CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the 2026 Special Events Calendar and designate the calendar as closed
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DEPARTMENT: Community Services
SUBMITTED BY: Jake Fiedler, Special Events Coordinator
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The Special Events calendar is a tool to assist in the planning and preparation of the many annual events that are held in Naperville. The 2026 calendar was compiled based on applications from event organizers as well as the Special Events Team scoring criteria. As in previous years, staff is requesting the City Council grant preliminary approval for the dates and events listed. This will allow sponsors and organizers to proceed with planning. Upon approval, City staff will begin scheduling logistics meetings to review routes, staffing levels, and traffic control plans. The City Council will have the opportunity to review specific details for individual events at regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year.
DISCUSSION:
The Special Events Team
This is a multi-departmental (Community Services, Police, Fire, Public Works, Naper Settlement, Library, TED), multi-jurisdictional (Edward Hospital, Park District, DNA) group that evaluates applications, recommends the following year’s calendar, meets throughout the year with organizers to plan event logistics, and provides resources before, during, and after the event day(s).
New events for 2026
Naperville Taco Fest
Community event themed around Hispanic culture.
Rock the Block at Block 59
Community events themed around live music.
35 Years of Independence of the Republic of Moldova
Promote Moldova culture.
Taste of Naperville
Community event themed around German culture.
Lights at Naper Settlement
Community event with lighted attractions.
Approval of the 2026 Special Events Calendar
The calendar includes 61 events, for a total of 120 event days, from February through December that require City services and/or the closure of streets.
In addition to approving the attached 2026 calendar, the Special Events Team is requesting the calendar be closed to all events.
Once the calendar is closed, the Special Events Coordinator will add event requests to a 2026 wait list. Events on the list will be reviewed in the summer of 2026 during the annual application process.
If an organizer does not wish to be placed on the wait list, they have the option to petition the City Council at a regularly scheduled meeting and an agenda item will be prepared for review with a recommendation from the Special Events Team.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A