Friday, October 6 | First Fridays In Aurora Celebrates 10 Years

Downtown Aurora’s First Fridays monthly event will celebrate 10 years next Friday, October 6. Participating venues will offer discounts and specials along with art, music, and more. 

To celebrate Black Fine Art Month, Pigment International will host a Downtown Art Crawl, from 5 to 7 p.m. starting at 33 S. Stolp Ave. In partnership with the African American Heritage Advisory Board, Pigment International will host the art crawl during First Fridays which will include visits to Black-owned businesses who have partnered with Black artists to showcase their work. The Art Crawl is designed to bring the Aurora community into the conversation and education about the Black art aesthetic.

A handful of local food vendors will set up at the Food Truck Food Court at Water Street Mall from 5 to 9 p.m.  Food trucks include Grumpy Gaucho, Strawberries BBQ, Harvey’s Fire Box, Home Run Hot Dogs and Lemonade, Tapville Social, and Polly Ann Cakes.

Throughout downtown, the First Fridays event lineup includes more than 30 venues with activities for all ages. 

Nuna Ceramics Art Studio, 77 S. Lake St., will be open with a student pottery sale featuring handmade pottery for sale by studio artists from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing & Gallery, 32 S. Stolp Ave., will host an opening night exhibit for Nature’s Quiet Places featuring William Worcester landscape paintings from 7 to 10 p.m.

Nieponski Gallery at Crystal House, 59 S. LaSalle St., will be open with artwork by Chaz Nieponski and half off gift cards on Crystal House engraving services from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Nolan Gallery, 33 S. Stolp Ave., will host “Humans Being,” a new installation exploring the beauty of various cultures and how that is uniquely captured in serendipitous moments, living spaces, and dress plus 10 percent off all framed limited edition art from 6 to 9 p.m. 

Aurora Historical Society and Aurora Public Art at The DLP, 20 E. Downer Pl., will host an exhibit closing for “Here Comes the Bride” on the first floor. Cultural Paths: Michoacan Arts will open on the third floor featuring a Day of the Dead altar, interactive butterflies (Mariposas Migrantes) plus live music and food from 6 to 9 p.m.

The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will pop up with “The Truth is Out There: An exploration of the unknown, the mysterious, and the unexplained,” from 7 to 11 p.m.

Artesan Lofts Art Gallery, 2 S. Stolp Ave., will be open with “Calaveras,” a photographic display of calaveras by Christopher Lucero from 6 to 9 p.m.

Catrinas Aurora will be open inside Sergio Furniture, 36 W. Downer Pl., with handmade Mexican Art from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

La Quinta de los Reyes, 36 E. New York St., will feature Ezequiel Maldonado y su Show with La Sociedad D’Paul Music plus $8 house margaritas from 7 to 10 p.m.

Ballydoyle Irish Pub, 28 W. New York St., will be open with live music by Pawnshop plus drink and food specials until 1 a.m. 

G.A.R. Museum, 23 E. Downer Pl., will host Ryan Carney Cello Trio inside the free military history museum. The Mexican American Experience, a temporary exhibit, will also be on view from 5 to 9 p.m.

The Venue, 21 S. Broadway, will present Eric Johanson with Matt Keen. Doors open at 7 p.m. Show starts at 8 p.m. This is a ticketed event. Visit themusicvenue.org to purchase. 

Wyckwood House Boutique and Cocktail Bar, 80 S. River St., will be open with live music and Manny’s Smashburgers from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tavern on Broadway, 24 N. Broadway, will host live music from 8 to 10 p.m.

Altiro Latin Fusion, 1 S. Stolp Ave., will offer live music by Damian Rivero from 6 to 8 p.m.

Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Pl., will feature Retrospect, playing favorites from Motown to today’s top hits from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Paramount School of the Arts, 20 S. Stolp Ave., will be open to the public with a Not So Scary Halloween Party for all ages. The party will include a craft, dance party, photo booth, and storytelling from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Waubonsee Community College, 18 S. River St., will host Fiesta y Kermes: Celebrate Latinx Heritage Month with live music and DJ, heritage performance groups, food trucks, art, and family activities and games from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

Family Counseling Service, 70 S. River St., will welcome the public to meet their team and learn about services from 5 to 8 p.m.

Hoof and Horn, 14 W. Downer Place Ste. 16, will host Tarot Readings with Nicole: 20 minute tarot readings with house reader Nicole for $35 from 5 to 9 p.m.

Offbeat Vintage Collective, 7 N. Broadway, will be open with stickers, decals, felted art, and more by Meghan Schmid. Shop select vintage clearance inventory at half off from 5 to 9 p.m.

Superjumbo Records, 102 E. Galena Blvd., will launch The Yetee’s Aurora Merch collection featuring a limited edition Aurora t-shirt from noon to 9 p.m. 

Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will host Aurora Regional Fire Museum turns 55. Celebrate with cupcakes and exclusive anniversary merchandise and a free halloween book for children while supplies last from 5 to 8 p.m.

Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Pl. upstairs, will open their shop featuring local goods. Hang in hammocks from 5 to 9 p.m. Enjoy a belly dance performance by Magnolia Dance Collective at 7:30 p.m.

The Perch, 31 W. Downer Pl., 3rd Floor, will celebrate their sixth anniversary with giveaways, sales, treats, and a community art project from 5 to 8 p.m.

Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., will have live music provided by King of Mars and offer a drink Special: Dark Knight Mocha (dark chocolate, hazelnut and caramel latte garnished with cinnamon bat stencil) from 6 to 9 p.m.

The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 64 S. River St., will host the second annual Bats For A Cause: Local artist Dzhelasi Art breast cancer fundraiser along with Chica’s Tacos Pop Up with a special dessert menu, and live painting by Talento Creations, Johnny Felix from 5 to 9 p.m.

Santori Public Library, 101 S. River St., will celebrate Hispanic Heritage with live music from the Rolling Roses Band, a Community Voices Exhibit, paper bag piñata making, and costumes from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Cornucopia Tea & Gift Shop, 63 S. Broadway, will be open with their Halloween and Fall Seasonal Shop featuring bewitching brews from 5 to 10 p.m. Door prizes and mystery discount coupons until supplies last. 

Society 57, 100 S. River St., will feature Leilani Asian Fusion Ramen and live music by The Luxure Trio plus local artist Melissa Celaya from 5 to 9 p.m.

FNBO, 140 S. River St. STE 112, will host a pop up shop by I of Angeles and more from 5 to 9 p.m.

McCarty Mills Taproom and Bottleshop, 140 S. River St. Unit 108, will feature Marco Cardenas and Killer Tastebuds from 5 to 10 p.m.

G.A.M.E. Makeup Supply, 9 S. Stolp Avenue, will be open with Makeup for a Showstopper: Pop Art Zombie for Halloween. Enjoy a makeup workshop class taught by makeup artist, Summer Kornfeind, to learn techniques and tricks to create an undead look from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

For more information and a complete map of First Fridays locations, visit www.auroradowntown.org.