SECA COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Discuss Fall Events at Naper Settlement
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DEPARTMENT: Community Services
SUBMITTED BY: Jake Fiedler, Special Events Coordinator
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
Naperville Heritage Society requested $5,145 in CY26 SECA funds for All Hallows Eve event. December 11, 2025 the SECA Commission reached consensus on its unified recommendation. All Hallows Eve event was awarded $4,100 (City Services). That recommendation was later confirmed at the Commission’s January 28, 2026, meeting. City Council approved SECA unified recommendations on February 17, 2026.
DISCUSSION:
Staff was recently notified by Naper Settlement that they will be cancelling the All Hallows Eve event previously scheduled for October 16 and 17, 2026. Due to decreased attendance and increasing production costs associated with All Hallows Eve, Naper Settlement has indicated a need to adjust their fall event offerings to ensure a successful festival moving forward.
In lieu of All Hallows Eve, Naper Settlement plans to enhance their existing Howlin’ at the Moon event on October 23 and 24, 2026, by adding a morning and daytime family-friendly component called Fam-O-Ween on October 24 and 25, 2026. The enhanced event will utilize a similar footprint as Howlin’ at the Moon and will incorporate several popular features from the former All Hallows Eve and Trick-or-Treat events, while shifting the focus to a Halloween festival geared toward families with young children.
Naper Settlement is requesting approval to use the City Services grant funds of $4,100 previously allocated for All Hallows Eve to support the expanded family-friendly component on October 23 and 24, 2026. This request does not involve additional funding and would utilize the previously approved City Services allocation. The City’s Special Events Team has reviewed the request and indicated they are able to support the event.