First Fridays features Wood Fire Conference, Popup Shop, Roller Derby Art Oct. 7

First Fridays on Oct. 7 welcomes fall with a popup shop at the old Waubonsee College building, a new art gallery on the lower level of the old library, Waubonsee's Wood Fire Conference at three venues, and more.

First Fridays brings art, music, and more to downtown Aurora on the first Friday of the month. Free trolley rides run from 6 to 10 p.m.

Oct. 7 venues include:

• Gallery 1904, 1 E. Benton St., celebrates its grand opening with "A Celebration of Old and New" on the lower level of the old library, now owned by SupportTechs from 7 to 10 p.m.

• If These Walls Could Talk, 32 S. Stolp Ave., opens "Dark and Lovely: Angel E. Perez and Jorge Alvarez" in their storefront gallery for the month of October from 7 to 11 p.m.

• The Yetee, 110 Cross St. hosts "Art of the Derby," the last gallery show at the space until Public Access, a coffee shop and arcade, opens at 1 W. Downer Place. Stop by for a preview of the new shop and visit Gobble Doggs food truck in the parking lot from 7 to 11 p.m.

• Waubonsee Aurora Downtown Campus, 18 S. River St., presents the International Wood Fired Exhibition for ceramic arts in the campus library. The college is hosting three Waubonsee Community College ceramic artists: Doug Jeppesen, Dan Merkel, and Jon Pacheco from 6 to 9 p.m.

• David L. Pierce Art & History Center, 20 E. Downer Pl., is open with exhibits on the second and third floors. In collaboration with Waubonsee Community College, Aurora Public Art Commission hosts "Train Kiln Invitational" from 5 to 8 p.m. Aurora Historical Society's "Aurora Story" and the Museum Store are open from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Emergent Gallery at Metropolitan Coworking, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16, hosts the Waubonsee Invitational as part of the Wood Fire Conference. 6 to 10 p.m.

• The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, pops up for one night with "The Creep Show" from 6 p.m. to midnight.

• Repertoire Reservoir Studios, upstairs at 14 W. Downer Place, is open with "Life's Rich Pageant" from 7 to 10 p.m.

• Oxie Affordable Optical, 131 W. Galena Blvd., features original silk-screen art prints by artist Justin Lirot from 5 to 8 p.m.

• River's Edge Cafe, 14 W. Downer Place Suite 18, hosts musical group ToneDeft starting at 7 p.m. Photography by Tim Perroud is featured on the cafe's gallery wall from 5 to 9 p.m.

• Ballydoyle, 28 W. New York St., music by Joey Fernandez is on the main stage from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Artist Christopher Lucero and others are featured in the restaurant from 5 to 10 p.m.

• Leland Legends, 1 S. Stolp Ave., hosts karaoke every Friday from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

• Pop Up Shop, 5 E. Galena Blvd., is open with a dozen local vendors and artisans from 6 to 9 p.m.

• The Mayan, 77 S. Stolp Ave., offers tours of the former Elks Building from 5 to 8 p.m.

• Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd., hosts spoken word open mic from 8 to 9:30 p.m.

• SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton St., is open with free admission and exhibits on three floors from 6 to 8 p.m.

• Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, celebrates Fire Prevention Week with hands-on fire prevention and safety activities. Great Chicago Fire Interactive, and Hidden in Collection Display from 6 to 8 p.m.

• G.A.R. Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, hosts an open house from 6 to 8 p.m.

Friends of the Fox invite all ages to learn how to be a Watershed Watchdog to help monitor the health of the Fox River. Meet at the Waubonsee boat launch and get down to the river bank, take water samples, and learn about the amazing hidden world living just under the surface from 4 to 6 p.m.

Pick up a free First Fridays passport at any of the venues. Punch your passport and turn in at your last venue for a chance to win a First Fridays goody bag filled with gift certificates and more.

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.org.