Locals flock to North Aurora days

North Aurora Days are here again and the locals came out in droves to kick off opening night.

The three-day festival began at 8 a.m. with a community garage sale and other events throughout the day. The night culminated with a large-scale party in the Clock Tower Plaza, on the corner of Randall and Oak Roads, that lasted until midnight.

"It's a good community event," Dale Berman, current North Aurora village trustee and former mayor of the village said. "I've seen it grow."

At the party the parking lot are was car free and was filled instead with people relaxing in lawn chairs between the painted yellow lines and people sitting on the curb filled the area instead. More than 500 people attended the event.

Pawnshop Band and Epic provided live entertainment for the festival goers and there was an ice-cream eating contest for kids at 8 p.m. on the main stage. There was also a fireworks show at 9 p.m.

The beer tent was also back and was sponsored by the Mother's Club and Lion's Club who have the use their booth as a fundraiser for their organizations. According McLaughlin, the proceeds have also gone to fire districts and charities.

There were food booths that sold everything from brats, funnel cakes and lemonade shake-ups. This was a kid-friendly section of the parking lot that had jumpers, a large slide and arts and crafts.

"We knew we were going to have fun," Antoinette Warren, who traveled to the event from Plano, said. This was her second year at the festival. She said also liked the music.

Other events at this year's North Aurora Days included the lights and siren parade that started at the Tinseltown U.S.A. Theater at 7 p.m. in North Aurora and ended at Clock Tower Plaza.

There was also a crafts and vendor fair at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and Night-Light Golf at Valley Green Golf Course.

"It's a time that the residents get to share and meet and greet," Sue McLaughlin, North Aurora's village administrator, said.

North Aurora Days continues through Sunday. For a complete list of events visit www.vil.north-aurora.il.us.