Howlin' at the Moon in Naperville, October 23 and 24
Adults-only Halloween night at Naper Settlement, Oct. 23–24, 2026, from 5 to 10 p.m. Covers $25 tickets, bands, food trucks, and the grounds.
You know how quickly Halloween plans fill up when you want a night out that suits adults. Howlin’ at the Moon in Naperville is scheduled for Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 5 to 10 p.m. The event is 21 and over, with IDs checked at the gate.
Both nights take place at Naper Settlement and feature the same activities, with different bands each evening. Tickets cost $25, and the outdoor setting brings costumes, live music, food trucks, and Halloween installations to downtown Naperville.
The short answer: yes, Friday Oct. 23 and Saturday Oct. 24, 5 to 10 p.m.
Yes, Howlin’ at the Moon is scheduled for Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 5 to 10 p.m. It’s an adults-only event: you must be 21 or older, and staff check IDs at the gate.
You’ll find it at Naper Settlement, the outdoor history museum at 523 S. Webster St. in downtown Naperville. Tickets are $25 per adult. Both nights offer the same activities, while the bands change between Friday and Saturday.
The event details from Naper Settlement include the schedule and attendee information. Set aside the full five-hour window if you want time for music, food, and the activities spread across the grounds.
Who runs it
Naper Settlement runs Howlin’ at the Moon as an event of the Naperville Heritage Society. The nonprofit operates the museum under a management agreement with the City of Naperville.
That agreement dates to 1979, and the City Council updated it in April 2025. The Heritage Society’s information page explains the organization’s connection to Naper Settlement. Ticket revenue supports the Heritage Society’s history work.
This gives you a clear answer if you’re sorting out which local organization is behind the event: it’s a museum and Heritage Society fundraiser, with the city providing the management framework through its agreement.
The 2026 lineup and what's on the grounds
Friday’s bill pairs Birkenrocks as the opening act with Six Foot Blonde headlining; on Saturday, Mr. Blotto opens and Neighbor headlines. Both headliners are set to play half-cover sets for Halloween.
Mr. Blotto has a connection to the event’s early history: the band closed the Saturday show in 2021, the inaugural year. In 2026, you’ll hear it open Saturday before Neighbor takes the headline slot.
Across Naper Settlement’s 13 acres, the night’s attractions include a costume contest, fire dancers, a 15-foot werewolf, and a gargoyle sculpture. Sign up for the costume contest inside the Log House before 8 p.m.
You can also visit the Dark Art Gallery for blacklight painting and browse Halloween vendors at the Moonlight Market. Food trucks gather in the Food Truck Graveyard, with drinks available at the BOOze Bar. The event’s official page has the latest schedule details.
Tickets, drinks and food
Admission is $25 per adult, and Naper Settlement members receive free admission on both nights. Buy tickets through Naper Settlement’s website or at the gate; the museum warns about fake resellers. Its event FAQ provides ticket and visitor details.
Drink tickets cost $7 each, with payment in cash only. ATMs are on site. The beer list is scheduled to be announced soon, so check the event information before you go if you want details on specific drinks.
Food truck menus show sample prices including $5 for french fries, $8 for a brat, and $12 for a burger. Trucks include ChiTown Dogs, Crazy Jalapeños, Fry the Coop, and The Grumpy Gaucho. You can check the Howlin’ at the Moon menus for food options and prices.
Parking, entrance and the rules
Free parking is available at the Municipal Center garage near Eagle and Aurora, Naper Settlement’s visitor lot at Porter and Webster, and the Water Street garage. The City of Naperville lists downtown locations and details on its parking page.
Enter through the gate at 523 S. Webster St. Plan for a bag check, and bring printed tickets. You can bring lawn chairs and blankets, plus one sealed bottle of water or one empty non-glass container.
Outside food and drinks are prohibited, except for the permitted water or empty container. Pets and weapons are prohibited, including weapons carried as part of a costume. The event runs rain or shine, and tickets are nonrefundable.
How it started: a 2021 newcomer
Naper Settlement introduced Howlin’ at the Moon as a new adults-only Halloween event on October 22 and 23, 2021. Tickets cost $20, and Mr. Blotto closed the Saturday show.
The event returned for a second year in 2022. In 2025, it ran October 24 and 25, with tickets priced at $25 and the Kyle Hollingsworth Band headlining. Hollingsworth is the keyboardist for String Cheese Incident.
The 2026 ticket price remains $25. For Naperville, the event’s history is still relatively recent: the first edition dates to 2021, and its lineup has included returning bands alongside new headliners.