The 630 | October 2015

By Naperville Magazine
October 2015 View more 630

Dinner on the Town

October 1, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Join the Naperville Heritage Society’s annual fundraiser Dinner on the Town. At this unique gala event, the evening starts with a cocktail reception complete with martini bar, live auction, and spinning of the “Wheel of Dining.” The “Wheel of Dining” boasts more than 20 local restaurants and dining experiences. Special transportation will whisk attendees to and from their surprise dinner location. The evening concludes with sweets and a coffee bar. $195 per guest; $1,560 per table of eight. Limited seating available. All reservations are contingent upon confirmation of availability. Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. For more information, www.napersettlement.com/dinneronthetown.

Oktoberfest

October 2, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
October 3, Noon to 10 p.m.
Be part of an annual autumn event that celebrates Naperville’s heritage during Oktoberfest at Naper Settlement. Under a large heated tent, enjoy live musical entertainment ranging from classic German Oompa music to classic rock, along with German beer and cuisine. Family-friendly activities will be available on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. The entrance to the festival will be through the Pre-Emption House Visitor Center. All proceeds benefit the Naperville Heritage Society. Day of Event: $15 adult/senior; $10 youth (4–12) Save $5 each on advance tickets available online or at the Pre-Emption House Visitor Center. Free admission for members and children under 4. For more information visit, www.napersettlement.com.

Charlotte and Gwenyth Gray Foundation Benefit

October 3, 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Join the Charlotte and Gwenyth Gray Foundation for a fundraiser at the Embassy Suites, 1813 Abriter Court, Naperville, with celebrity hosts Giuliana and Bill Rancic, featuring a cocktail reception, dinner, entertainment and live auction. Four-year-old Charlotte and 2-year-old Gwenyth Gray were recently diagnosed with Batten disease. This rare neurological degenerative disorder progressively leads to seizures, blindness, personality and behavior changes, dementia, loss of motor skills, and early death. The children’s mother, Kristen Kaiser Gray, grew up in Naperville and later moved to California where she met and married Hollywood producer Gordon Gray. In a race against time, the community of Naperville is rallying behind this family, helping to raise money for The Charlotte and Gwenyth Gray Foundation to Cure Batten Disease. The nonprofit foundation was established to fund important medical research that hopefully will lead to a cure for this terrible disease. Tickets may be purchased online at curebatten.ejoinme.org/naperville. For more information about The Charlotte and Gwenyth Gray Foundation, visit www.curebatten.org.

Fall Color Festival

October 4, 8 a.m.
The Fall Color Festival at The Morton Arboretum is off to a running start as the 12th annual Fall Color 5K Run & Walk and Kid’s Dash featuring a brand-new post-race party. The Fall Color 5K Run & Walk will follow The Morton Arboretum’s challenging U.S.A. track and field-certified course along the East Side Main Route through a hilly course lined with early signs of breathtaking fall color. Each runner will receive a technical t-shirt and recovery food and water. Also new this year, those runners 21 and older will also receive a complimentary beer to toast to their finish. Awards will be given out in age and gender categories.

The Kid’s Dash is designed for ages 2 to 10 and each child participating will receive a cotton t-shirt and participation ribbon. Kids can participate in one of three categories: 2 to 4 year olds will race for 50 yards, 5 and 6 year olds will run a quarter mile and 7 to 10 year olds will complete a half mile.

The 5K begins at 8 a.m. and the dash at 9 a.m. The 5K is $30 for members, $35 for nonmembers or $40 on race day. The fee for children participating in the dash is $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers or $20 on race day. Registration includes admission to the Arboretum, and participants are encouraged to explore the 1,700 acres including the Children’s Garden and Maze Garden following the race. Those who can’t participate but would like to support The Morton Arboretum’s mission to create a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world are welcome to register in the Virtual Runner/Walker category. In exchange for a $25 donation, contributors will receive a race t-shirt. To learn more, or to register, go to mortonarb.org/fallcolor5k.

KidsMatter Youth and Family Volunteer Fair

October 8, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The annual Youth Volunteer Fair for youth and families will be held at the Naperville Municipal Center located at 400 S. Eagle Street. Local nonprofit agencies and organizations will be on hand to showcase their volunteer and advocacy opportunities, enabling students to find service venues that match their interests, major, career goals, and schedules. This free fair is open to all students from area middle and high schools, and is an ideal opportunity for youth groups from faith communities, scout troops, and team organizations to choose their service projects. Participating nonprofit agencies include: the DuPage Children’s Museum, the Morton Arboretum, Loaves & Fishes, 360 Youth Services, the Naperville Public Library, the Naperville Park District, Feed My Starving Children, and the YMCA. Each organization will have representatives on hand to discuss the exciting opportunities for both students and families to positively impact the lives of other people. For more information visit www.kidsmatter2us.org.

Family Weekend at Morton Arboretum

October 10 – October 12, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bring the whole family out for storytelling, face painting, science experiments, critter shows, live music, and more. Visit the Children’s Garden for Trick or Trees, where kids can fashion fun fall crafts and plant a tree seed to take home as a treat. Trick or Trees will take place every weekend in October. Small pumpkins to paint will also be available for purchase. Costumes are encouraged. Free with Arboretum admission. For more information, www.mortonarb.org.

Ray Jones

Kids’ Best Friend Benefit and Awards Dinner

October 16, 5:30 p.m.
The Education Center of Developmental Resources will host the annual Kids’ Best Friend Benefit and Awards Dinner and honor five local residents who have dedicated their lives to helping children, families, and the elderly. This year’s awards and winners are:

Nicki Scott

Kids’ Best Friend Award: Ray Jones, Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home
Outstanding Community Leader Award: Nicki Scott, Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise and Rotary International District 6450

Making a Difference Award: Vicki Coletta, Project HELP and the Exchange Club of Naperville
George and Pat Pradel Humanitarian Award: Brand and Mary Ann Bobosky, Community leaders, Century Walk, and education

Vicki Coletta

Brand and Mary Ann Bobosky

The Kids’ Best Friend Benefit and Awards Dinner will be held in the Hilton Lisle/Naperville Grand Ballroom. The benefit provides scholarships for counseling or tutoring at The Education Center for students who are experiencing challenges at school. Those challenges might be due to problems at home, traumatic experiences, drug or alcohol abuse, lack of study skills or motivation, and other events that interfere with their learning. Scholarships are also available for students whose parents are serving in the military. The Education Center offers area families a place of hope and help. The annual Kids’ Best Friend benefit directly supports the many programs of The Education Center. Tickets to the Kids’ Best Friend Benefit and Award Dinner are $125 per person and include a cocktail reception, dinner, dancing, and live and silent auctions. For more information, contact the center at 630.420.7807 or visit www.theeducationcenter.org.

All Hallows Eve – Village of Fear

October 16–17, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Experience two of the darkest nights of the year with 12-acres of haunting creatures, eerie entertainment, screaming delights and must-see horrors. Like a haunted house on steroids, this one-of-a-kind experience brings some of the scariest characters of the past, present, and future to life. Meet the lost souls of the dead in a haunted happening you won’t forget. Naper Settlement’s historic buildings are turned into Frankenstein’s Laboratory, a Victorian Insane Asylum, a Torture Dungeon, Journey through the Underworld and so much more. Plan to come early, there is lots to see and do. Tickets are $15 per person. Naper Settlement members are free. No costumes allowed. This event is Rated PG-Creepy. Not recommended for children under 8 or those easily scared. For more information visit, www.napersettlement.org.

Soup’s On!

October 18, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Rotary Club of Naperville is hosting the 8th Annual Soup’s On! fundraiser to raise funds to benefit four local charities whose mission is to focus on ending hunger and homelessness—Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry of Naperville, Hesed House of Aurora and DuPage PADS of Wheaton, and The Rotary Club of Naperville’s community and international projects. Soup’s On!, a fun, family event, will be held at Naperville Central High School, 440 Aurora Ave, Naperville. More than 25 of the area’s top restaurants will be serving everything from beef tenderloin and pulled pork sandwiches, artisan breads, and a selection of gourmet cheeses to a wide variety of soups, chili, and gumbo. Guests will also enjoy many decadent desserts. This family event will also offer a children’s food and beverage menu. Musical entertainment will be provided by national award-winning high school student musical ensembles from Districts 203 and 204. A silent auction is planned, and there will be a special children’s play area sponsored by the DuPage Children’s Museum. For more information, visit www.soupsonrotary.com.

Peter Frampton – Raw, An Acoustic Tour

October 22, 8 p.m.
Peter Frampton is back on the road, this time performing an acoustic-only set for the first time ever. Gordon Kennedy, Frampton’s longtime collaborator and co-producer of his Grammy Award-winning album “Fingerprints,” will join him on tour as well as an added special guest, Frampton’s son, singer and guitarist Julian Frampton. Frampton remains one of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history. At age 16, he was lead singer and guitarist for British band The Herd. At 18, he co-founded one of the first supergroups, seminal rock act Humble Pie. His fifth solo album, the electrifying “Frampton Comes Alive!,” is one of the top-selling live records of all time. Tickets are $75, $85 and $95. North Central College, Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Avenue, Naperville. For more information, visit finearts.northcentralcollege.edu.

Jonny Lang

October 25, 6 p.m.
With the release of “Fight For My Soul,” singer Jonny Lang enters a chapter where he’s found his true voice. The album defies categorization by a single genre. The textured arrangements, broad worldview, gorgeous vocal melodies, and expressive guitar playing are what defines “Fight For My Soul.” After Lang released his Grammy-winning album “Turn Around” in 2007, he made the decision to become an independent artist. The first result was 2009’s “Live At the Ryman,” but “Fight For My Soul,” by its nature, is his first fully realized artistic achievement through his own label SayRai Music, featuring his own touring band. This award-winning, hard-touring, guitarist and vocalist blends smoking electric funk and slide guitar, jazzy instrumentals and a tight blues groove with soul. Tickets are $75 and $85. North Central College, Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave, Naperville. For more information, visit finearts.northcentralcollege.edu.

Trick or Treat Downtown Naperville

October 25
Calling all ghouls and goblins! Come downtown Naperville to enjoy a great morning and early afternoon filled with fun and lots of Halloween candy. The Trick or Treat Trolley will also be circling downtown offering complimentary rides, compliments of the Main Street Promenade for costumed kids and their parents.Naperville Park District

Halloween Hayride

October 25, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Calling all witches, wizards, ghosts and goblins. Dress up in your favorite Halloween costume, parents included, for a Halloween hayride through Knock Knolls Park, 336 Knoch Knolls Road. Each registered child ages 3–12 years receives a Halloween goodie bag. Participants may bring your own food to cook over the bonfire or bring the fixings for s’mores. Hot chocolate and apple juice will be provided. No alcohol allowed. Please bring your own stick or skewer for roasting. Some picnic tables are provided, however, guests are allowed to bring chairs and blankets. Please bring flashlights and insect repellant. For rainout information, visit www.napervilleparks.org. Children under 3 years of age may ride for free and do not need to be registered. Each child and adult attending must register. This is a per person event. Visit www.napervilleparks.org or call 630.848.5000 to register.

Jay Leno

October 30, 8 p.m.
Comedy and talk show legend Jay Leno is headed to Aurora’s Paramount Theatre for one-show-only, and he’s bringing audiences along for one of the funniest nights of the fall comedy season. From performing 300 nights a year in comedy clubs to dominating the late night circuit as NBC-TV’s Tonight Show host for over 17 years, Leno’s Emmy-winning humor has had audiences around the world laughing for decades and has earned him a spot in the Television Hall of Fame. Acclaimed TV late night show host, admired stand-up comedian, best-selling children’s book author, much-in-demand corporate speaker, lovable TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder and mechanic, and philanthropist—it’s no wonder that Jay Leno is widely characterized as “the hardest working man in show business.” Leno will perform one-show-only October 30 at 8 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd in downtown Aurora. Tickets are $89, $99 and $109. For tickets and information, go to ParamountAurora.com, call the box office at 630.896.6666, or stop by the Paramount Theatre, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.