A Very Brief History of Jaycees Last Fling at 60 Years

The Naperville Jaycees will host their annual Last Fling, Aug. 29 through Sept. 1, mindful that the event first started in the mid-1960s before there was Naper Settlement, the Riverwalk, Century Walk or Moser Tower.

Way back in July 1965, minutes from the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce note the idea for a Labor Day weekend event originated from Naperville native and businessman Dick Wehrli, then head of the Chamber’s Community Promotion Committee. Chamber minutes a year later in 1966 reflect that Rick Motta had taken the lead to plan a parade, picnic, ball game, band concert and more for Labor Day weekend in the parking lot for Centennial Beach that would begin that year.

About a decade or a dozen years later, the Chamber offered the Last Fling to the Naperville Jaycees. The Last Fl