By Marissa Amoni –
If you ever attend First Fridays, or wander in downtown Aurora and think the flowers are lovely, or the holiday decorations are fun, there’s an almost 45-year-old partnership behind them.
Aurora Downtown is a nonprofit organization that is a partner with the city government of Aurora to achieve a variety of goals, including downtown beautification, business attraction, and retention through events and capital improvements, and marketing of the downtown.
Aurora Downtown is comprised of downtown property and business owners within Special Service Area #One that was established as a taxing district in 1975. Aurora Downtown’s income is used to underwrite a variety of downtown improvements, enhancements, and events.
One of those events is First Fridays, which started in Fall 2013 with a handful of venues open with art and music. In its fifth year, First Fridays is 10 months a year, February through December, not in July or January, with typically nearly two dozen participating venues.
First Fridays is a welcoming downtown event that appeals to everyone due to the large scope of activities it offers, for free, such as kayak demonstrations, dance classes, outdoor concerts, block parties, and the very popular annual Food Truck Festival in May.
During First Fridays, downtown visitors can ride a free trolley around and stop in any of the four museums, open storefronts, restaurants, and participating businesses. Art openings and pop-up shops are favorite First Fridays activities. Starting in October, Friday, Oct. 5, there will be a free photo booth at rotating locations each month; the first one will be Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m..
In addition to First Fridays, Aurora Downtown is host to Wednesdays at the Plaza, a free Summer concert series at Millennium Plaza on Stolp Avenue; Alley Art Festival, an artisan fair on the last Saturday in August, along Water Street Mall; Stolp Island Egg Hunt; and Aurora Kite Festival.
This Fall, Aurora Downtown will gear up to be host to the second annual Octo Street Fest held on Pinney Street behind Restaurant Row. The day will include music, beer, and food from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13.
Downtown businesses will welcome trick-or-treaters from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 at Aurora Downtown’s annual Trick or Treat in a Downtown Aurora event. Costumes are welcome.
In November, Aurora Downtown will be a partner with the city government of Aurora to hold the annual Winter Lights holiday celebration Friday, Nov. 16. Spectators can watch the tree-lighting in front of the G.A.R. Memorial Museum and visit downtown businesses open with festivities.
In addition to events, Aurora Downtown assists businesses with marketing, and is a partner with with the city on streetscape improvements such as hanging flower baskets, holiday lighting, and the iconic star on Leland Tower. Recently, Aurora Downtown sponsored the painting of four utility boxes by local artists in downtown Aurora.
President Kim Granholm, owner of Aurora Fastprint, said it’s exciting to help grow the downtown vision of a vibrant and thriving heart of the city.
“Downtown brings people together on many levels. It’s a great place to eat and shop, but also to connect with neighbors and the community. It’s exciting to be part of that growth,” Granholm said.
Thanks to the vote of approval by Aurora City Council, Aurora Downtown is extended for another eight years.
Aurora Downtown has several active committees and the board of directors meets at 8 a.m. the third Thursday of every other month.
For more information or to get involved, visit www.auroradowntown.org.
Marissa Amoni is Aurora Downtown’s event coordinator. She is excited to follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Paramount in November, and can’t wait to see downtown windows decorated for “The Merry Downtown of Oz” Winter Lights theme.