Schedule filled in Aurora for good weather, good times

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Come have fun downtown Aurora this Spring and Summer. Now is the time to plan for the warm-and-nice-day-and-evening good times ahead. Get your summer bucket list ready, and check off these fun adventures right in downtown Aurora.

The Aurora Regional Fire Museum is a great place to have fun. Their upstairs Childrens Room has toys and dress-up opportunities. Here, Boy Scouts build with Lego at Aurora Downtown’s First Fridays event. Aurora Regional Fire Museum by Brandon Butler/Courtesy of Aurora Downtown

May 6, Aurora Downtown’s Food Truck Festival will return to Benton Street from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.. More than two dozen food trucks will line the street during First Fridays. The event was on hiatus the last two years due to the pandemic.

First Fridays will continue with a smaller lineup at Aurora Downtown’s Food Truck Food Court at Water Street Square through December with the exception of July.

Aurora Museum Week will be celebrated from June 5 through June 11. Enjoy museum tours, specials, and activities. Tanner House Museum will be back open on Sunday afternoons for tours starting May 29. June 8, Blackberry Farm will be host to a free day, and Aurora Regional Fire Museum will feature a BBQ fundraiser. Aurora Historical Society will open a new exhibit called “Head to Toe” at First Fridays June 3. GAR Museum will be host to a fun day June 10.

The second weekend of June will bring The Venue’s Blues and Brews Fest to Mundy Park adjacent to Water Street Mall. Fox Valley Arts Ramble and Northern Illinois Pottery Tour will both run that weekend as well.

Aurora Pride Parade will return to downtown Aurora Sunday, June 12 along with the CommUNITY Market at Water Street Mall.

Blues on the Fox will make a comeback on June 17 and 18 at RiverEdge Park. Across the river, Wilder Park’s new promenade will open with a city celebration at noon Saturday, June 18.

This Summer, The Venue will be host to a few outdoor concerts in Mundy Park. They will be host to movie nights on Third Thursdays with Aurora Downtown. The Venue by Joseph Weber/Courtesy of Aurora Downtown

Movies at a Museum will be back at Aurora Regional Fire Museum. View a popular film outdoors at dusk on second Thursdays this Summer. Dates are June 9, July 14, and August 11.

Movies at Mundy Park will be a new offering this Summer. Aurora Downtown and The Venue will host the brew and view series at Mundy Park. Movies will be outdoors on third Thursdays this summer. Dates are June 16, July 21, and August 18. Bring your own chair. Movies begin at dusk.

Wednesdays at the Plaza will return to Millennium Plaza from July 13 through August 10. The free summer concert series starts at 7 p.m. and features popular local and regional musicians of different genres in an open air setting along the Fox River.

The Venue will host a jazz festival at Mundy Park on the second weekend of July. Purchase tickets at
themusicvenue.org.

Aurora Downtown’s Block Party will return to Stolp Avenue from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5. The night is a favorite among locals who frequent First Fridays. Enjoy live music, food trucks, and fun.

Alley Art Festival will be held on Water Street Mall and will expand to Downer Place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. The grassroots art festival will celebrate its 12th year.

With a full Summer ahead, get these dates on your calendar, and come have fun. If you’re looking for anytime fun, check out Aurora Downtown’s new self-guided pub and margarita crawls available on auroradowntown.org.

Marissa Amoni is the manager of Aurora Downtown, a group of business and property owners in Special Service Area One. Keep up with downtown events by following Aurora Downtown on
Facebook. auroradowntown.org.

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