Hugging booth at First Fridays in downtown Aurora

After a month off, First Fridays is ready to burst with love February 1. A hugging booth, bunny art, Valentines, and tons of tunes will start the year of art, music, and more activities in downtown Aurora.

Aurora Downtown will be host to a free pop up photo booth with Jason Arthur that will be at All Spoked Up from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A free trolley will be available from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..

Several venues will be open to the public for a night of art and culture:

• Legacy Fitness, 77 S. River Street, will have “First Fridays Art and Fitness,” a display of arts, performance, and fitness featuring artists Sam Cervantes and Gabriel Guajardo and musician Fundthemental. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..

• The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will open with “The Obsession Show,” 7 p.m. to midnight

• Aurora Tap House, 134 W Downer Place, will be host to “Local Artist Showcase – Pop Up Show,” a group art show featuring 10 artists using a variety of mediums, including collage, jewelry, paper, photography, fabric, and assemblage. 6 p.m. to midnight.

• All Spoked Up, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 12, will have “Bunny Prints from Kim,” local artist prints and posters by Kimberly Fredricks from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.. The bike shop will be home to the free First Fridays photo booth for February from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m..

• Good News Barbershop + Media Studio, 14 W. Downer Place upstairs, will join First Fridays for the first time with an evening of Aurora area art, music, culture, and good vibes featuring artists Gerardo Madrigal, Juan Sepulveda, Alondra, Enrique, and James Buzzard along with musicians Daniel Retiz and Andrew Arcilla. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m..

• If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing and Gallery, 32 S. Stolp Avenue, will have “Art is My Legacy. Greatness is My Destiny.” The solo show will feature the paintings of Rose Regulus. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m..

• Aurora Arts Initiative, 61 S Stolp Avenue, will be open with “Fridays Are For Lovers,” a night of live music and fine art sales. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..

• Aurora Public Library, 101 S. River Street, will start Black History Month with “Stories and Songs of African People.” Storyteller Shanta Nurullah will perform poetry, chants, traditional African music, and stories for all ages at 6:30 p.m..

• Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York Street, will feature artist Gary Brown in the basement lounge gallery and musician Mirabelle Skipworth upstairs. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..

• Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 18, will be host to photography by Sarah Cervantes along with live music. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..

• Aurora Historical Society at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center (The DLP), 20 E. Downer Place, will be open with “Aurora From the Air,” an aerial photo exhibit. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..

• Calla Lily Victorian Tea Room, 83 S. LaSalle Street, will offer complimentary tea-tastings of handcrafted proprietary teas. Scones and dainty desserts will be available for purchase. Erica Swanson, author of the children’s book ‘Bellossoms’ will be doing caricature drawings. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..

• SciTech Hands on Museum, 18 W. Benton Street, will open the first floor. Free. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m..

• Wyckwood House, 14 W Downer Place, Suite 16, will have “Feel the LOVE at Wyckwood House” from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.. Janell McCann from Letters from Eden at Wyckwood House will offer personalized hearts, handmade from Real Happy Space. Music group The Vintage Sons performs 6 p.m. to 8 p.m..

• Christian Science Reading Room, 34 Stolp Avenue, will open with “TLC – Treats, Love, Crafts.” The reading room will offer a book sale, children’s activities, and inspiration. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m..

• Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will offer Valentine-making on the second floor. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..

• Foxglove Photography and Design Presents Aurora Arts Initiative, 67 A S. Stolp Avenue, will open with “We Need Somebody To Love.” A $1 hugging booth, fine art sales, and free couples portraits will be part of the evening. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..

• Collier Community Center, 36 S. Stolp Avenue, will be host to “Fundraiser Save Our Youth.” 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..

• Gillerson’s Grubbery, 33 W. New York Street, will have Wheatley Design and Oswego Brewing with three kegs, including Pop Cocoa Puff, samples, and giveaways. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m..

For more information, visit www.auroradowntown.org.
—Aurora Downtown