Tickets on sale for Naper Settlement events in October
Tickets for Naper Settlement’s fall festivals, including Oktoberfest, All Hallows Eve and Howlin’ at the Moon, are on sale now.
Oktoberfest will be celebrated Oct. 3 and 4 and features traditional German cuisine, beer and live music, including modern polka, pop and country. The event also includes a stein-holding contest, lawn games and a children’s area. Activities are planned for 5 to 10 p.m. Oct. 3 and 3 to 10 p.m. Oct. 4. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children.
All Hallows Eve will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 17-18 with Halloween-themed outdoor activities and family-friendly entertainment. The event is designed for families with children 16 and younger. It includes a zombie maze, dark art gallery, laser tag and a costume contest. Tickets are $25 per person.
Howlin’ at the Moon, an adults-only celebration, will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. Oct. 24-25. The event is for anyone 21 and older and includes food trucks, adult beverages, a costume contest and live entertainment. Tickets are $25 per person.
All three events take place on the grounds of Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville.
Tickets are available at www.napersettlement.org/events.
American Legion Post 43 announces essay contest winners
The student winners of Naperville American Legion Post 43’s 2025 Americanism Essay Contest, recognized for their exceptional writing and academic dedication, have been announced.
Participants were asked to write about “What is My Favorite National Memorial or Monument” in an essay 500 words or less with a goal of encouraging an appreciation for America’s landmarks and their historical significance, a news release said.
Winners were chosen for their originality, clarity and compelling arguments. They are:
- Arwa Hameed – 12th Grade, Naperville Central High School;
- Mansi Bajaj – 11th Grade, Metea Valley High School;
- Anaisha Choudhary – 9th Grade, Naperville North High School;
- Astha Savalia – 7th Grade, Kennedy Junior High School;
- Avigna Suresh Kumar – 7th Grade, Granger Middle School.
All participants are eligible to apply for college scholarships awarded annually by Naperville post to help fund their academic and leadership development, the release said.
To learn more on the contest and other youth programs, go to naperlegion.org.
Team Hope Walk to benefit those with Huntington’s disease
The Illinois chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America will host a fundraising walk at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 18, at the Naperville Riverwalk Grand Pavilion, 912 Honorary Sindt Memorial Court.
Registration for the 2025 Team Hope Walk will begin at 9:30 a.m.
The event is one of many taking part in communities across the country to support the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. Team Hope is the society’s largest national fundraising event and will take place in more than 100 cities, a news release said.
Huntington’s disease is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain and has no cure, the release said.
Register to participate at illinois.hdsa.org. For more information, contact Lillie Paxson at lilliepaxson@gmail.com.
DuPage Children’s Museum receives $5,000 foundation grant
DuPage Children’s Museum in Naperville has been given a $5,000 grant from the DuPage Foundation’s Next Generation Initiative to benefit the museum’s programming and ensure children have access to hands-on learning.
The initiative is designed to promote philanthropy in DuPage County among adults in their 20s to 40s. Each year it selects three causes on which to focus and invites nonprofit groups to apply for a grant, a news release said. The grant to the museum kicked off the group’s year of giving, which raised money through its Spring Social fundraiser on April 9.
Next on the organization’s schedule is its Summer Social in June, which will benefit Exodus World Service, which help refugee and immigrant services, the release said.