Naper Settlement celebrates the holidays

Posted November 20, 2017 10:00 pm

By Emma Vodick Naper Settlement

Naper Settlement will play host to a variety of special events and exhibits in addition to the NaperLights and Christkindlmarket events.

Here's a quick look at other scheduled activities at the settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. For details, visit napersettlement.org or call (630) 420-6010.

Home for the Holidays

Explore midcentury modern traditions and fun fads in Naper Settlement's holiday-themed, post-World War II exhibit "Home for the Holidays: Christmas in the Fabulous 1950s."

The temporary exhibit highlights a time when the U.S. government began tracking Santa Claus' sleigh via radar, aluminum trees were the latest trend, and Napervillians started to enthusiastically adorn their homes with plastic decorations.

On view through Sunday, Dec. 24, the exhibit will be open during museum and Christkindlmarket hours, but will close one hour prior to the market closing.

Santa @ the Settlement

Get in the spirit by visiting Mr. and Mrs. Claus at Santa @ the Settlement from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, 9 and 16. Visitors will be able to share their wishes in their letter to Santa, craft two ornaments in Santa's Workshop and prepare a magical treat for Santa's reindeer in the Reindeer Food Factory.

Be sure to visit Mrs. Claus' Bakery to help her decorate cookies, then gather around for story time. Bring your cameras for a photo with Santa.

Admission is $15 per person, $13 for members, free for children younger than 1. Registration is required.

Old-Fashioned Christmas

Historian and author Rochelle Pennington invites audiences to take a nostalgic glance back to bygone Christmases between 1930 and 1960 in the History Speaks Lecture Series event, "An Old-Fashioned Christmas."

The program is from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, in Naper Settlement's Meeting House. Visitors will learn about a time when holiday feasts were prepared from canned jars and holiday shopping began with a Sears and Roebuck catalog.

Pennington's program, filled with humor and historic trivia, also will feature items from her antique toy collection.

Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for ages 4 to 12 and students. Admission for members is $8 for adults and $7 for youth. Reservations are recommended.

Children can tell Santa their wishes during Santa @ the Settlement Saturday mornings during the holidays. Courtesy of Naper Settlement

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