Aurora to 'party on' for 'Wayne's World' anniversary
Hey, Wayne and Garth fans, Aurora's planning a six-month 25th anniversary celebration of the movie that made the city famous.
No wha-hay!
Wha-hay!
Yes, Aurora is planning a series of events in homage to “Wayne's World,” the 1992 movie developed from Mike Myers and Dana Carvey's recurring “Saturday Night Live” characters who broadcast a fictional public-access show live from Wayne's mother's basement at 10:30 Friday nights on Aurora's Cable 10.
Party time! Excellent!
The city, along with Aurora Downtown, the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and a variety of organizations and merchants will join forces to celebrate that milestone with special events, contests and displays beginning this week and continuing through early July.
The “Party On! 25 Years of Wayne's World” celebration officially begins Friday, Feb. 3, as the theme for the city's monthly First Friday festivities.
Locations throughout downtown Aurora invite party-goers to dress up in '90s ripped jeans and flannel, try on Wayne and Garth wigs and even see a replica of the “basement” set where the magic happened.
The “Wayne's World” basement will be re-created and on display in a currently vacant building at Stolp and Galena, said Marissa Amoni, who handles events and community outreach for Aurora Downtown.
If These Walls Could Talk, a frame shop on Stolp Avenue, will be home to a poster contest. The winning entry will be used in promotional materials for the “Party On!” celebration, Amoni said. Activities also are planned at SciTech Hands On Museum, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum, the Paramount Theatre and the David L. Pierce Art and History Museum.
At Santori Public Library, fans can taste treats from Stan Mikita's Donut Shop, a fictional hot spot in the movie, as well as taking hockey shots at Wayne and Garth or donning character costumes and making videos of one-liners from the movie.
Hollywood Casino Aurora even has a replica of the blue AMC Pacer car that Garth drove in the movie on display.
We're not worthy! We're not worthy!
The movie centers on the fictional adventures of Wayne and Garth, who talk about music, girls, cars and sports on community access cable in the days before blogging and social media.
“People identify Aurora with 'Wayne's World,'” Amoni said. “I think it's pretty fun. It's kind of a cult classic movie. It came out when I was in high school. We're having a good time with it. It's a nice opportunity to bring people to the city.”
Most of the movie actually was shot in Los Angeles, Amoni said, with some exterior footage shot in Chicago. A few fictitious locations were invented for the movie that have become part of Aurora lore, though there never really was a Stan Mikita's Donuts or a Gas Works heavy metal bar in the city.
Frame shop owner Jen Rauch came up with the concept for the celebration last fall.
“It was Jen's idea, and then she brought it to Aurora Downtown,” Amoni said. “We got a group of people together and we started brainstorming ideas.”
Rauch said the events give people a chance to revel in nostalgia and glory in Aurora's comedic Hollywood connection.
“In re-watching it, going into these events, it just brings you back to that decade, that year. You think about where you were 25 years ago,” she said. “This is one of our funniest movies. It's all ours. We totally embrace it.”
While some events for “Party On!” are set to go, others are still in the planning stages, Amoni said.
On Tuesday, Feb. 7, Leland Legends Pub and Grill will host a Wayne's World trivia night.
Plans call for a look-alike contest at Luigi's Pizza on April 13 and an air guitar contest at Two Brothers Roundhouse on May 11.
The celebration wraps up July 4. In homage to the film's scene wherein Wayne and Garth and their buddies cruise the city's streets while blasting Queen's “Bohemian Rhapsody,” an attempt to claim the world record for people head-banging to that song will be staged in RiverEdge Park before the fireworks, Amoni said.
The movie will be screened at several venues over the coming months. Cinemark Tinseltown in North Aurora will screen the show Feb. 7. The movie also will be shown at Two Brothers Roundhouse Brew and View on Wednesday, Feb. 22, and at the Paramount Theatre on May 29.
Amoni said she is working on booking appearances by people involved with the film and setting up promotional events with the Chicago Steel and the Kane County Cougars.
Rauch said enthusiasm is building throughout the community as the kick-off approaches.
“There have been a lot of people jumping in to say, 'We'll help you,'” she said.
For information, visit auroradowntown.org.
Party on, Garth! Party on, Wayne! Party on, Aurora!
First Friday to launch “Party On! 25 Years of Wayne's World” celebration
When:5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3; some activities have specific times
Where: Downtown Aurora
Cost: Free
Info: