The monthly First Fridays event in downtown Aurora on Friday will celebrate the art of Andy Warhol and Pride month, organizers said, and will include music, food and a Business Entrepreneur Unity Expo put on by the Community Advocacy Awareness Network.
Aurora Public Art, at The David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, will host “POP!” The Warhol-inspired art exhibit will host a variety of local artists on the third floor. Carl King and The Kingdom will perform with live funk and soul music from 6 to 9 p.m.
The Perch, 31 W. Downer Place, will host a Pride craft on the third floor of the Aurora Business Center building from 5 to 8 p.m.
A handful of food trucks will park at the First Fridays Food Truck Food Court from 5 to 9 p.m. at Water Street Square, 65 S. Water St. The trucks will include Strawberries BBQ, Harvey’s Fire Box, Home Run Hot Dogs and Lemonade and Polly Ann Cakes.
On Water Street Mall, Community Advocacy Awareness Network will host a Business Entrepreneur Unity Expo from 5 to 10 p.m. with a variety of vendors and activities to support the community.
Throughout downtown, the First Fridays event lineup will include more than 30 venues taking part, organizers said.
The Venue, 21 S. Broadway, will celebrate its fourth anniversary with a ticketed Beatles cover album event outside in Mundy Park. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the music starts at 7 p.m. Food and artisan vendors will be part of the festivities. To purchase tickets, go to themusicvenue.org.
Nuna Ceramics Art Studio, 77 S. Lake St., will host a Pottery Studio Open House that will welcome visitors to explore the studio and watch students at work on the pottery wheel from 5 to 8:30 p.m.
If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing & Gallery, 32 S. Stolp Ave., will feature “Everyday Things: Kirk Kerndl” from 7 to 10 p.m.
The Nolan Gallery, 33 S. Stolp Ave., will be open with the Dulce Havana and Stillness exhibitions plus wearable art from 7 to 10 p.m.
Aurora Historical Society at The David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, will open its latest show “Here Comes the Bride” from 6 to 9 p.m. on the first floor. The exhibit will feature wedding fashions from the 1860s to the modern day.
The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will feature art and local artists from 7 to 11 p.m.
Artesan Lofts Art Gallery, 2 S. Stolp Ave., will kick off Northern Illinois Pottery Tour weekend with ceramic artists Tanvvi Aggarwal, Jess Dougherty, Simon Levin, Taylor Whyte and Jonathan Pacheco from 5 to 9 p.m.
Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place, upstairs, will show Angie Cornelius’ “Love Is Love” mixed media drawing art exploring self-expression, acceptance and more from 5 to 9 p.m.
French 75 Gallery and Lounge, 56 E. Galena Blvd., will host a Martin Mondrus preview show featuring select works by Mondrus plus a new craft cocktail menu from 4 p.m. to midnight.
La Quinta de los Reyes, 36 E. New York St., will feature the Ezequiel Maldonado Ranchero Show from 6 to 9 p.m.
Ballydoyle Irish Pub, 28 W. New York St., will feature live music by P.S. Acoustic and an Irish dance show during dinner from 6 p.m. to midnight.
Wyckwood House Boutique and Cocktail Bar, 80 S. River St., will be open for shopping and cocktails with live music by DJ Jaydee Rivera from 6 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 have live music by Damian Rivero from 5 to 9 p.m.
Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Place, will welcome guests to rock out to 1980s music with DJ Happy Meal from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., will offer a drink special for First Fridays only. The Strawberry Mint Cooldown will boast mint and strawberry compote, water and lemon, with frozen strawberries and ice, garnished with mint leaves, and will be available from 5 to 9 p.m.
The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 64 S. River St., will host a summer kick-off party with DJ GAB’s tribute to Beyonce and Jay-Z. Visiting vendors will include Triple4 360 Photo Booth and Passion Lily Boutique from 5 to 8:30 p.m.
Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will provide a last chance to see “The Most Scorching of Flames” exhibit from 5 to 8 p.m.
Santori Public Library, 101 S. River St., will host a reception for the “Violins of Hope” exhibit featuring Holocaust-related string instruments from Tel Aviv, Israel. There will be live music by violinist Brian Ostrega from 6 to 8 p.m.
Amy Morton’s Stolp Island Social, 5 E. Galena Blvd., will offer a featured cocktail from 5 to 9 p.m.
The Cornucopia Tea & Gift Shop, 63 S. Broadway, will be open for tasting and shopping. Visitors will be able to select teas in Pop-Art-themed packaging and enjoy a sample from 5 to 10 p.m.
Society 57, 100 S. River St., will be open with cocktails and bites from 6 to 10 p.m.
Undisputed Vintage, 14 W. Downer Place, will host Ruby Thrift retro pop-up shop from 5 to 9 p.m.
G.A.R. Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, will host “The Summer of Warhol,” photographs and imagery from the G.A.R. Military Museum’s collection transformed in the style of Andy Warhol, from 5 to 9 p.m.
PreMil, 46 W. New York St., will be open with live screen printing with Pop Art designs and more from 5 to 8 p.m.
The Old Library, top floor conference room, 1 E. Benton St., will welcome visitors to the second floor to introduce Aurorign.social, a new social media platform from 6 to 9 p.m.
FNBO, 140 S. River St., Suite 112, will be open with appetizers and giveaways from 5 to 9 p.m.
Kathryn’s Place, 61 S. Stolp Ave., will be open with fresh juices from 6 to 9 p.m.
For more information on First Fridays, go to auroradowntown.org.
