🎉 The Naperville FunTimes
YOUR WEEKLY FAMILY ADVENTURE GUIDE
Issue #11  •  Friday, May 22, 2026
Happy Friday, Naperville families! 🌸
Memorial Day weekend is HERE 🎉 — and it’s the unofficial kick-off to summer! This is the weekend Naperville truly comes alive: the beloved Centennial Beach opens its gates, the annual Memorial Day Parade marches through downtown, and there’s no shortage of ways to make memories with your crew. Whether you’re splashing in a quarry, cheering on marching bands, or bouncing off the walls at a safari-themed playground, we’ve got your long weekend covered. Let’s go!
☀️ Memorial Day Weekend Edition — May 22–26, 2026
 
📅 This Week’s Top 3 Family Picks
🆕 Pick #1 ⚡ THIS WEEKEND ONLY
Centennial Beach Opening Weekend — Naperville’s Legendary Summer Quarry Is BACK!
📍 500 Jackson Ave, Naperville 💰 $8–$17 (Residents Save!)
👶 All Ages Welcome 🕐 Opens Sat. May 23 • Daily Through Labor Day
Summer officially starts THIS Saturday in Naperville — and it starts in the water! Centennial Beach is one of the most unique swim spots in all of Illinois: a real 1930s-era limestone quarry turned swimming destination, right in the heart of downtown Naperville. Crystal-clear water, sun-warmed limestone edges, a sandy beach area, a grill serving up snacks, and swim lessons for every age group make this a full summer tradition for families across the area. Opening weekend is always electric — grab your sunscreen, pack a cooler, and get there early to snag your favorite spot on the rocks!
🏊 Plan Your Beach Day →
 
✨ Why We Love It
There’s nowhere quite like Centennial Beach in all of Chicagoland — it’s a genuine quarry-turned-swim-hole that’s been a Naperville rite of summer since 1931. The sandy beach area is a total hit for little builders — kids can spend an entire afternoon making sandcastles without ever touching the water! Resident rates are a total bargain for the magic you get, and the grill on-site means you don’t have to pack a full lunch. Pro tip: season passes pay for themselves in just 5 visits!
🆕 Pick #2 ⚡ THIS WEEKEND ONLY
Naperville Memorial Day Parade — A Free Downtown Tradition That Gives You All the Feels
📍 Downtown Naperville (Jackson Ave) 💰 100% FREE
👶 All Ages (Littles Love This!) 🕐 Mon. May 25 • Parade Steps Off 10:30 AM
Bring your lawn chairs, pack your American flags, and grab a spot along the route — the Naperville Memorial Day Parade is one of the most heartfelt community traditions in DuPage County! The parade steps off at Jackson Avenue & West Street at 10:30 AM, winds east on Jackson, north on Washington Street, and east on Benton Avenue to Central Park. You’ll see youth scouts, marching bands, veterans’ groups, and floats that make even the most stoic grown-up a little misty. After the parade, stick around for the Memorial Day Ceremony at noon at Central Park Pavilion — complete with patriotic music from the Naperville Municipal Band.
🆛 Get Parade Details →
 
✨ Why We Love It
It’s completely free, it’s downtown, and it’s the kind of thing your kids will remember for years. Little ones go absolutely wild for the marching bands, and toddlers lose their minds over every single float. Streets close at 9 AM, so arrive early to snag a prime curb spot — bring snacks for the little ones and maybe a coffee for the adults!
🆕 Pick #3
Hyper Kidz Bolingbrook — Safari Thrills, LED Dance Floors & 14,000 Sq Ft of Pure Kid Joy!
📍 137 S Weber Rd, Bolingbrook 💰 $17.99–$19.99 per child (2 Adults FREE)
👶 Ages 0–13 🕐 Sat 9 AM–9 PM • Sun 9 AM–8 PM
If the weather isn’t cooperating — or you just want a rainy-day backup plan during a packed long weekend — Hyper Kidz Bolingbrook is your spot. This 14,000-square-foot safari-themed indoor playground is designed specifically for kids ages 0–13, with three age-appropriate zones so even your tiniest explorer has their own space to roam. The Big KidZone features multi-level climbing structures and the wildly popular interactive LED dance floor. The KidZone is perfect for the 3–7 crowd, and the MiniZone keeps toddlers safely entertained while the big kids run wild. No video games here — just active, social, imaginative play that actually wears them out!
🦑 Explore Hyper Kidz →
 
✨ Why We Love It
We’ve taken our own kids here and can confirm: the 6-to-9-year-old crowd is absolutely in their element. The multi-level climbing structures keep them busy for hours, and the LED dance floor is genuinely hilarious to watch. Two adults get in FREE with your child’s paid admission — that’s a family deal that actually makes sense! It’s also a brilliant backup if you need an indoor option during the long weekend. Bonus: the three separate zones mean a toddler and a 9-year-old can both have the time of their lives without competing for the same equipment.
 
🍽️ Kids Eat Free This Week!
Sunday May 24 & Monday May 25 (Memorial Day!) — perfect long-weekend dining
⭐ TOP PICK
🍌 Pinstripes Oak Brook
Every Sunday • After 3:00 PM
Kids 12 & under eat FREE with the purchase of any adult entrée. Dine at this Italian-American bistro — then hit the bowling lanes and bocce courts for the ultimate family night out! This Sunday May 24 is a perfect one to go big.
📍 7 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL 60523
🍺 Warren’s Ale House Wheaton
Every Monday • All Day • Memorial Day!
One free kids’ meal per adult entrée, dine-in or carryout. This neighborhood gem in downtown Wheaton is the perfect spot to refuel after Monday’s parade — a casual, family-friendly pub with a menu that pleases everyone.
📍 51 Town Square, Wheaton, IL 60189
 
What a weekend to be a Naperville family! From the first splash at Centennial Beach to the last float in the parade, this Memorial Day has everything. Soak it all in, hug your people, and take way too many pictures. Summer is officially here — and it’s going to be a great one. We’ll see you next Friday with more of the good stuff! ☀️
The Naperville FunTimes Team 🧡
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