In partnership with
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🎉 The Naperville FunTimes
Your Weekly Family Fun Guide for Naperville & Beyond
Issue #14 | Friday, June 12, 2026
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Happy Friday, Naperville families! ☀️
Summer is officially in full swing, and this weekend is delivering BIG. We've got a food truck party by the lake tonight, pony rides and a steam train ride out at Blackberry Farm, and a free Juneteenth celebration packed with live music, dancing, and Brewster's ice cream right in downtown Naperville. Plans? You've got them now.
☀️ Summer 2026 — Week 3
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🗓️ This Week's Top 3 Family Picks
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🎯 Pick #1
⚡ TONIGHT ONLY
Fun & Food Trucks at Whalon Lake — A FREE Lakeside Summer Kick-Off! 🚚
Tonight's the night! The Will County Forest Preserve kicks off its summer Fun & Food Trucks series right at Whalon Lake — and it's 100% FREE to attend. Three food trucks roll up: Grumpy Gaucho, Lil Deb's, and Nick's Pizza Truck, with beverages from The Dock on Front Street. The Jukebox Heroes play live while kids bounce it out in the bounce house or play lawn games along the water's edge. The first 150 families get free Ben & Jerry's ice cream cups — so get there early! No registration needed, just show up and enjoy.
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🎯 Pick #2
Blackberry Farm — Pony Rides, a Steam Train & a Pioneer Village Just for Little Ones! 🐴
A short drive to Aurora gets you a full day of old-fashioned fun at Blackberry Farm, a pioneer-village-meets-amusement-park built with little kids in mind. One admission price covers the Big Rock Steam Train looping scenic Lake Gregory, a hand-cranked carousel, gentle paddle boats, a hay wagon ride, and — the showstopper for most under-10s — real pony rides. Toddlers get their own space at Little Farmer's Junction with bike paths and sensory tables, and there's a sprawling climb-and-zipline playground for the bigger kids. Bring a picnic (outside food is welcome) and plan to spend the whole afternoon.
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Eight new trips designed for families in search of adventure
Intrepid's new Premium Family trips are the kind you'll reminisce about for years to come. The eight new trips across Borneo, Morocco, India, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand and Egypt put small groups of families in the hands of Intrepid's most experienced local guides — with feature stays, cultural immersion, and kid-focused activities woven throughout. Stay in an overwater villa in Borneo and plant coral with your kids. Spend a night at a desert camp in Morocco under live Gnaoua music. See the Taj Mahal at sunrise as a family. Intrepid handles all the logistics so you can stay present for the moments that matter, while travelling in small groups of three to five like-minded families.
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🎯 Pick #3
⚡ THIS WEEKEND ONLY
Juneteenth Celebration at Rotary Hill — Music, Food Trucks & Community Spirit, FREE! 🎶
Naperville Neighbors United hosts their annual Juneteenth Celebration at Rotary Hill (440 Aurora Ave.) and it's one of the most joyful, family-friendly events downtown Naperville puts on all year. Bring a blanket and settle in for live music, dance parties, and community resource tents. Food trucks serving hot dogs, hamburgers, funnel cakes, Harold's Chicken, and Brewster's Ice Cream line the hill. Kids can grab freebies like bookmarks and buttons from the kids' activity area, and a Naper Settlement educator will be on-site with engaging materials about Juneteenth history. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome — just show up ready to celebrate!
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🍽️ Kids Eat Free This Week!
Top Pick valid Mon–Thu • Regular Pick every Tuesday
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What a weekend to be a Naperville family! From lakeside food trucks tonight to pony rides and a steam train at Blackberry Farm to a joyful Juneteenth celebration tomorrow afternoon — every one of these is a reason to get off the couch and make some memories. Summer's just getting warmed up. 🧡
The Naperville FunTimes Team 🧡
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