It’s easy to enjoy a perfect Summer week in downtown Aurora. With things back open, downtown offers Summer fun almost every night of the week.
• Starting on Tuesdays this month, The Riverfront Playhouse, 11-13 S. Water Street Mall, Aurora, will be host to a very funny look at Shakespeare. The Riverfront Playhouse’s “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” will have all ages laughing at Mundy Park. It shows for donations only every Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m. through the end of the month.
• Wednesdays at the Plaza is back on Wednesday nights at Millennium Plaza, 21 S. Stolp Avenue, Aurora, in downtown Aurora. Free concerts for all ages are open to the public at the gazebo on Stolp Avenue every Wednesday through the middle of August. Concerts will start at 7 p.m..
• Hump day provides an opportunity to dust off the dance shoes. Vaccinated folks are invited to swing dance with Sunny Side Swings at Ballydoyle, 28 W. New York Street, Aurora, every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.. Proof of vaccination and ID are required.
• Outdoor movies are having a renaissance. Open air cinema is available at no cost Thursday nights this month at Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, Aurora. The lot will have classic and well-loved movies sponsored by Aurora Downtown for the first time this Summer. Two more movie dates will be July 22 and 29. Home Run Hot Dogs and Lemonade will provide the visiting food vendor. Aurora Film Society sells concessions. Bring a chair. Socially-distanced seating areas will open at 7 p.m.. Movies will start at sunset.
• The start of the weekend brings outdoor live music to Mundy Park, 13 Water Street, Aurora, with a full lineup of concerts courtesy of The Venue, 21 S. Broadway. The Venue offers ticketed, outdoor concerts of all genres all weekend long. It’s a treat to walk down Water Street Mall during a show.
• Live music on a larger scale happens at RiverEdge Park, 360 N Broadway, Aurora, almost every weekend through the end of August. Check the website for a calendar of remaining shows.
In August, artists will be working on murals downtown. Aurora Public Art has approximately a dozen murals that will be completed throughout the month and during Alley Art Festival in downtown Aurora from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28.
Summer events are just getting started. It is possible to spend weekdays and weeknights in downtown Aurora.
Visit auroradowntown.org for a full calendar of events.
Marissa Amoni is the manager of Aurora Downtown, a nonprofit organization of downtown business and property owners. Aurora Downtown is host to First Fridays throughout the year. There will be sidewalk sales to enjoy at the next one August 6.