First Fridays will celebrate Day of the Dead as part of Sugar Skull City events in downtown Aurora.
Two outdoor festivals will be part of the events. One will take place in the parking lot east of Broadway behind Balderas Beauty Salon. The event will feature pan de muerto, catrinas, body painting, face painting, artisans, and more from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Día de los Muertos on Water Street Mall will feature Hispanic artists, dancers, and more for the 14th year of this Day of the Dead celebration from longtime organizer Jose Torres from 4:30 to 8:45 p.m. Afterwards, La Quinta de los Reyes, 36 E. New York St., will be open for a fashion show and live music starting at 9 p.m.
Santori Public Library, 101 S. River St., will present Día de los Muertos and Ofrendas Celebration with pan de muerto, live songs by Diego Trillo, dance by Danza de la Pluma de San Pablo Güilá, a fashion show by designer Mario Olivera. Guests will be able to make tissue paper marigolds and get in line for face painting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Food Truck Food Court will return from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Water Street Square across from City Hall with Grumpy Gaucho, Strawberries BBQ, Holy Pierogi, Home Run Hot Dogs and Lemonade, Harvey’s Fire Box, Burritoville, and Tapville Social with a beer garden.
Throughout downtown, the First Fridays event lineup includes about 30 activities for all ages, many themed around Day of the Dead.
1 E. Benton St. 3rd Floor, will be open with Exploring AI Art: Discussion and exhibit of AI Generative Art using Stable Diffusion. Slideshow and gallery of Day of the Dead, Robot, Restful, and Fantasy Art hosted by Jim Schweizer from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will feature Memoria from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Artesan Lofts Art Gallery, 2 S. Stolp Ave., will present Grit and Grace, a mixed media show featuring artist Angela Morgan 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
French 75 Gallery and Lounge, 56 E. Galena Blvd., will feature a new craft cocktail to honor Angela Morgan’s show at Artesan Lofts. Attend her exhibit and receive 10 percent off the Grit and Grace cocktail from 4 p.m. to midnight.
G.A.R. Museum, 23 E. Downer Pl., will be open with “When the War is Over,” a traveling exhibit from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, detailing government programs developed after the war to care for soldiers and their families from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Altiro Latin Fusion, 1 S. Stolp Ave., will feature live Spanish Rock feat. Damián Rivera from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tavern on Broadway, 24 N. Broadway, will host live music from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Pl., with Hurricane Project will present Double Treble Dueling Pianos from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Lauren Underwood for Congress Field Office, 112 E. Galena Blvd., will be open to celebrate Día de los Muertos with Team Underwood from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Hope Chest Aurora, 34 N. Lincoln Ave., will be open with a storewide sale. Enjoy 25 percent off all merchandise (exclusions apply) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will be open with a Holiday Ornament Sale: 2022 Holiday ornament featuring Aurora’s ‘64 American LaFrance Fire Truck, the deuce. Ornaments are $20 each or two for $35 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wyckwood House Boutique and Cocktail Bar, 80 S. River St., will feature a Day of the Dead celebration with Flo’s 2 AM Tacos, cocktails, music, and special merchandise from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Zen Loft Wellness Center and I of the Angeles, 6 W. Downer Pl. upstairs, will feature songwriters, a 7:30 p.m. performance by Magnolia Dance Collective, $10 mini-tarot readings, hammocks, and Cherylyn Gnadt art from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Craft Urban Aurora, 41 S. Stolp Ave., will be open with Day of the Dead themed cocktails and food specials from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Aurora Historical Society at The DLP, 20 W. Downer Pl., will continue “Take a Seat” featuring chairs, sofas, and other seating from its collections from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Amy Morton’s Stolp Island Social, 5 E. Galena Blvd., will celebrate Día de los Muertos with live music by Jimmy OConnell at 7 p.m. Stop by and see the Josephine Baker ofrenda and enjoy a Día de los Muertos special cocktail from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., will feature live music from The Hangovers from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Cornucopia Tea & Gift Shop, 63 S. Broadway, will host Gourmet Sampler Day: Taste and learn charcuterie tips and Sip n’ Serve Hot seasonal teas from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Perch, 31 W. Downer Pl. 3rd Floor, will present Gratitude Practices. Learn about family-friendly gratitude practices, and shop thoughtful gifts from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Hoof and Horn, 14 W. Downer Pl. Ste. 16, will open with Día de los Muertos Bake Sale featuring Aurora pop-up chef YudyCooks with a Day of the Dead themed bake sale from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Yetee Station Arcade, 11 N. Broadway, will be open with a vintage pop up market next door at Public Access. The sale will feature curated vintage by Offbeat Thrift and Ruby Retro, plus tarot readings by Huge Witch from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 64 S. River St., will feature Nide Jardin pop up with plant arrangements, alebrijes, sugar skulls, and concrete pots. Sugar Skull City merchandise throughout the shop from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Society 57, 100 S. River St., will feature art, jazz, and cocktails. Art by Carlos Deltizzle. Music by Luxure Trio from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
For more information, visit www.auroradowntown.org.