There’s one last blast of summer to be had with Naperville’s Last Fling, its annual Labor Day party.
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Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 1; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 2-3 and 12 to 8 p.m. Sept. 4. Held along the Riverwalk, Last Fling is free and features a carnival, parade, business expo, food vendors, family activities area and two stages of bands.
It is the Naperville Jaycees’ largest fundraiser, raising millions of dollars over the past 40 years for nonprofit organizations and civil improvements throughout Naperville and DuPage County, said Karen Coleman, the Last Fling’s public relations chair and a member of the Naperville Jaycees, which organizes the event.
The Coors Light Chill Stage, located at the Riverwalk lot at Main Street and Jackson Avenue, is where you’ll find the music. On Sept. 1, Mix Tape Junkies play at 5 p.m. and Hairbangers Ball is on at 8 p.m.
“We’re very excited — a lot of our headliners have been at the event before,” said Coleman. “They have a huge crowd draw. We’re really excited about Hairbangers Ball. We have not had them at the Fling — at least as long as I can remember. They are a gigantic party. It’s a good time. They embody and personify ’80s hair metal. And the fans dress up and play the part, too.”
On Sept. 2, the hip-hop party band Too Hype Crew headlines the night; with 90s Pop Nation, The Prissillas and OMT also performing.
“House party, dance music, neon, one-shoulder overalls, high-tops — good times,” Coleman said.
Sixteen Candles headlines Last Fling Sept. 3; with other acts The Ron Burgundys, The Country Night and Within 4 Days also taking the stage. The fest closes out Sept. 4 with Hi Infidelity performing at 3:45 p.m. and Rick Lindy and the Wild Ones at noon.
The beer garden stage at the Riverview Lot features Trace Hamilton performing Sept. 1 and 4, Brent Brown performing Sept. 2 and Michael C. Hayes performing Sept. 3.
Family attractions will take place at the Riverwalk Amphitheater. Activities include a reptile show two of the three days, a foam party and craft projects, she said.
“We have some new fun stuff happening,” Coleman said. “We’ve got improv classes happening, which will be fun. We have a mermaid princess meet and greet and singalong happening. We have The Road Show show choir coming — they were a huge hit last year.”
The business expo and food and beverage vendors will be located along Jackson Avenue between Main and Eagle streets.
“We have a well-rounded group this year,” she said. “We’re broadening the horizons. We have a nice variety of vendors this year.”
Food vendors will be plentiful and familiar, she said. That includes Genoa Italian Concessions, Perk N’ Pickle, Melody Ice Cream, Pierogi Rig, Smilin’ Dog and Barone’s Pizza, to name a few.
“Obviously, we will have our tried-and-true food vendors,” she said. “We have vegan options, we have vegetarian options, we have Mexican food. We have a huge variety of food.”
The traditional Last Fling parade is at 10 a.m. Sept. 4. It starts near Naperville North High School and runs to Naperville Central High School, she said. Ron Keller, conductor and music director for the Naperville Municipal Band, is the Grand Marshal.
“We have about 75 entries so far,” she said. “We’re really excited about the parade. It is the largest Labor Day parade in Illinois.”
Sept. 3 is Special Needs Day at the carnival. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., special needs patrons and guardians can enjoy no-wait seating on all the rides, Coleman said.
This is the 40th year the Naperville Jaycees have been running the Last Fling, she said.
“We really cherish the Fling and we are really proud we’ve been able to run it consistently this entire time,” she said. “It really is something we are very passionate about and grateful to do for the nonprofits in the area.”
The Last Fling is one of the things that has never left Naperville, she said, even as businesses and events come and go.
“The Fling has been here. The Fling has been around for the majority of modern times that people can remember,” she said. “Everyone talks about it all the time and that’s what’s really special. You can’t think about what to do in Naperville without thinking about the Fling. The Fling is a vibe.”
Naperville Last Fling
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When: Sept. 1-4
Where: Main Street and Jackson Avenue along the Riverwalk, Naperville
Tickets: free
Information: 630-961-4143; lastfling.org
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.