Bringing the community together was the goal of the annual Stolp Island Block Party, held Friday evening in downtown Aurora.
The four-hour fest included live music, food trucks, art and family-friendly activities, organizers said.
Begun back in 2017 by the former Aurora Downtown group, the block party now is sponsored by the Aurora Downtown District .
Yahayra Argueta, executive director for the Downtown District group, said the goal of the block party is “to have a wholesome community event in the heart of downtown.”
“This is pretty much the end of summer and this happens to go along with the first Friday in August so it’s celebrating art, community, food, music and activities for the whole family. Everybody to just meet in downtown Aurora,” she said.
The event normally attracts 1,000 to 1,500 visitors, organizers said.
Argueta said highlights this year include “caricature drawings, tinsel hair artists and face-painting.”
“We’re also going to have some of our downtown businesses like Nuna Ceramics showcasing the actual wheel and making pottery as well as different vendors from downtown having booths,” she said before the event. “It’s just a fun activity to say goodbye to summer.”
Denise Daniels of DeKalb, who said she works in Aurora, dropped by the Stolp Island Block Party Friday evening and said she has been to the event before.
“I’ve liked the food here – we have family that came – and the beverages, of course,” she said with a laugh. “I’m from Aurora, born and raised, and I wish they had more of these types of things in the city. When there is an event, it’s good because everybody comes out and enjoys it. The setting is wonderful.”
Lisa Lawyer of North Aurora and her husband Greg said they came to the event for the first time Friday evening and “wanted to hang out with friends and enjoy the river view.”
“I think these community get-togethers are important and getting people out,” Lisa Lawyer said.
“I’m here for the live music for sure,” Greg Lawyer added. “We travel to Naperville and go to the city as well for festivals, but I love doing these things. I don’t feel like there are ever too many.”
Danielle Soldat of Warrenville said she has come to the Stolp Island Block Partu before and “loves the food trucks and all the local vendors, too.”
She said she enjoys “community events where you get to highlight the local businesses and vendors and everybody gets to mingle.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
