Naperville Parks District: Naperville Park District's 2021 Autumn Events Preview ...

Press release from Naperville Parks District:

August 31, 2021

Naperville Park District is offering a variety of outdoor events and programs this fall for all ages. Many of these events take place outdoors, allowing plenty of space for participants and providing opportunities to enjoy the fall weather and beautiful colors.

The Park District’s free, outdoor movie series, A Night at the Movies finishes the season with two shows in September: “Moana” on Friday, September 3 at 7:30 p.m. at 95th Street Community Plaza, 3109 Cedar Glade Drive, and “Tom and Jerry” on Friday, September 17 at 7:15 p.m. at Rotary Hill, 443 Aurora Avenue.  Bring chairs or blankets and dress for the weather.

Every Thursday afternoon in September, the community is invited to visit the 95th Street Farmers Market, presented by the Naperville Park District and the Naperville Public Library. Meet local vendors and purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables, organic meats, homemade sweets and treats and more. Hours are 3:00-7:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the 95th Street Library located at 3015 Cedar Glade Drive. September market days will feature the best of the early fall harvest and favorite fall treats including apple cider, apple cider donuts, pies, and caramel apples.

Fort Hill Activity Center is bringing back Kids’ Night Out—a monthly, themed evening at Fort Hill Activity Center’s childcare center and indoor playground for kids ages 4-12, with dinner and fun, instructor-led activities. Parents can drop off their kids and then enjoy free time on a Friday evening. The first event is Superhero Night on Friday, September 17 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Spooktacular is set for Friday, October 22 and Gobble Gobble Fun takes place on November 19. Register at www.napervilleparks.org.

The annual fall Family Campout gives families a chance to be outdoors together and make memories. Registration is in progress for the Family Campout at Seager Park on September 18-19. On Saturday, enjoy games, a twilight hike and S’mores around the campfire. Bring your own dinner and breakfast food, a tent and sleeping bags. Register and learn more at www.napervilleparks.org.

This year, the 22nd annual Wonderful World of Wheels, presented by Woody Buick GMC, will take place on Monday, September 20 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the Whole Foods Market Naperville parking lot at 2607 West 75th Street. At this free event, children and their families can see, touch, and experience life-sized community vehicles, including police cars, park maintenance trucks and more.

The weekend of October 1-3, the Naperville Park District will host Summer Place Theatre’s Ghost Stories in the Park...In the Dark at the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion. Tickets are $7 and are available at the door or through the Naperville Park District at www.napervilleparks.org . Shows run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. The Riverwalk Grand Pavilion is located along the Riverwalk just west of Centennial Beach. This event is appropriate for adults and children ages 5 and up. Guests are advised to dress for the weather, as the performance is outdoors.

A fall tradition at the Park District, hayrides are offered in October at both Seager Park and Knoch Knolls Park. Gather with family and friends in the hay wagon for a ride through the woods, warm up by a campfire and enjoy hot chocolate and apple juice. Register early at www.napervilleparks.org as dates fill quickly.

The sixth annual Creepy Critters Day will take place at Knoch Knolls Nature Center on the Columbus Day school holiday, Monday, October 11 between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. This is a free drop-in program that includes a Creepy Story Time presented by the Naperville Public Library at 10:00 and 10:45 a.m.

Knoch Knolls Nature Center has several free events for exploring nature this fall.  A Family Hike with a Naturalist is set for Saturday, October 2 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Three Adult Hikes with a Naturalist are planned for Tuesday, September 28, Friday, October 22 and Wednesday, December 8, each beginning at 9:00 a.m.  To learn more about owls in our area, join a naturalist for the Adult Owl Prowl at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 6, meeting at Knoch Knolls Nature Center. Registration is required for each of these programs and can be completed online at www.napervilleparks.org.

Halloween Happening, presented by Woody Buick/GMC, returns for 2021 at the Grand Pavilion at the Riverwalk from 1:00–4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 24. This free event is designed for children ages 10 and under featuring Halloween-themed games and activity stations where they can collect treats and win prizes. Kids are welcome to wear their favorite costumes to the event.

The Park District encourages families to save their leftover Halloween jack-o-lanterns and pumpkins for recycling at the Pumpkin Smash at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots, located at 811 S. West Street, on Saturday, November 6 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon. Drop off your pumpkins or stay to help smash them directly into the garden soil. Now in its 5th year, this event successfully adds the nutrients of leftover pumpkins to the soil and keeps them out of landfills. In 2020, more than 14,500 pounds of pumpkins were composted from this event.

This press release was produced by Naperville Parks District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.