Naperville Garden Club’s Cup of Cheer has been a beloved tradition since 1961. For many residents, it’s as much a part of Christmas as decorating the tree or making cookies, yet surprisingly there are still people who do not know about it.
Gwenn Lloyd, who has been organizing the event for 22 years, told me, “It just fascinates me when I meet a 10-year plus resident and they say they have never heard of it.”
For those who don’t know, the Cup of Cheer — year set for Dec. 3-4 — gives guests the opportunity to walk through what are arguably the best holiday decorated houses in the state. Not only can visitors get ideas about what to do in their own homes, but it’s a beautiful way to spend a few hours before the Christmas rush.
If that wasn’t enough, they can buy new décor at a special holiday market, enjoy tea with friends and take home a commemorative cup and saucer. The event is so much a part of local history that Naper Settlement has a collection of its cups and saucers spanning the entire 59 years.
For Lloyd, work for next year begins as soon as the previous year is finished. The most challenging part is finding people who want to showcase their homes because they try not to repeat locations. If you would like to be featured next year, this is the time to make contact so you can show her how your house will look.
A thousand cups and saucers are ordered in January for the 850 people and guests who generally attend. After the pandemic closed the event last year, the Garden Club is excited to be back this year, especially as money raised goes towards scholarships for students wanting to study horticulture and related subjects.
“It takes 60 to 70 people working three-hour shifts to man the homes throughout the two-day event,” Lloyd said. “We have hostesses at each house as well as the holiday market, which this year will be at the VFW in downtown Naperville.”
Lloyd visits anyone wishing to showcase their home to discuss their plans. In the past, the Garden Club offered help but these days the owners do it themselves.
“As Naperville has built up, we have larger homes which are quite sophisticated so now we mostly do administration to help the flow,” she said.
This year the Cup of Cheer will be featuring four homes located in downtown Naperville, Breckenridge Estates, River Haven Estates and East Highlands. One thing that sets them apart from homes on other house walks is that they are decorated inside from top to bottom.
Lisa Paschal-Alcorn, who lives downtown with her husband, John, uses a professional decorator to help her plan.
“We examined all of my existing décor, created a decorating plan and identified any gaps which required additional purchases. We began the actual decorating in early November,” she said.
Paschal-Alcorn said she loves to entertain o
ver the holidays, so making her home festive and welcoming has always been important. Among all her decorations, the most beloved is her collection of crystal ornaments.
“The main tree in the family room includes Waterford and other crystal ornaments,” she said. “My mother began gifting the Waterford ornaments to me years ago and I continue to collect them to this day. They are exquisite and among my most treasured possessions.”
Nina Casey puts up 11 Christmas trees in her Breckinridge Estates home.
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“They’re all artificial and ten of the 11 are themed,” she said. “The 11th in the largest and in the living room. The ornaments on this tree are from special occasions, trips or have a very special meaning to us.”
Casey’s favorite decorations are a collection of Santa Clauses.
“They are special because I have collected them for years,” she said. “I got my first Santa Claus when I was 5 years old. He is a mechanical Santa I got from Santa Claus himself. It has been very well loved over the years and is showing his age. This Santa would go to college with me each year after Thanksgiving and of course come back home with me for Christmas.”
Elisa Neisen blends vintage, modern and her own creations in the River Haven Estates home she has shared with her family since 2016. It takes her two weeks to fully decorate for the holidays.
They have an astonishing 25 Christmas trees, but half of them are stored fully decorated. Her favorite things are almost too many to count.
“Our guest room has all the ornaments my grandmother, mother and aunt made,” she said. “Another favorite is my personal tree, which is covered and packed with all things that make me happy.
“Our New Year’s trees are sentimental since our wedding anniversary is on New Year’s Eve. There are also the vintage felt ornaments I’ve collected over the years. Last, but not least, is the Christmas art. We switch out 90% of the art in our home to Christmas, mostly handmade by me or vintage pieces I’ve acquired over the years.”
In case any of you are thinking you wouldn’t be able to meet such high standards yourself, I asked the ladies for some tips.
Neisen suggests grouping items together to make an appealing statement and offers a special word about the tree.
“A tree is never over decorated or has too many lights!” she said.
Casey says the most important thing is not to stress.
“Have fun with your decorations – things do not have to be perfect,” she said. “Enjoy getting your decorations out each year and cherish the memories.”
Paschal-Alcorn suggests working with a friend.
“Ask a friend to help with the planning for a new perspective on how to display your holiday décor in new and interesting ways,” she said. “Start early to give yourself time to tweak and fill in any gaps. Don’t feel compelled to take everything down on New Year’s Day. We often enjoy our decorations through January.”
For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.napervillegardenclub.org. This year’s Cup of Cheer takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 2-3. The Holiday Market is open between noon and 4 p.m. both days for ticket holders and only on Friday for non-ticket holders.
Hilary Decent is a freelance journalist who moved to Naperville from England in 2007.