First Fridays in Aurora will be festive and bright Friday, Dec. 6, with more participating locations than ever. The sold-out second annual Cocoa Crawl will be the highlight of the night with more than 30 venues participating in the popular event.
For those without a Cocoa Crawl mug and button, there is still plenty in store for the last First Fridays of the year. First Fridays will resume February 7, 2020.
There will be food trucks at the First Fridays Food Truck Food Court from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Water Street Square across from City Hall. Vendors will include Harvey’s Fire Box, Burritoville, Small Cakes, Red Hot Chicago, and Umbrella Azul.
Several venues will be open to the public. Free trolley rides will be from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m,.
First Fridays is a no cost, no ticket event, and it is open to the public.
• Waubonsee Community College Aurora Downtown Campus, 18 S. River Street, will be host to a Holiday Pottery Sale with jazz, chorale music, student art exhibit, Camelia Danza Tribal, free T-shirt silk screening, and one-of-a-kind ceramics. There will be free refreshments and hot cocoa while getting some holiday shopping done. 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m..
• Branch Gardens, 77 S. Lake Street, along with VizoArts, will have “Jingle-n-Mingle” with artwork from Rose Regulus, Anton Witek, Lily Elyse, STLTHART, and John Cornelissen and live music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will feature Echo and Ransom with special guest Olivia Ports. Free raffles on the hour with a chance to win a Christmas tree. Bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry. 5:30 p.m.to 9:30 p.m..
• Arcana, 5 1/2 W. Downer Place, will be open with “Macabre Market,” a small and spooky esoteric holiday market with Roz Anomaly, Kittens of Industry, Lucky Eye Ink, Joe Kesler, and Teresa Fiehn Millies. $20 tarot readings. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will have The ArtBar’s “The Punk Show,” and it will be open for the Cocoa Crawl with Ghirardelli hot cocoa and fresh whipped cream. Open until 1 a.m..
• Crystal House and Nieponski Gallery, 59 S. LaSalle Street, will celebrate its grand opening and ribbon-cutting. The new storefront will feature engraved glass and art by Chaz Nieponski will participate in the Cocoa Crawl. 4 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Aurora Artists Studios, 50 E. Galena, 2nd floor, will be open with its annual “Holiday Open Studio” to feature painterly presents and fine art from resident artists Cheryl Holz, David Hettinger, and Rafael Rocha. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Gallery 1904, 1 E. Benton Street, will open for “Motherhood and Freespirit,” a gallery show of paintings, jewelry, and bellydancing with Jacqueline Jayne Fowler and Natika. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing and Gallery, 32 S. Stolp Avenue, will be host to the annual “Pack the Pantry” art auction that invites community and regional artists to create art from paper grocery bags. All proceeds go directly to the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Balderas Beauty Salon, 25 N. Broadway, will have “The Winter Show” with artist Karina Chavez. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Gary Brown Art Gallery and Studio, 7 S. Broadway, will be host to “’Tis the Season! – Gifts of Love” will feature artist Mark Radina and music from Ain’t Dead Yet band. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Ballydoyle Irish Pub Aurora, 28 W. New York Street, will be open for the Cocoa Crawl with musician Cindy Chase. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m..
• Tavern On Broadway, 24 N. Broadway, will be open for a sneak peek with Cocoa Crawl. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• La Quinta de los Reyes, 36 E. New York Street, will be host to Cocoa Crawl with champurrado (chocolate flavor) and homemade cookies. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
•Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York Street, will be open for the Cocoa Crawl with music by Dan Becker and the Tourists. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Aurora Public Library, 101 S. River Street, will have a holiday celebration with carolers, music, caricatures, and its Holiday Celebrations in Many Lands exhibit. Visitors can enjoy the Cocoa Crawl and music by One Family Band and the Jeff Ford Quintet. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• The Venue, 21 S. Broadway, will be open with salsa dancing. There will be free salsa lessons at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m,. IMSA’s Strolling Strings will perform at 6 p.m. DJ and salsa dancing until midnight. Mora will serve free cocoa and hand-rolled sushi and ramen for purchase. Cash bar. 6 p.m. to midnight.
• Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 18, will feature art by Eric Cervantes from Pin and Pebble, and music by Adam Linder. They will serve Mexican Mocha hot chocolate for the Cocoa Crawl. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Gremlen Recording Studio, 130 W. Downer Place, will open with Christmas Karaoke and hot chocolate. 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Latrice Murphy Design and Photography, 61 S. Broadway, will be open with a Winter Open House and feature vendors and $5 holiday photos. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Pure Skin Solutions, 26 S. Stolp Avenue, will offer vegan hot chocolate for the Cocoa Crawl. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Warehouse 55, 55 S. Lake Street, will be open with Holidays at Warehouse 55. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Paramount School of the Arts, 20 S. Stolp Avenue, will be host to a holiday open house. Stop for cocoa, carols, sample classes, and tons of holiday fun, including photos with Santa. 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m..
• Aurora Historical Society, 20 E. Downer Place, will be open with ongoing exhibits “Aurora Story” and “Aurora Then and Now” on the second floor. There will be Aurora-themed gifts, including the 2020 Vintage Aurora calendar in the first floor gift shop. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Wela Financial – Eric L. Essex, 54 W. Downer Place, Suite 101, will be open for this year’s Cocoa Crawl. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• HealthMarkets, 41 W. New York Street, will be open for the Cocoa Crawl. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Charlie’s Silver Spoon Creamery, 6 E. Downer Place, will be open with hot chocolate ice cream for the Cocoa Crawl. There will be new holiday flavors while supplies last. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Christian Science Reading Room, 34 S. Stolp Avenue, will be part of the Cocoa Crawl. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will be open for free museum exploration. The gift shop has fun gifts. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• SciTech Hands On Musuem, 18 W. Benton Street, will be host to robotics demonstrations and the East Aurora School District preschool program’s info table. Families can pre-register for Gingerneering workshops. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m..
• The Hope Chest, 36 N. Lincoln Avenue, will have “Christmas Trees Reimagined,” with cocoa and cookies, live music, a sale, giveaways, and a multiple Nontraditional Christmas Tree Display. Music by Kurt and Kari Sommerville. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• AKA Dance, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 10, will be open for the Cocoa Crawl with a Christmas Recital Promo from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m..
• Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Place, will be host to the Aurora Film Society with their film posters and 2020 membership opportunities. A DJ will wrap up the night. Boozey boosts for the cocoa for 21+ years and older. $3-$5. Art show 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. DJ 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m..
• All Spoked Up, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 12, will be open for the Cocoa Crawl and participants are invited to a Toys for Tots night ride. To ride, donate a new, unopened toy and a bike light for your bicycle. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Gillerson’s Grubbery, 33 W. New York Street, will have an Ugly Sweater Contest with prizes for the top three. KC’s Kandle’s will be the featured vendor. 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Wyckwood House, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16, will have Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry and Compact Industries who will provide gourmet lux hot cocoa. Live music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. by Nick Gutierrez. Custom Ornaments by Jessica from The Letter J Creates to start at $15. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• I of the Angeles, 217 E. Galena Boulevard, will be open with $10 Tarot and $5 Picture with Santa. Stop in for a tarot reading and enjoy some cocoa and a photo with Santa. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• PreMil, 46 W. New York Street, will be open for its Toy Drive Fundraiser. They welcome the community to stop in with a new toy, and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• The Perch, 31 W. Downer Place, Suite 301, will open with a family-friendly holiday craft. Attendees can decorate a free holiday magnet and shop for thoughtful gifts while enjoying hot cocoa. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
First Fridays maps are available at all venues. For more information, visit www.auroradowntown.org.
—Aurora Downtown