April 2018
First Fridays
First Fridays is a monthly offering of arts and culture in downtown Aurora. Visit participating venues and explore downtown on the first Friday of the month. First Fridays is art, music and more! Free trolley rides from 6 to 10 p.m. Visit our event on Facebook for more details
Find out more »Fox River Arts Ramble
Hang out in downtown Aurora and all along the Fox River for a grand tour of the arts in the Fox Valley. One day only!
Find out more »June 2018
Downtown Aurora Magic
A celebration of wizards, witches, and all things magical this June in downtown Aurora.
Find out more »Aurora Museums After Dark
We welcome visitors to downtown museums after hours on three Thursdays in 2018. Aurora Regional Fire Museum, SciTech Hands On Museum, G.A.R. Museum, The Pierce Center, and Santori Public Library stay open for an extra few hours for families to enjoy on March 29, June 21 and September 20. The museums open from 5 to 8 p.m. for Aurora Museums After Dark. Children are free with paid adult admission and members are free at applicable museums. The downtown museums highlight…
Find out more »August 2018
Historic LaSalle Street 10th Annual Auto Row Car Show
Presented by Friends of LaSalle Street Historic Auto Row and American Legion Post 84 Registration 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Awards at 2:30 p.m.
Find out more »September 2018
Aurora Museums After Dark
Aurora Museums After Dark welcomes visitors to downtown museums after hours on three Thursdays in 2018. The Aurora Regional Fire Museum, SciTech Hands On Museum, G.A.R. Museum, The Pierce Center, and Santori Public Library stay open for an extra few hours for families to enjoy on March 29, June 21 and September 20. The museums open from 5 to 8 p.m. for Aurora Museums After Dark. Admission is FREE!!! The downtown museums highlight STEAM activities for all ages. Families are…
Find out more »June 2019
Aurora Farmers Market Downtown
NEW LOCATION: 65 Water Street, Aurora, IL. 60505 (directly across from City Hall and the Water Street Mall) DATES: Saturdays, from June 8 through October 12 HOURS OF OPERATIONS: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Find out more »Aurora Pride Parade
JOIN US FOR THE SECOND ANNUAL PRIDE PARADE IN DOWNTOWN AURORA!
Find out more »September 2019
LaSalle Auto Row Car Show
LaSalle Street, downtown Aurora This is the rain date for the canceled event on August 18.
Find out more »November 2019
Veteran’s Day Parade
The City of Aurora recognizes the dedication of local military service men and women that have served our country at the annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony on Monday, November 11, 2019. Parade Festivities The parade steps-off at the corner of Benton and Broadway at 10:15 a.m., ending at the G.A.R. Memorial Hall, where the "Honoring All Who Served" ceremony takes place. The ceremony includes a military rifle salute by veteran organizations at 11 a.m., the exact time the armistice…
Find out more »May 2020
Aurora Water Lantern Festival
Tickets are on sale for the Water Lantern Festival in Aurora at RiverEdge Park. Get your tickets at www.WaterLanternFestival.com before they sell out. Water Lantern Festival is an amazing experience where you'll witness the magic of lanterns as they light up the water. The Water Lantern Festival was voted #1 Festival by USA Today. Don't miss this beautiful event!
Find out more »June 2021
July 2021
August 2021
Back to School Block Jam
Aurora Downtown is hosting its first ever Back to School Block Jam from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 14. The event welcomes all ages to celebrate going back to school.
Find out more »September 2021
JIM GILL Sing-a-thon of Celebrated Songs!
A FREE Family Event brought to you by Fox Valley United Way and SPARK sponsored by the Fox Valley Music Foundation and The Venue.
Find out more »Water Lantern Festival
Water Lantern Festival is filled with fun, happiness, hope, and great memories that you'll cherish for a lifetime. This is a family friendly event that can be shared by everyone. Friends, families, neighbors, and lots of people that you haven't met can come together to create a peaceful, memorable experience.
Find out more »October 2021
Downtown Trick or Treat
For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Halloween Events.
Find out more »July 2022
Aurora 4th of July Parade
The City of Aurora's Annual 4th of July Parade will step-off at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 4, 2022, in downtown Aurora! Route The Parade will begin at the intersection of Benton St. and River St. March east on Benton St. to Broadway (Rt. 25) March north on Broadway (Rt. 25) to Downer Pl. March west on Downer Pl. to River St. where the Parade will conclude The Reviewing Stand will be placed in front of the David L. Pierce…
Find out more »Movies at a Park
Movies at Mundy Park will be a new offering this summer. The Venue at Water Street Mall will host the brew and view series. Movies will be outdoors at dusk on third Thursdays this summer. Movies at a Park offers more adult-themed film selections. June 16 The Blues Brothers (1980) R July 21 Jurassic Park (1993) PG-13 Aug. 18 Coming to America (1988) R For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Outdoor Movies.
Find out more »August 2022
Downtown Block Party
Fri. Aug. 5. Music, food, and fun on Stolp Avenue.
Find out more »Alley Art Festival
Alley Art Festival in Aurora, Ill. is the last Saturday in August from noon to 5 p.m. in downtown Aurora. Rain or Shine! Alley Art Festival is a local, grassroots outdoors art festival in downtown Aurora on the last Saturday of August. It’s a day of fun, music, and art – with dozens of local artists selling their art and handmade goods!
Find out more »October 2022
Sugar Skull City
Welcome to Sugar Skull City! Aurora Downtown is honoring Day of the Dead, the beloved Mexican cultural tradition, from October 15 to November 6, 2022. Join us in celebrating Dia de los Muertos with art, activities, specials, videos, shopping, and much more.
Find out more »Halloween Pet Parade and Open House
Alive Aurora is excited to announce it's 2nd Annual Halloween Pet Parade FUNdraiser in support of our FREE Teen Drop-in hours! Come for a paws-itively good time! You & your pet are invited to attend in a Halloween costume to march in the parade ($25 per family). https://bit.ly/AuroraPetParade FREE Hot dogs & picture with your pup! Food Vendors, Pet Treats, Tattoos, Hot Wheels, Art Activities, Petting Zoo, Pumpkin Decorating Contest, Photo Booth, Costume Contest, Face Painting and more! PRIZES for…
Find out more »Trick or Treat in Downtown Aurora
Aurora Downtown hosts a downtown-wide Trick-or-Treating event for all ages. For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Halloween Events.
Find out more »November 2022
Winter Lights
The Merriest & Cheeriest of Seasons starts with Winter Lights in downtown Aurora. Join us starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 18 on Downer Place & Stolp Avenue for a full evening of festivities. * Parade * Food Trucks * Live music * Winter Market feat. local artisans * Fireworks * Photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus Parade steps-off at 6:30 p.m. Where: Downer Place, from Water Street to River Street, in downtown Aurora Parking: Free parking available in…
Find out more »Downtown Holiday Trolley
New this year to coincide with Christkindlmarket at RiverEdge Park, Aurora Downtown will feature a Downtown Holiday Trolley on Saturdays from noon to 3:30 p.m. from November 19 to December 17. The trolley, generously sponsored by Invest Aurora, will make four stops while making a loop through downtown Aurora, beginning and ending at Aurora Transportation Center on Broadway. For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Holiday Trolley and Carriage Rides.
Find out more »December 2022
Cocoa Crawl
Aurora Downtown's Cocoa Crawl is back! Join us at December's First Fridays for art, music, and hot cocoa. To participate in the Cocoa Crawl portion, a mug and a button are required. Cost per person: Purchase of Mug and Button gives access to Cocoa Crawl.
Find out more »Santa at the Gazebo
Santa is visiting downtown Aurora! He's stopping at the gazebo at Millennium Plaza from 1 to 3 p.m on 12/03/22 and 12/10/22. For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Places to See Santa.
Find out more »February 2023
First Fridays
Enjoy art, music, and more as the downtown opens up dozens of venues for all ages to explore from February through December (no July).
Find out more »Art and Market Aurora
Shop an indoor, highly curated local makers market hosted and organized by Aurora Downtown. The market features the best local makers, bakers, artists, and artisans in the valley.
Find out more »March 2023
First Fridays
Enjoy art, music, and more as the downtown opens up dozens of venues for all ages to explore from February through December (no July).
Find out more »St. Patrick’s Day Procession and Annual Irish Flag Raising Ceremony
Paint the city green at the inaugural Aurora St. Patrick’s Day Procession and Ceremony at noon on Sunday, March 12, 2023, in downtown Aurora. Sponsored by the Dolan Family, in collaboration with the City of Aurora, the celebration will feature the ‘Daniel Dolan Sr.’ Procession with more than 20 procession units, including vehicles, cultural groups, businesses, and organizations. With Downer Place as the focal route, the procession will step off Water St., head west, and conclude at Stolp Avenue, where…
Find out more »Art and Market Aurora
Shop an indoor, highly curated local makers market hosted and organized by Aurora Downtown. The market features the best local makers, bakers, artists, and artisans in the valley.
Find out more »We do our best to provide comprehensive, accurate and useful information about events and activities. This information (such as times and locations) is gathered from press releases, websites, signs around town and word of mouth. However, details change and people make mistakes, so please confirm the details before you go. Kidlist is not responsible for any problems that occur while participating in activities listed on this site.
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Click on the button above to submit an event to the Kidlist calendar. We welcome everyone to submit events, given that they are family-friendly, free and/or drop-in, and are local for families in the western suburbs of Chicago. All submitted events are reviewed by the Kidlist team.