Aurora celebrates its diverse ethnic groups with year of events
Submitted by Aurora Historical Society
Luxembourg’s tiny stature belies its outsized impact on Aurora’s history, which the Aurora Historical Society will recognize Friday, June 8 and Sunday, June 10, at the downtown David L. Pierce Art and History Center. A free reception from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 8, will kick off a yearlong series of celebrations titled “Flavors of Aurora: Stirred Not Shaken” that will highlight contributions of several of Aurora’s diverse ethnic groups.
The first group to be honored in the series will be the Luxembourgers who, starting in the late 19th century, came to America from their small, German speaking nation nestled among Belgium, France and Germany.
Many settled on Aurora’s near northeast side, said John Jaros, executive director of the Aurora Historical Society. They thrived and multiplied in such neighborhoods as Pigeon Hill, Jaros added.
The weekend observance will conclude on Sunday, June 10, with a free talk and book signing at 2 p.m. by Luxembourg scholar Fausto Gardini who has written several books on the topic of Luxembourg-American immigration and culture and is considered the
premier expert on the topic.
Visit aurorahistory.net for more information, or check Facebook.
The society offices may be reached at (630) 906-0650.
The Friday night reception at the Art and History Center, at 20 E. Downer Place, will include a mini- exhibit of photographs and memorabilia highlighting the customs, social interaction, religious traditions and work history of the city’s Luxembourgian residents,
Jaros said. In addition, food and beverages will be served, and authentic entertainment will be provided. The reception is free, with a cash bar. The historical society anticipates serving such delicacies as blood sausage, to be washed down by Belgian beer.
Imported Luxembourgish beer is not yet available in the United States, although plans are afoot to import it starting in 2013. In Luxembourg, beer from neighboring Belgium is extremely popular.
“This will be a great excuse to start the weekend with a party,” said society president Mary Clark Ormond, “and also to take in the major anniversary exhibit for the demisemiseptcentennial, which is titled ‘The Aurora Story’ and occupies two floors of the Art and History Center.” The exhibit, the most ambitious ever undertaken by the Historical Society, opened May 4. Both exhibits are free.
The reception overlaps with the semiannual Aurora Art Walk which is slated for galleries and spaces near the intersection of Downer Place and Stolp Avenue during the period 7-10 p.m. Visit auroraartwalk.com.
Parking for the Art and History Center is in the Stolp Avenue parking deck, at Downer and Stolp Avenue. Parking is free with a stamp obtainable in the society’s gift shop.