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Naperville Jaycees to debut new carnival rides at 2025 Last Fling!

The Naperville Jaycees are partnering with Windy City Amusements, one of Chicago area’s premier midway providers, to bring an exciting lineup of new amusement rides and games to the Naperville Last Fling, running Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.

“We’re thrilled to provide Naperville with fresh rides and attractions, many of which have never been featured at the Last Fling. We plan to feature more rides than in previous years,” said Tony Salerno Jr., president of Windy City Amusements.

New additions include the Sky Rider, a towering swing ride that sends thrill-seekers soaring 80 feet into the air, and the Zipper, a classic adrenaline-pumping ride that flips and spins riders in every direction.

Fan favorites also will return after a multiyear absence, such as the Giant Century Wheel, a 65-foot-tall Ferris wheel offering breathtaking views of downtown Naperville; and a variety of family-friendly attractions like the Carousel and Wacky Shack.

Young visitors can explore Pirate Island, a multilevel jungle gym-style fun house, and enjoy perennial favorites like the Orient Express family roller coaster, Motorcycles, and even a miniature free-fall tower built just for kids.

“We’re looking forward to bringing the city of Naperville an all-new carnival experience,” Salerno added. “It’s an honor to work alongside the Naperville Jaycees to present one of the largest Labor Day weekend festivals in the Chicago area.”

The Last Fling Carnival takes place Aug. 29 to Sept. 1 in downtown Naperville, near the intersection of Jackson Avenue and Eagle Street. For more information, visit lastfling.org/carnival.

The Last Fling is the Naperville Jaycees’ largest fundraiser, raising over $2 million for nonprofit organizations throughout Naperville and DuPage County in the past 20 years. The Jaycees thank you, the volunteers and sponsors who have continued to support the organization. Volunteer and sponsorship opportunities for the 2025 Last Fling are available by emailing admin@lastfling.org.

The Naperville Jaycees is a not-for-profit service organization for young professionals dedicated to offering Naperville-area residents the opportunity to better themselves and to grow personally and professionally while giving through community service and fundraising efforts.

The group’s annual events include worthwhile projects that positively impact the community. The group also organizes and staffs the Last Fling in close cooperation with the city of Naperville, Naperville Park District, numerous Naperville community organizations, and hundreds of volunteers.

Monthly meetings are open to all, and are held on the second Tuesday of each month at Judd Kendall VFW, 908 W. Jackson Ave. in Naperville. Call the chapter's hotline at (630) 961-9375, email jcinfo@naperjaycees.org, or visit their website at naperjaycees.org for more details.

Also, the deadlines for event sponsorships are fast approaching! Contact sponsorship@lastfling.org to get involved.

Follow facebook.com/LastFling, x.com/JCsLastFling, or instagram.com/LastFling.

  The Last Fling festival features four days of live music, a parade, carnival rides, food and beer tastings, a luncheon for veterans, bingo, a spaghetti-eating contest, and more. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com, 2024

FRIDAY

7 a.m.: Breakfast with the Naperville Jaycees hosted at Quigley's Irish Pub

5 p.m.: Gates open

5 p.m.: Sammy & The Knights perform R&B and classic rock tunes

5 p.m.: Just Enough Wine & Carbliss Tasting near the Sponsors’ Tent

5 p.m.: Naperville’s own Brent Brown near the Sponsors’ Tent

8 p.m.: 7th heaven, a festival favorite that has written and released over 1,000 original songs over 40 years, on the main stage

10 p.m.: All gates close

SATURDAY

9 a.m.: Senior Bingo in the Sponsors’ Tent presented by Naperville Senior Center

10 a.m.: Gates open

10 a.m.: Dave DiNasso's Traveling World of Reptiles

11:30 a.m.: Spaghetti eating contest presented by Little Italian Pizza

Noon: Buckshot Bully performs Southern and country rock on the main stage

Noon: Brent Brown near the Sponsors’ Tent

Noon: Carnival and Dunk Tank open

1 p.m.: Balloon Toss

1 p.m.: ZOA Energy Drinks Tasting near the Sponsors’ Tent

2 p.m.: Craft Time!

2:30 p.m.: Fearless: The Taylor Tribute on the main stage

3 p.m.: Freaky Friday: A New Musical performed by Theater for Charity

4 p.m.: Patch Party with Hawaiian Fluid Art of Naperville

4 p.m.: Boston Beer Tasting near the Sponsors’ Tent

5 p.m.: Molson Coors Tasting near the Sponsors’ Tent

5:15 p.m.: ’90s Pop Nation on the main stage

8 p.m.: Too Hype Crew, a seven-piece band, complete with dancers, plays hip-hop and party songs from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Vanilla Ice and TLC on the main stage.

10 p.m.: All gates close

SUNDAY

10 a.m.: Gates open

10 a.m.: Good Shepherd Church worship

10 a.m.: Special Needs Day presented by Naperville Jaycees and Carnival

10 a.m.: Games

Noon: Within 4 Days mixes genres and decades of tunes on the Jackson Avenue stage

Noon: Brent Brown near the Sponsors’ Tent

Noon: Carnival and Dunk Tank open

Noon: Dave DiNasso's Traveling World of Reptiles

1 p.m.: ZOA Energy Drinks Tasting near the Sponsors’ Tent

2 p.m.: Song & Dance Meet & Greet with Elsa

2:30 p.m.: Mixtape Junkies on the main stage

4 p.m.: Boston Beer Tasting near the Sponsors’ Tent

4 p.m.: Improv Comedy Show by the Theater Department at Steps Dance Center

5 p.m.: Molson Coors Tasting near the Sponsors’ Tent

5:15 p.m.: The Ron Burgundys performs Yacht rock and soft rock on the main stage

8 p.m.: Sixteen Candles performs hits from the 1980s on the main stage

10 p.m.: All gates close

The 1980s tribute band, Sixteen Candles, will perform at The Last Fling on Sunday, Aug. 31. Courtesy of Sixteen Candles

MONDAY

10 a.m.: Labor Day Parade heads south on Mill to Jefferson Avenue, east on Jefferson to Main Street, south on Main to Porter Avenue and west to Naperville Central High School

10 a.m.: Gates open with the carnival starting at 11 a.m.

Noon: Rick Lindy and the Wild Ones will perform Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, the Beatles and others during a complimentary Support Our Troops Veterans’ Lunch in the sponsors’ area near the intersection of Jackson Avenue and Main Street.

Noon: Scouting America: Fun Activities for Youth

Noon: Singer/songwriter Michael C. Hayes near the Sponsors’ Tent

2:30 p.m.: Walking with Dinosaurs: Raptor & Baby Dino

3:45-6 p.m.: Mike & Joe performs 1970s covers and more modern songs from Weezer, Dave Matthews, Keith Urban, Foo Fighters, The Cure and more on the main stage

6 p.m.: All gates close

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