How to Vote for Naperville's Dog Days of Summer Sculptures

Dog Days of Summer Giant Schnauzer sculpture and sponsor plaque on a bench-lined Downtown Naperville sidewalk

The Downtown Naperville Alliance’s Dog Days of Summer 2026 sculpture walk is not just for looking, it is for voting. Two dozen painted sculptures are spread across downtown all summer, and you get a say in which design takes the People’s Choice. It is free, it takes about a minute, and it is a great excuse to spend an afternoon downtown. (If you happen to be house-hunting, it is also a good way to see why so many families search Naperville neighborhoods and homes for sale after a day here.) Here is exactly how to vote.

Voting Is Live: The Quick Answer

Voting is open now. To vote, visit the official Dog Days of Summer sculptures page from the Downtown Naperville Alliance, find your favorite sculpture, and click its Vote button. You can vote from your phone right in front of a sculpture, or from home after your walk. Voting is limited to one vote per IP address.

How to Vote, Step by Step

Go to the official sculptures page at downtownnaperville.com/sculptures. This is the Downtown Naperville Alliance’s official hub for the event.
Browse the 24 sculptures. Each is listed with its name, sponsor, and artist, so you can match what you saw downtown to the right entry.
Pick your favorite. Maybe it is the one outside your go-to coffee shop, or Naperville.com’s Giant Schnauzer, Valentino (sculpture number 3).
Click “Vote” on that sculpture. Voting is one vote per IP address, so choose your favorite.
Spread the word. Tell friends and tag the sponsor. The People’s Choice rewards the sculptures the community rallies behind.

When Does Voting Close?

Voting runs until Saturday, August 29, 2026, and the winners are announced Friday, September 4. Vote early so you do not miss the window, and feel free to come back downtown to see the sculptures as many times as you like before you decide.

Find Valentino Before You Vote

One sculpture has a story worth knowing before you decide. Naperville.com sponsored a Giant Schnauzer modeled after Valentino, the office dog of The Dan Firks Team and an unofficial mascot of Downtown Naperville, painted by local artist Patricia Melekus. Meet Valentino and the story behind the sculpture, then come find him downtown.

See Every Sculpture First

Want to view all 24 before you commit your vote? Our self-guided Downtown Naperville sculpture walk map lays out a route that hits every sculpture in one loop, with Riverwalk and dining stops along the way. For the full event rundown, start with our Dog Days of Summer 2026 guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I vote for the Dog Days of Summer sculptures?

Visit the Downtown Naperville Alliance’s official sculptures page at downtownnaperville.com/sculptures, browse the 24 sculptures by name and sponsor, choose your favorite, and click its “Vote” button. Voting is free, limited to one vote per IP address, and you can do it from your phone downtown or from home afterward.

Is there a cost to vote?

No. Voting in the Dog Days of Summer People’s Choice is completely free, just like viewing the sculptures. The event is run by the Downtown Naperville Alliance to bring visitors into Downtown Naperville to enjoy public art and support local businesses, so participation is open to everyone.

When does voting close for Dog Days of Summer 2026?

Voting is open until Saturday, August 29, 2026, and the winners are announced Friday, September 4. Visit downtown as often as you like to compare your favorites along Main Street, Water Street, and the Riverwalk before the deadline.

Can I vote for more than one sculpture?

Voting is limited to one vote per IP address, so you effectively get one vote from a given device or network. Choose the sculpture you most want to support, then encourage friends and family to cast their own votes from their own devices.

Where is Naperville.com’s Giant Schnauzer sculpture?

Naperville.com’s Valentino-inspired Giant Schnauzer is sculpture number 3 in the 2026 lineup, on display in Downtown Naperville. Use our downtown sculpture walk map to find it and the rest of the sculptures.