The 50th anniversary of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum will be in the spotlight during the First Fridays event in downtown Aurora this Friday.
A birthday party complete with cake will be held at the fire museum, 53 N. Broadway.
The fire museum will also host pop-up shops and a fire sale.
Pop-up shops will also be located Friday evening at All Spoked Up and Wyckwood House.
New this month, Aurora Downtown will host a free pop-up photo booth with Cloud Foto that will be at Aurora Public Art, 20 E. Downer Place, from 7 to 9 p.m.
First Fridays will also feature a variety of activities around the downtown.
Waubonsee Community College Aurora Downtown library, 18 S. River St., will be open for a ceramics exhibit and throwing demonstration from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The Waubonsee Community College Jazz Combo will also be performing.
If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing and Gallery, 32 S. Stolp Ave., will host “Surfacing,” a solo show featuring the work of Solange Henson, from 7 to 10 p.m.
Aurora Public Art at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center at 20 E. Downer Place continues “Finding Home,” a photography exhibit focused on local immigrants, in the Third Floor Gallery. Also, “Showing Promise: Waubonsee Student and Alumni Exhibit” opens in the First Floor Flex Gallery. Both events will run from 6 to 9 p.m.
Also, at the Art and History Center, Aurora Historical Society’s gift shop will feature a variety of books on the Kennedy family on sale for $2 each. The Second Floor’s Aurora Story exhibit will also be open from 6 to 9 p.m.
The Uncensored Gallery, 67 S. Stolp Ave. behind Tredwell Coffee, will hold a local artist takeover featuring Juan Sepulveda from 6 to 10 p.m.
The ArtBar, a monthly pop-up at Two Brothers Roundhouse at 205 N. Broadway, will host “The Puppet Show,” and Desiree Franklin will be featured in the Archive Bar. The shows will run from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Santori Public Library, 101 S. River St., will be open with “Weathered Stones,” the photography of Rob Winder, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Music by the Fox Valley Orchestra Brass Quintet will run from 6:45 to 8 p.m. at the library.
The Web, 134 W. Downer Place, will be open with a photography show featuring Batavia photographer Marty Murphy from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., will welcome Daniel and the Sparrows from 6 to 9 p.m.
Gremlen Recording Studios, 130 W. Downer Place, will host an open mic, studio tours and snacks at its downtown location from 6 to 9 p.m.
Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 18, will offer pumpkin painting from 5 to 7 p.m.
Wyckwood House, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16, will have fall photo ops and pumpkin painting for a fee from 5 to 10 p.m.
Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, will be open to the public from 6 to 9 p.m.
Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place, will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. with performances, demonstrations, massages and tours.
Gillerson’s Grubbery, 31 W. New York St., will welcome Goose Island with a four tap “draft takeover” from 6 to 9 p.m.
First Fridays maps will be available at all venues. Free trolley rides from downtown parking areas will run approximately every 10 to 15 minutes from 6 to 10 p.m. For more information, go to www.auroradowntown.org.
