The beautiful music of the Naperville Municipal Band concerts in Central Park this summer hit a sour note when I learned that one of the sweetest reasons for an evening out would be missing.
In a season in which fans are still getting used to the fact that beloved conductor Ron Keller and emcee Ann Lord are no longer with us, we learned the popular bake sales that accompanied each concert would not be offered this year.
When you think about it, not having the opportunity to buy a slice of pie or a piece of cake doesn’t sound like a big deal. But we’re talking about Naperville; the big city with a small-town heart. We love our traditions. How many of you have memories of taking your children to the concert and choosing a sweet treat? How many of you enjoyed a home-made dessert that you didn’t have to make yourself? How many of you were happy to share your baking skills with others while raising money for a good cause?
I remember being delighted a few years back when I secured a bake sale slot for a nonprofit group of which I’m a member. Like all the nonprofits who man the gazebo, we knew it would shine a light on our organization and give us the chance to make a little money.
While I supported the mission by bringing in cakes and pies from Costco, it was our home bakers who really leapt at the opportunity. They spent hours making scrumptious treats, always mindful of the gluten free and vegan community. There was truly something for everyone.
And the whole evening ended up being a win-win for everyone. We enjoyed selling our wares while greeting customers. Concert-goers loved a delicious dessert and the band knew it added a sweet topping to that night’s concert.
Wanting to find out more about the decision to end the sales, I reached out to Brad Wilson, executive director of Naperville Park District. I thought there was a change in policy, but that’s not true. They have always followed DuPage County Health Department requirements, which in part require a temporary food service permit when any food is served to the public at an event.
The problem is those rules weren’t being followed, he said.
“In 2023 our staff informed the band that moving forward serving food at concerts must follow the park district’s permitting process and meet health department requirements,” Wilson said. “Groups are welcome to sell food at parks if a permit is received from the health department.”
That requires that groups must:
- Complete a special event application;
- Apply for a DuPage County Health Department food sales permit;
- Sell only purchased goods to ensure there’s a clear understanding of ingredients;
- Show proof of insurance.
As of the beginning of June when the concerts were due to start, none of the groups interested in hosting a bake sale had been able to complete the process so the municipal band board voted to suspend the sales for this year.
Band Director/Conductor Emily Binder says she knows the importance of the bake sales. The band will be working on a solution for next year, she said.
“The Naperville Municipal Band has cherished the bake sales for decades and relished the opportunity to support nonprofit organizations. We are very, very sad that the bake sales are not able to happen this year,” Binder said.
“(We) will spend the indoor season exploring options to possibly reimagine or restore the bake sale and the opportunities for nonprofit organizations at our summer concerts.”
While I’m pleased this means the bake sales may be back next summer, I can still see a major problem. Generally, concert-goers aren’t looking for a square of a Costco tray cake or a chocolate chip cookie they can buy at Jewel. They often ask if what they are buying is home-made because it usually tastes better.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of the home baker. They get as much pleasure from baking cakes and cookies as the rest of us do from eating them. I know our group was keen to bake as many strawberry rhubarb pies as we could because it’s a firm favorite that you don’t always see in stores.
I hope a solution can be found and the matter is resolved in time for the next season. It would be great to see the band be able to add “American Pie” to both menus.
Hilary Decent is a freelance journalist who moved to Naperville from England in 2007. She can be reached at hilarydecent@gmail.com.
