First Fridays will celebrate cultural diversity and 30 years of SciTech Hands On Museum in downtown Aurora Friday.
Presented by Family Focus, Roots Aurora is a free cultural celebration that will offer live music, family-friendly activities, and cultural awareness from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Water Street Mall near City Hall.
Food trucks will be parked near the event on Downer Place from 5 to 9 p.m. and include Wurst Kitchen, My Funnel, and Taco Grill.
A birthday party complete with cake will be at SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton Street. The downtown museum celebrates 30 years. SciTech will have various hands on STEAM activity stations throughout the downtown area and birthday cake for everyone at the museum.
Pop-up shops will be at Aurora Regional Fire Museum, All Spoked Up, and Wyckwood House.
The night will feature approximately 20 venues with art and music, for First Fridays.
• If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing and Gallery, 32 S. Stolp Avenue, will have “Strike a Pose,” a group exhibit focusing on the human form. The artists call themselves “life friends” and have six members including Rosalie Vass, Barbara Hansen, Lori Vassar, Rosemary Smillie, Zaneta Zieba, and Mary Powers. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Aurora Public Art, at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center at 20 E. Downer Place, will be host to two gallery shows: Jazz Occurrence paintings are on display in the Third Floor Gallery; El Circo de Juan will open in the First Floor Flex Gallery. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.. And, at the Art and History Center, Aurora Historical Society hosts “Summertime in Aurora,” a series of vintage photographs in the Second Floor’s Aurora Story exhibit. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• The ArtBar, a monthly pop up at Two Brothers Roundhouse at 205 N. Broadway, will have “ArtBar Goes to the Movies,” a show inspired by movie titles. 7 p.m. to midnight
• Oddlots HQ, 131 W. Benton Street, will open “Spring Forward, Fall Back,” a solo show which will feature Aurora artist Anton Witek. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Santori Public Library, 101 S. River Street, will be host to the 60th Aurora Art League Annual Members Show at noon with an artists’ reception from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m..
• The Web, 134 W. Downer Place, will open “FOMOMO” for one night only. A pop up exhibition of artwork inspired by the internet and memes by artist Leif Rogers. 7 p.m. to midnight.
• Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York Street, will welcome Funktional Family. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Gremlen Recording Studios, 130 W. Downer Place, will be host to an open mic, studio tours, and snacks at their downtown location. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 18, will have live music from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Wyckwood House, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16, will welcome shoppers to create custom hand-lettered windows and signs for a fee. 5 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, will offer WWII Artifacts on display. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place, will open with performances, demos, massages, and tours. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• AKA Dance, 14 W. Galena Boulevard, will open with registration night. New dancers will receive discounts. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. It’s will be the last chance to audition for their Mini Dance Company for ages four to seven. 5 p.m. to 6 p.m..
• Rocktown Adventures, 107 Spruce Street, will offer free paddle and kayak demo rides on the Fox River. 6 p.m. to 7 p.m..
Free trolley rides from downtown parking areas run approximately every 10 to 15 minutes from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.auroradowntown.org.
—Downtown Aurora