Kick off the holiday season Friday with Winter Lights Festival
The City of Aurora is kicking off the holiday season with the annual Winter Lights Parade and Festival from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, in downtown Aurora.
The Winter Lights Parade will usher in the holiday season with dazzling floats along Downer Place, leading up to the official holiday tree lighting. The tree, in front of the GAR Memorial Hall, 23 E. Downer Place, will be lit by Aurora's 2016 "Miss Merry Christmas" Cora Fischer, "Mr. Jack Frost" Jaymon Bryant and Mayor Robert J. O'Connor.
A winter fireworks display, best viewed from the Downer Place bridge, will light up the night sky.
The free, family-friendly event will brighten the streets of downtown Aurora with live music and dance performances, plus family photo ops with live reindeer, costumed characters and Santa and Mrs. Claus, who will be listening to children's wishes on the steps of the GAR Hall.
Food trucks will be available and local restaurants will be open.
In addition, a holiday pop-up shop will be set up in the former Waubonsee Community College building at the corner of Stolp Avenue and Galena Boulevard from 5 to 9 p.m. with handmade and vintage gifts. Holiday gift-givers are invited to shop throughout downtown where several businesses will be extending hours.
Winter Lights is sponsored by the City of Aurora in conjunction with Aurora Downtown. Visit www.auroradowntown.org or www.facebook.com/auroradowntown.