Open air concerts, movies under the stars, outdoor dining. Ah, the glories of Summer. In downtown Aurora, we’re lucky to enjoy river views and blooming rain gardens, too.
This Summer, Aurora Downtown’s outdoor movie series returned with two movie selections at two locations in June, July, and August. The series expanded to have a brew and view at Mundy Park in partnership with The Venue, 21 S. Broadway.
Family-friendly movies continue to show at Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway.
Upcoming, Back to the Future will show August 11 at the Fire Museum and Coming to America will be at Mundy Park August 18.
The movies are held outdoors and movie-goers are encouraged to bring their own chair. Home Run Hot Dogs and Lemonade is the visiting food vendor.
The movie series is a partnership between Aurora Downtown and Aurora Film Society. Sponsors include Waubonsee Community College, Stolp Island Social, Modest Coffee, and Chupacabra Puerto Rican Kitchen.
Movies are free and seating opens at 7 p.m. Movies will begin at dusk.
Returning to the movie business is Paramount Theatre. The historic theater will be host to $1 Movie Mondays starting the last week of July. Upcoming titles will include Dreamgirls, Godzilla, and Encanto.
On Wednesdays through August 10, Wednesdays at the Plaza will feature a different local band at the Millennium Plaza gazebo on Stolp Avenue. The free concerts, with Aurora Downtown as host, will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.. Altiro Latin Fusion joins the evening with a variety of food selections from their nearby restaurant.
July concerts included Raices Latin Jazz, Downtown Charlie Brown, and The Clams. The Frizz will perform August 3. A Light Sleeper ends the series August 10.
Wednesdays at the Plaza has been bringing live music to downtown for all to enjoy since 2015. The series was started as a side project to the now retired Downtown Auroran Magazine.
Aurora Downtown went from event sponsor to event host over the next few years when I put the magazine aside to become the full-time manager for the nonprofit of downtown business and property owners.
Wednesdays at the Plaza has become a recurring event for Aurora Downtown, adding to its increasingly growing events such as First Fridays, and Alley Art Festival.
Another treat during the Summer is eating outdoors. Downtown Aurora has the best views, and I always feel as though I’m in a European town. Whether it’s sitting on the deck at Tredwell or Ballydoyle looking at the Fox River, or eating ice cream at Charlie’s nestled in a theater alley adjacent to Aurora Public Art’s Sculpture Park, it feels like paradise.
There are more than a dozen outdoor dining locations, including La Quinta de los Reye’s fun patio, Endiro Coffee’s patio, Gillerson Grubbery’s deck, and Society 57’s bistro tables.
Craft Urban soon will add to the outdoor dining scene with a cozy patio along Stolp Avenue that features a fire pit.
Find a full list of outdoor dining locations at auroradowntown.org/guides.
August 5 at First Fridays, we’ll take full advantage of Summer when Aurora Downtown is host to the return of its Stolp Block Party featuring live music, food trucks, and live art, along Stolp Avenue from 6 p.m.. to 10 p.m..
I hope to see you taking advantage of this nearby Summer fun. See you downtown Aurora!
Marissa Amoni is the manager of Aurora Downtown, a group of business and property owners in Special Service Area One. Join us at free outdoor movies and concerts this Summer. Follow Aurora Downtown on Facebook and @downtownaurora on Instagram. auroradowntown.org.
—Aurora Downtown