Alley Art Festival on Water Street Mall returns on Saturday, Aug. 27 from noon to 5 p.m. Photo by Samantha Oulavong.

It’s still February, but the groundhog saw his shadow. That means we are ready for spring. In Aurora, spring and summer means lots of fun events that will fill your days with excitement. Here is a preview of upcoming events in downtown Aurora. Keep in mind that RiverEdge Park hasn’t even announced their lineup, so keep your calendar free and don’t plan that vacation yet. Enjoy!

APRIL

Saturday, April 30: El Dia de Los Ninos (1 to 5 p.m.)

MAY

Friday, May 6: First Fridays

Saturday, May 21:

Farmers Market Preview/Aurora Gardeners Plant Sale @ Aurora Transportation Center

Aurora Kite Festival (10 a.m. to noon) @ Jake’s Bagels

Vet Car Show (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) @ River Street Lot

Monday, May 30: Memorial Day Parade (noon)

JUNE

Friday, June 3:

First Fridays

Two Brothers Summer Festival (5 to 11 p.m.)

Saturday, June 4: Two Brothers Summer Festival (noon to 11 p.m.)

Sunday, June 5: Color Vibe 5K @RiverEdge Park

Saturday, June 11:

Aurora Farmers Market starts (runs through Oct. 15) (8 a.m. to noon)

Aurora Greenfest (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Sunday, June 12: Tour de Cure (5 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Wednesday, June 15: Wednesdays at the Plaza (6 to 8 p.m.)

Friday, June 17: Blues on the Fox (6:30 to 11 p.m.)
Saturday, June 18: Blues on the Fox (2 to 11 p.m.)

Wednesday, June 22: Wednesdays at the Plaza (6 to 8 p.m.)

Wednesday, June 29: Wednesdays at the Plaza (6 to 8 p.m.)

JULY

Monday, July 4:

4th of July Parade (10 a.m.)

Fireworks (5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.)

Wednesday, July 6: Wednesdays at the Plaza (6 to 8 p.m.)

Sunday, July 10: On the Wall Urban Arts Festival (noon to 7 p.m.)

Wednesday, July 13: Wednesdays at the Plaza (6 to 8 p.m.)

Wednesday, July 20: Wednesdays at the Plaza (6 to 8 p.m.)

Saturday, July 23: Puerto Rican Festival (11 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

Sunday, July 24:

Puerto Rican Parade (noon)

Puerto Rican Festival (1 to 8 p.m.)

Wednesday, July 27: Wednesdays at the Plaza (6 to 8 p.m.)

AUGUST

Wednesday, Aug. 3: Wednesdays at the Plaza (6 to 8 p.m.)

Friday, Aug. 5: First Fridays

Wednesday, Aug. 10: Wednesdays at the Plaza (6 to 8 p.m.)

Wednesday, Aug. 17: Wednesdays at the Plaza (6 to 8 p.m.)

Saturday, Aug. 27: Alley Art Festival (noon to 5 p.m.)

Sunday, Aug. 28: LaSalle Street Car Show (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER
Friday, Sept. 2: First Fridays/Roots Aurora @ Water Street Mall

PARADE:

The City of Aurora will be painted red, white and blue on July 4 and will celebrate the nation’s independence with a full day of family fun including a parade, live music, local food vendors, children’s activities, and the region’s most dynamic fireworks display— all taking place in the downtown.

9:15 a.m.: The day will start with a patriotic pre-parade ceremony at the parade reviewing stand, outside the Paramount Theater, 23 E. Galena Boulevard.

10 a.m.: The 4^th of July Parade, presented in partnership with the Roosevelt-Aurora American Legion Post 84, will step off at the corner of Benton and River Streets.  It will travel east to Broadway Avenue, north to Galena, west to Stolp Avenue, south to Downer Place, then west on Downer and conclude at River Street. The prime viewing area for the parade is in front of North Island Center, 8 E. Galena. This year’s parade theme is “It’s a Grand Old Flag”.

Over 100 units will march in this year’s event including the Aurora American Legion Band, East Aurora Summer Camp Band, West Aurora Marching Band, Waubonsee Steel Drum Band, Kane County Mounted Rangers, the Chicago Highland Rifles and many other community organizations including local veteran groups and scout troops.

Free parking for the parade will be available at all downtown parking lots as well as the Stolp Island Parking Deck at Stolp and Downer.  Parking in the deck will be accessible until 9:50 a.m., and no vehicles will be allowed to exit until after the parade.

Motorists are advised that portions of the parade route will be closing at 8:30 a.m.  No street parking will be permitted on Galena from Lake Street to Broadway; Downer from Lake to Stolp; Benton from Lake to Broadway; River from Gale Street to Galena; and Middle Avenue, from Cross Street to Downer.  In addition, Hoyt Place will be closed to thru traffic.

FIREWORKS:

5 p.m.: Two downtown locations will offer festivities before the City’s fireworks extravaganza. Both locations: RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway; and McCullough Park, Illinois Avenue at Lake Street; will feature free, family-fun events and activities including live music and wide array of local food vendors.  They will also be perfect locations to view the fireworks.

At RiverEdge Park, the American Legion Band will perform a mix of patriotic music and traditional favorites from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; followed by The Fox Valley Orchestra from 7 to 9 p.m. Aside from well-known patriotic selections, the Fox Valley Orchestra will also include movie medleys from American classic films and other popular favorites.

Attractions at McCullough Park include free inflatable rides and face painting for the children along with comedian and magician Circus Boy from 6 to 7 p.m. In addition, The Wave Runners will perform tropical favorites from Jimmy Buffet, The Beach Boys, Safaris, Ventures, and others from 7:15 to 9 p.m.

At 8:45 p.m., the Chicagoland Skydivers will perform a dynamic aerial display of daredevil excitement viewable from both RiverEdge and McCullough Parks.

9 p.m.: FIREWORKS!

The venues are within walking distance of each other which makes visiting both locations easy and convenient for patrons.  In addition, the City is offering free park and ride shuttle service from 6 to 9 p.m.providing roundtrip transportation at numerous locations.  The shuttles will resume service after the fireworks display with the latest departure scheduled for 11 p.m. The park and ride locations include:

Gold Route

• Aurora Police Department, 1200 E. Indian Tr.
• Indian Trail Shopping Plaza, 254-302 E. Indian Tr.

Blue Route

• Long Island Sound, 1920 E. New York St.
• Carquest Auto Parts, 3 N. Smith St.
• Main Baptist Church, 814 E. Galena (Overflow parking only).

Orange Route

• St. Athanasios Church, 1855 E. Fifth Av.
• East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Ln.

Red Route

• Luigi’s Pizza, 732 N. Prairie St.
• West Aurora High School, 1201 W. New York St.

Pink Route

• Northgate Shopping Center, 850 N. Lake St.

Green Route

• Presence Mercy Medical Center, 1325 N. Highland Av.
• Cermack’s Supermarket, 1250 N. Lake St.

Purple Route

• AMF Valley Bowling Center (former site), 310 S. Lincolnway Av., North Aurora

In addition, free parking will be offered at all downtown municipal lots including the Aurora Transportation Center and the lots along River Street.

The City of Lights will live up to its name at approximately 9:30 p.m., with the launching of a bigger-than-ever fireworks display along the Fox River.

The family activities and fireworks are co-sponsored by the City of Aurora, Village of North Aurora, RiverEdge Park, and the Fox Valley Park District.

More information on Aurora’s Independence Day festivities is available on the City’s website atwww.aurora-il.org or by calling the Customer Service Division at (630) 256-INFO (4636).

BELL RINGING

Scheduled from 11am-2pm on July 4^th, the day includes tours of the house, wagon rides, petting zoo, music by Hudson Crossing, flimflam man Swinn D. Lure, children’s activities and a pie-eating contest.  At 1pm all children present will pull on the ropes to ring two historic bells on the property as part of the national Ringing of the Bells commemoration decreed by John F. Kennedy in 1961.  Picnic fare will be available to purchase.  All activities are free.

For more information visit the society’s page at www.facebook.com/aurorahistory orwww.aurorahistory.net.