It’s beginning to look a lot like Winter in Aurora a bit early this year, and the Aurora Public Library is planning to celebrate accordingly Friday, Dec. 6 for an after-hours holiday extravaganza and Cocoa Crawl, in partnership with Aurora Downtown! Stop by Santori Library between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to fill a mug with chocolate cheer and enjoy special treats, carolers, and music.
Follow the sounds of carolers to the Library entrance, as One Family Band provides strolling carols at each door from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.. Bringing an eclectic portfolio of music to the Chicago area for decades, this talented family ensemble consists of 10 gifted performers and a diverse array of instruments and programs, from string quartet to jazz and oldies! We are excited to welcome the carolers to Santori Library for their debut this holiday season.
Those in attendance can have portraits drawn by our caricature artist, Marc Bermann! These hilarious renderings are free at this event, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.. They may make wonderful gifts for family this holiday season.
Next, make sure to visit the Santori installation of our 43rd Annual Holiday Celebrations in Many Lands exhibition in the Atrium in the evening to learn about how residents in countries across the world celebrate and decorate for the holidays. Each year, we invite the community to decorate a tree or space in honor of our diverse cultures and backgrounds. The event has become a tradition that brings out communities together in celebration of both difference and unity. There will be a passport to visit all Aurora Public Library locations and to earn prizes! Passports will be available at all locations starting December 4 and will be redeemable at any location through December 31!
At 6:30 p.m. there will be a make your way through our Culinary Curiosity exhibit to enjoy jazzy holiday tunes performed by the Jeff Ford Quintet. The Culinary Curiosity exhibit is available for viewing at Santori Library until January 4, 2020.
Immediately following the quintet, One Family Band will return for a performance of Christmas Around the World, which coincides perfectly with our Holiday Celebrations in Many Lands exhibition and theme!
Don’t forget to purchase your Cocoa Crawl mug in advance of First Fridays, December 6 to take advantage of this iconic holiday treat at locations throughout downtown Aurora.
If you cannot get enough of the festivities Friday, Dec. 6 at Santori, make sure to stop at the West Branch Holiday Open House between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 for all ages crafts, music, treats, and a visit from Santa! You can pick up a Holiday Celebrations in Many Lands passport at West Branch when you view the West Branch installation of the exhibition and make your way towards earning a prize.
This event is, like all Library events, are free and open to the public to kick off the holiday season with music and togetherness. We encourage everyone to stop by and warm up, dance, eat, and feel connected with each other.