The First Fridays event in downtown Aurora returns this Friday with sidewalk sales, a business reopening and more.
In all, more than 30 venues will take part in the event Friday evening, which will feature music, art, food trucks at Water Street Square and more.
Marissa Amoni, manager of the Aurora Downtown group which sponsors First Fridays, said the event will include a number of activities.
“Yetee Station is going to open their new arcade space at 11 N. Broadway, which was the former Arenkill’s Loan Bank storefront,” Amoni said. “The owner Mike Mancuso had a temporary location at 102 E. Galena while they were remodeling the Broadway location. That remodeled location will open Aug. 6 and the temporary location has been turned into an art studio called Superjumbo where there will be an art show and prints for sales, which is helping the revitalization of downtown.”
The August First Fridays, Amoni said, “is really large” compared to some earlier events in the spring, noting that Gallery 1904 at 1 E. Benton St. is another highlight “where people can come and take art off the walls.”
“There is a remembrance of Fox Valley artist George Pope Turner, who died at the age of 70 back in 2014 and his family is letting people who visit take a piece of art they enjoy home with them as a tribute to him,” Amoni said.
Aurora Public Art’s gallery at the David L. Pierce Art & History Center at 20 E. Downer Place will be open for the first time since closing during the pandemic with a show featuring an exhibit called “Accelerating Inspiration: Art from Fermilab.”
A new art gallery known as Seven Setting Suns Art Gallery, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 12, which opened in July, will be participating in its first First Fridays event.
“Vincenzo Valenziano is the artist there and he does some really vibrant photography that he’s patented – a certain system,” she said. “We also want to point out that The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, is back after a long hiatus following the pandemic and this is their first show, now celebrating their 10th season. They do a great job bringing local artists out and we’re excited to have them back.”
Amoni said the popular food truck area is returning and “is modeling the food truck hub that you see in other cities.”
Food trucks participating on Friday will include Grumpy Gaucho, Home Run Hot Dogs and Lemonade, Holy Pierogi and Culinary Gangster. Food vendors are subject to change, and visitors should check Aurora Downtown’s Facebook page for updates, she said.
“We’ve had a great turnout and have had three to five food trucks at each First Friday and that’s been a great addition,” she said.
The Ukulele Fest to be held later in the month in Aurora is also doing a preview on Friday at Millennium Plaza, 21 S. Stolp Ave.
“We really want to bring the community together – especially for all ages,” Amoni said. “We’re excited it’s able to grow and reunite people after being inside for so long.”
Venues taking part in First Fridays include:
Aurora Public Art at David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, with “Accelerating Inspiration: Art from Fermilab” showcasing the work of photographer Georgia Schwender, textile artist Lindsay Olson and sculptor Jim Jenkins, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Superjumbo, 102 E. Galena Blvd., with an art sale from 5 to 10 p.m.
McCarty Mills Taproom, 140 S. River St., Unit 108, featuring DJ Pryme, Corinne’s Kitchen and featured artist Stephanie Wheatley, 5 p.m. until close.
If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing & Gallery, 32 S. Stolp Ave., featuring “Peace of My Mind: Mandala art by Eric Goetzinger,” from 7 to 10 p.m.
Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Place, will showcase artist Mike Drost, a Chicago-based artist who uses mixed media to create abstract paintings and sculptures, from 5 to 9 p.m, with DJ Alfred at 9 p.m.
Seven Setting Suns Art Gallery, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 12, with have an open studio featuring photography by Vincenzo Valenziano, from 2 to 10 p.m.
The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, returns to in-person shows for its 10th season, 7 p.m. to midnight.
Gallery 1904, 1 E. Benton St., will feature the “George Turner Donation Exhibition and Tribute” from 5 to 9 p.m.
Gary Brown Art Gallery, 7 S. Broadway, will have “In Light of Shadow,” mixed media art creations by Cherylyn Gnadt, and music by Peter Cholewinski, from 5 to 9 p.m.
Altiro Latin Fusion, 1 E. Stolp Ave., will have live Spanish rock music with Damian Rivera from 6 to 8 p.m.
Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., will have live music featuring Daniel and the Sparrows from 7 to 9 p.m.
A preview of the upcoming Aurora Uke Fest will be held at Millennium Plaza, 21 S. Stolp Ave., from 6 to 8 p.m.
La Quinta de los Reyes, 36 E. New York St., will have an Elvis show by Michael St. Angelo from 7 to 9 p.m.
Gremlen Recording Studios, 130 W. Downer Place, will have an open mic event featuring Angels of Duality and studio tours throughout the night, from 6:30 to 11 p.m.
Tavern on Broadway, 24 N. Broadway, will have music by the Ryan Worthy Duo from 8 to 11 p.m.
The G.A.R. Memorial Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. with its exhibit “Service and Sacrifice: 100 Years of Aurora Excellence.”
The Aurora Historical Society at David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. with “Our Favorite Things,” a new exhibit of old and new artifacts from the group’s collection.
Yetee Station, 11 N. Broadway, will be open from 5 to 11 p.m.
Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. and feature a sale in the museum store.
The Paramount School of the Arts, 20 S. Stolp Ave., will host a back to school event where participants can decorate stickers for their school supplies from 6 to 9 p.m.
Hope Chest Aurora, 34 N. Lincoln Ave., will feature music by Kurt Sommerville from 6 to 9 p.m.
The Perch, 31 W. Downer Place, Suite 301, will offer calming strategies for kids from 5 to 8 p.m.
SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton St., will offer giveaways and a reopening preview from 5 to 8 p.m.
Legacy Nutrition & Fitness, 77 S. River St., Apt. A, will have a DJ from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and offer outdoor group fitness classes for $5 for the whole family.
Wyckwood House, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16, will feature music by Matthew Ripsch and a sidewalk sale from 5 to 9 p.m.
Society 57, 100 S. River St., will offer cocktails from 6 to 9 p.m.
Sheena & Sheena Baker Group, 105 E. Galena Blvd., Suite 807, will offer a program called “Homebuying Process: Learn how to Buy a Home” from 5 to 9 p.m.
The not-for-profit Community Advocacy Awareness Network will offer a Business Unity Expo at Water Street Mall from 5 to 10 p.m.
Waubonsee Community College Faculty Council, 18 S. River St., will welcome back students and hold a voter registration from 5 to 9 p.m.
All Spoked Up, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 10, will offer a pop-up selling stickers, pins and other merchandise from 6 to 9 p.m.
The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 8 N. Broadway, will offer a sidewalk sale including a plant sale by Nide Jardin, Roy & Jason’s Popcorn Bar and Tendaji Body Oils Skincare from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Simply Destinee Youth Center, 122 W. Downer Place, Suite 124, will offer a Back to School Pop Up from 5 to 8 p.m.
Frist Fridays runs monthly through December. For more information on First Fridays events, go to auroradowntown.org.
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
