Millennium Carillon open for tours
With the arrival of warmer weathers, Naperville residents and visitors again may enjoy educational tours of the Millennium Carillon that include a stop at the carillon instrument, a peek at the largest bell, "Big Joe," and an opportunity to experience the beautiful vista from the top of the tower.
Hours for the Millennium Carillon in Moser Tower and the Visitor Center are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays through October 29. Beginning May 26, Friday hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be included through Aug. 11.
The Millennium Carillon and Visitor Center are located along the Riverwalk at the base of Rotary Hill, 443 Aurora Ave., Naperville.
Visitor Center admission is free. Carillon tours are $3 for ages 5 and older, free for younger children. Visitors younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Tuesday evening summer recital series at the carillon begins at 7 p.m. June 6. The 2017 performers include carillonneurs from Naperville and Chicago, as well as from across the country and from Canada and the Netherlands.
The recitals are free and there is lawn seating on Rotary Hill. Additionally, the patio will be open at the Riverwalk Café, where guests can enjoy dinner, snacks and beverages while listening to the music. The 2017 list of performers is as follows:
• June 6: Frans Haagen, city carillonneur, Kampen, Almelo, Rijssen, The Netherlands
• June 13: Jim Fackenthal, carillonneur, Chicago
• June 20: Katherine I. Zhou, carillonneur, Chicago
• June 27: Tim Sleep, city carillonneur, Naperville
• July 11: Hunter Chase, carillonneur, Chicago
• July 18: Wylie Crawford, garden carillonneur, president, World Carillon Federation
• July 25: Jon Lehrer, carillonneur, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Aug. 1: Parker Ludwig, carillonneur, Omaha, Nebraska
• Aug. 8: Lynnli Wang, carillonneur, Washington, D.C.
• Aug. 15: Roy Kroezen, city carillonneur, Centralia
• Aug. 22: Linda Dzuris, university carillonneur, Clemson, South Carolina
In addition to the Tuesday evening recitals, the carillon features pops concerts at 7 p.m. Saturdays during the summer. The Saturday evening concert schedule is as follows:
• June 3: Classical Favorites
• June 10: Classic Broadway
• June 17: Beatles I
• June 24: Patriotic celebration
• July 1: No recital due to Ribfest
• July 8: Kids' favorites
• July 15: Television theme songs
• July 22: Name That Tune
• July 29: Movie music
• Aug. 5: Night in the Tropics
• Aug. 12: Beatles II
• Aug. 19: Comedy songs
• Aug. 26: Country classics
The carillon also will continue to offer weekend recitals at noon Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays all year long. The schedule is posted online at naperville-carillon.org/Recitals.