicy chocolate gelato at Sweet Home Gelato and pan-seared scallops with avocado puree and peach salsa at Hugo Frog Bar & Fish House.

Click the link to see the full rundown of food and drink specials for Naperville's Hispanic Heritage Festival.

About Naperville's Sister Cities

Naperville's Sister Cities Commission, for which Gustin is a liaison, supports a relationship between Naperville and its sister cities, Nitra, Slovakia, Patzcuaro, Mexico, and its most recent addition, Cancun, Mexico.

In addition to events like the Hispanic Heritage Festival, the Sister Cities Commission has been instrumental in helping provide Naperville's decommissioned ambulances and fire trucks to Cancun, Gustin told Patch.

This bond reflects the simultaneous diversity and unity of Naperville, Gustin said, something the new festival hopes to foster. She added, "I just think it’s wonderful that we’re able to celebrate so many different cultures and different heritages.”

Also on Patch:

100 Artists To Appear At 2021 Naperville Riverwalk Fine Art Fair

Music, Art, Pig Roast Set For 2021 Art On The Prairie Festival

New Murals By Tony Fitzpatrick Unveiled In Downtown Glen Ellyn