Art, fireworks, live music and more at July's First Fridays
Along with free, live music and several art openings, patrons can look up to the sky for the city's fireworks display along the river during the "First Fridays in Downtown Aurora" on July 3. Live, outdoor concerts at Millennium Plaza on Stolp Avenue feature music from Melissa Olson and Max Benson start at 6 p.m.
In July, the following venues are open for First Fridays.
• The Künstlerhaus, 114 S. River St., features The Sculpture and Sustainability Show with work by Soterios Gardiakos, Gary Brown, and Martin Soto from 6 p.m. to midnight.
• Martin Soto also announces the opening of Fotohof Fine Art Photography Studios and Gallery, 201 N. Lake St., Suite 206, featuring photographers Maritza Partida, Zaida Rodriguez, and Jason Delancey from 4 to 8 p.m.
• Emergent, a pop-up gallery at 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16, shows the works of several guest artists from 6 to 10 p.m.
• Fresh Tee Boutique, 8 N. Broadway, is open with fun fashions, sneakers, and art from 1 to 9 p.m.
• If These Walls Could Talk, 32 S. Stolp Ave., displays the work of Greg Zanis that expresses sci-fi fantasy narrative, underground railroad systems, and more from 7 to 11 p.m.
• Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd., hosts open mic and previews On the Wall, their outdoor hip-hop festival from 6 to 10 p.m.
• New Hites Studios and Gallery is open for browsing upstairs at 14 W. Downer Place. Visit the studios of artists Martín Soto, Kit Sunderland, Toty Pix, and others from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• YM Boutique, 5 W. Downer Place, and Fox Valley Homebrew, 14 W. Downer Place, are open late.
• Mission Possible, 61-63 S. Broadway, is open from 6 to 9 p.m. featuring the art of Molly Haupt, as well as music by husband-and-wife duo The McMakens and singer-songwriter Johannah Swank starting at 7 p.m.
• River's Edge Cafe, 14 W. Downer Place, is open until 7 p.m. with "Red, White, and BBQ," a dinner special for $7.50.
• Rocktown Adventures, 107 Spruce St., offers free paddle rides in the Fox River from 6 to 8 p.m.
Free trolley service runs throughout downtown from 7 to 10 p.m. The city's fireworks show starts at approximately 9:30 p.m. A trolley stops at New York Street and Broadway for service to RiverEdge Park.
First Fridays in Downtown Aurora invites the community to enjoy art, music, food, theater, and more on the first Friday of the month.
All events are free and art is for sale. For more information, a list of First Fridays specials at participating businesses, and for a map of venues, visit www.auroradowntown.com.
This year, the city of Aurora will host fireworks and music on Friday, July 3, at both RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway St., and McCullough Park on Illinois Avenue and Lake Street. Musical activities run 6 to 10 p.m. at both RiverEdge Park and McCullough Park. At RiverEdge Park, American Legion Band plays from 6:15-7:15 p.m., followed by the Fox Valley Orchestra from 7:45 to 9:15 p.m. At McCullough Park, SuperDogz Agility will perform from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Evolution will perform classic to current rock covers from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Don't miss the roaring life size animatronic T-Rex head. The fireworks show will begin at 9:30 p.m. Fireworks can be seen from both parks and along the banks of the Fox River. Admission is free. The city of Aurora is offering free park-and-ride shuttle service from 6 to 9 p.m., with round-trip transportation to 13 convenient locations throughout the city. The shuttles will resume service after the fireworks display with the latest departure scheduled for 11 p.m. For details, visit aurora-il.org.