Festive offerings abound on Naperville’s Water Street for the holidays

The merchants and restaurants of Water Street in downtown Naperville have plenty of holiday happenings going on through the month of December.

Amidst the bright lights and holiday music of NaperLights, Sparrow will be open for coffee Thanksgiving morning, and Vasilis’s will be open for the Thanksgiving feast. Those not dining out can order traditional turkey with all the fixings or a turkey meal with the Mexican twist from Quiubo. Meals must be picked up on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Water Street independent merchants including Ben & Jerry’s, Naperville Jeweler, Pro Image Sports, Sea Love Candle Bar & Boutique, SixtyFour Wine Bar, Solaia Luxury Salon & Spa will take part in Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29, with specific offers for shoppers.

The Water Street merchants also will take part in the Downtown Naperville Alliance’s Winter Wine Walk on Wednesday, Dec. 3, and the Cookie Walk on Dec. 7.

Marquette Companies and Naperville Sunrise Rotary are celebrating NaperLights with a Free Family Holiday Stroll on Water Street on Sunday, Dec. 7, from 4-7 p.m. Santa will greet youngsters on his brightly lighted red throne in Jaycees Park by the Great Tree.

Also on hand will be a friendly elf offering Rotary’s popular holographic light-viewing glasses, as well as a balloon twister and glitter tattoo artist. A strolling Holiday Trivia Master will test guests’ knowledge of holiday events and lore. Road Show Choir will perform. Free hot chocolate and holiday cookies will keep children warm.

NaperLights, the dazzling free holiday light display, is a gift to the community from the Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise and sponsors including Marquette Companies and Gerald Cares.

It features over 150,000 lights and a growing collection of giant lighted holiday figures including skating polar bears, penguins sliding on an igloo, skaters, snow men, carolers, gifts, baubles, and dancing trees.

Water Street’s Foyo Plaza Fountain will be enhanced with dancing skaters and up in the sky high above the Riverwalk, you might just spy Santa and his reindeer flying over downtown.

Animated lights and music will fill the area with carols synched to the lights, and the colorful arch on Foyo Plaza is a popular photo spot. The display is illuminated from 4 to 10 p.m. Thanksgiving weekend through the holiday season.

Santa will be having important conversations with children Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5-21, weather permitting.

Downtown visitors can access Water Street from the Webster Street covered bridge from downtown. Parking is available at Hotel Indigo or the municipal center.

Water Street features six award-winning restaurants including Blue Sushi Sake Grill, Quiubo, Santo Cielo, SixtyFour Wine Bar & Kitchen, Sparrow Coffee Roastery and Vasili’s Mediterranean along with Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shop. Shops include Naperville Jewelers, Pro Image Sports, SeaLove Candle Boutique, Solaia Luxury Salon & Spa.

More information on the Free Family Holiday Stroll will be posted on the Waterstreetnaperville.com and facebook.com/WaterStreetNaperville.