Happy Friday, Naperville. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Naperville Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.

📰 In the news

Local happenings: Naperville drive thru Chick fil A opens with outdoor seating and Feeding America gift, Jaycee joins US JCI Senators, and library unveils royal reads — catch up here.

State-level stories: Business coaching helps incarcerated women launch ventures at Logan Correctional Center, Ameren showcases Peoria emergency responses, and one Illinois Powerball ticket snagged $1 million — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Mortgage rates are trending down, investors catapult gold above 3500 an ounce, and a tropical wave eyes the Antilles — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Tee off to support independent living
• Bring family history into high school
• Shave to fund childhood cancer research
• Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Naperville
• Join the 0.1k Juddathon for veterans
• Anxiety about debt? Get a free consultation

🫶 We got your back

Pizza: When your melted cheese craving hits emergency levels, it’s time… Check out these pizza spots around Naperville for everything from curbside slices to wood-fired perfection.

Teams: From Bears heartache to a pair of baseball clubs, Illinois packs over 25 pro squads into one state. Use our complete guide to plan your weekend game day.

Taqueria: From perfectly charred tortillas to fillings that demand a double order, Taqueria Invicto brings the kind of flavor that requires extra napkins and zero regrets.

Bargain shopping: The best finds aren’t always on store shelves. Amazon’s Deals Page is like a never-ending treasure hunt where the good stuff costs less, with new discounts dropping daily.

Save: The average driver pays $175 a month for car insurance, but most of us are paying way more than we should. If it’s been a while since you shopped around, you’re likely part of that “most of us.” This comparison tool may save you hundreds.

👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?

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📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

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Today

🎤 ‘90s Rock Night ft. Funky Monks & Our Name is Jonas @ The Forge: Lemont Quarries | Friday (9/5) at 6:30pm – Dust off your flannel and channel your inner alt-rocker—it’s a full night of ‘90s nostalgia. Funky Monks bring the Red Hot Chili Peppers heat, while Our Name is Jonas dives headfirst into Weezer’s greatest hits. Expect sing-alongs, air guitar battles, and serious throwback vibes.

🎸 Hairbangers Ball @ Two Brothers Roundhouse | Friday (9/5) at 8:30pm – Whether you still own a pair of parachute pants or just admire the art of excessive hairspray, this show will satisfy your nostalgia craving. Expect face-melting guitar solos, neon outfits, and enough teased manes to make your stylist weep. Completely worth ditching your sweats.

This weekend

☕ Coffee with the Cops | Saturday (9/6) at 8:00am – Forget the ticket book—this time the cops are bringing the coffee. Sit down with the Chief or Deputy Chief for a casual chat about neighborhood concerns, community programs, or just life in general. It’s your chance to connect with local law enforcement in the friendliest way possible—over a hot cup of joe.

🌱 Mini Garden Weekend | Saturday (9/6) at 11:00am – Nothing beats building tiny, magical gardens in Aurora’s greenhouses, and yes, adults, this means you. Design fairy doors, roll gazing balls, and hunt secret mini-worlds hidden among the blooms. Admission’s free, just pony up for materials and pack that above-average creativity.

🌮 Naperville Food Truck Festival @ Naper Settlement | Saturday (9/6) at 12:00pm – Downtown Naperville turns into a taco-and-margarita playground at the Naper Settlement, with ever-changing food trucks serving up creative tacos, and margaritas so good you’ll consider salt an essential food group. Bring a blanket, claim your patch of grass, and call parking a community workout.

🏎️ Soapbox Derby Racing | Sunday (9/7) at 7:30am – Miss the thrill of A-to-B races minus the school car line? Naperville’s Soapbox Derby down Frontenac Road delivers that rush, letting you bomb the hill in a shiny car you didn’t need to assemble, all for ten bucks a run. Bring dignity, leave scraped knees.

🌐 The International Trade Fair – Swadeshi Mela @ Mall of India | Sunday (9/7) at 11:00am – This sprawling fair at the Mall of India feels like a family reunion, well, if your relatives were selling handmade sarees, artisanal chutneys, and Bollywood dance moves. Over 80 vendors, live performances, and enough samosas to fuel your next Netflix binge.

🎹 Million Dollar Quartet @ Paramount Theatre | Sunday (9/7) at 1:00pm – Step back into rock ‘n’ roll history with the legendary night Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins shared the same stage. This jukebox musical brings the swagger, the sound, and the raw electricity of that once-in-a-lifetime jam session. Get ready to clap, sing, and maybe even swivel those hips.

Next week

🏌️ Little Friends Invitational @ Cress Creek Country Club | Monday (9/8) at 10:00am – The Little Friends Invitational is teeing off at Cress Creek Country Club with a golf scramble spilling into a community carnival, so you can swing clubs or swing by for games, prizes, and ice-cold drinks. Proceeds fund barrier-free homes for adults with physical challenges.

🧘 Qigong & Sound Healing | Monday (9/8) at 6:00pm – Slide into your baggiest sweats and wander in for mindful stretches and sonic wizardry with gongs, crystal bowls, and Native flutes, Treya’s DIY spa day for your nervous system. It’s the perfect excuse to lie down in a Himalayan salt cave, minus the tourists.

🎵 Song Circle @ Two Way Street Coffee House | Tuesday (9/9) at 7:00pm – This laid-back acoustic circle invites you to bring your own song, original or cover, where polite applause follows even the wonkiest chord. It’s basically therapy with guitars, friendly nods, and more dad jokes than you can shake a capo at.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 9/5 Karaoke Friday @ Bryan’s American Grille – 8 pm
• 9/5 Forget Hannah @ BallyDoyle – 9 pm
• 9/6 Sing Around @ Two Way Street Coffee House – 2 pm
• 9/6 Oktoberfest @ Lisle Campus – 4 pm
• 9/6 Tom Barr & Mark Smit @ Bryan’s American Grille – 7 pm
• 9/7 Trivia @ Noon Whistle Brewing – 3 pm
• 9/9 Senior Lunch & Bingo @ Village Hall – 11 am

🏠️ Price is right – Naperville edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Kelly Bitto (DPG Real Estate Agency)

A grand two-story foyer with a 19-foot ceiling makes an entrance, while the formal dining room’s tray ceiling and the living room’s stately pillars keep things fancy. The kitchen is a Brakur-cabinet wonderland, with a butler’s pantry, double ovens, and a walk-in pantry with its own custom door. There’s even a craft room with built-in desks and a mudroom lined with lockers for all the gear.

Upstairs, the primary suite brings spa vibes with a steam shower and a closet that could double as a boutique. The finished English lookout basement adds a whopping 2,996 square feet of play space. All this sits on the largest lot in Ashwood Park, with a deck built for parties and a 3.5-car garage ready for everything else.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →