While bad weather may have lowered attendance at the Naper Settlement Farmers Market in its second year, interest remains strong and it will be returning this year, officials say.
In its inaugural year, the market drew more than 9,900 attendees over the course of the summer, seeing an average of 825 visitors per week. That dropped to 6,841 this past summer, averaging 526 people weekly, a Settlement report says.
“I think primarily weather has always played a large role in event attendance, especially free events,” said Brittany Tepper, Naper Settlement’s director of marketing. “In our first year, we had great weather throughout the season.”
The market is open from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays from the end of June to late September. On three days last year, however, there was rain, including a thunderstorm that forced them to close early, Tepper said. On three other days, there was extreme heat, with temperatures ranging from the mid-90s to the 100s.
The market appeared to be popular when the weather didn’t interfere, officials said. On its July 1 opening day, there were 1,003 visitors.
“The first day is always a really exciting day for Naper Settlement,” Tepper said.
The 2025 farmers market also had more vendors than in its inaugural year. It expanded from 24 full- and 11 part-season in 2024 to 28 full-season vendors and 17 part timers the following year.
As part of the market, they offer live music and weekly educational classes and demonstrations led by museum staff and local guest speakers, Tepper said. They’ve proven to be popular, with one, “Backyard Chickens for Beginners,” returning for a second time in 2025 and drawing 100 people, she said.
Also attracting high attendance were new classes on bread making presented by Brian Severson Farms, a market vendor, and on a flower arrangements class by the Weed Ladies of the Naperville Heritage Society, she said.
“We engaged with the vendors a little bit more in the classrooms and so they could showcase their products and showcase their expertise,” Tepper said. “The museum, again, was open to the public and so we had the opportunity to not only (have people) experience the farmers market but to also see our exhibits, see some living history demonstrations.”
Overall, Settlement officials consider the market a successful community event and a great way for the museum to showcase its commitment to “learning and growing agricultural practices,” she said.
The 2026 market’s opening day is June 30 and it will run through Sept. 22. They’re in the process of securing vendors and setting up classes and demonstrations, Tepper said.
“We’re very excited to bring the Naper Settlement Farmers Market back to the community in 2026,” Tepper said.
cstein@chicagotribune.com
