First Fridays brings out the 'Derby' and the 'Dead' (plus free mac-n-cheese)

Roller derby art, Day of the Dead imagery, and free macaroni and cheese. It's an odd combination, but that's what makes First Fridays so much fun.

On Oct. 2, First Fridays in downtown Aurora features the "Art of Derby" at the Yetee Gallery, "Day of the Dead" photography is on display at If These Walls Could Talk, and free macaroni and cheese with toppings, courtesy of Prisco's Family Market, is available at Family Counseling Service.

First Fridays continues the fun with more than a dozen venues to visit, a pop up shop on LaSalle Street, and a variety of food trucks along Downer Place.

Pick up a free First Fridays passport at any venue. Return the punched passport at the last venue visited for a chance to win a First Fridays goody bag.

In October, the following venues are open for First Fridays.

• Pop Up Shop, 59 S. LaSalle St., is back with a handful of local vendors selling their wares from 6 to 10 p.m.

• Allen and Pepa Architects, 121 W. Benton St., welcomes artist Ann Cooper from 5 to 9 p.m.

• Family Counseling Services, 70 S. River St., is open with a free macaroni and cheese bar with toppings supplied by Prisco's Family Market from 6 to 9 p.m.

• The Light of the Heart, 52 W. Downer Place, Suite 204, hosts the Illinois Art Therapy Association exhibit, "Hello, My Name Is …" It is a visual look at the stigma attached to mental health and counseling from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• Yetee Gallery, 110 Cross St., opens the "Art of Derby," a collaborative show with works of art created by individuals a part of the Roller Derby community from 7 to 11 p.m.

• Paramount Theatre's Grand Gallery, 23 E. Galena Blvd., continues "Pieces of the Past," the photography of Randy Benzie. Open during "Oklahoma!" performance.

• David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, offers three floors of continuing exhibits. Aurora Public Art Commission hosts "Faces Among Found Objects" on the third floor and a special mural exhibit, with art conservator Scott Sherwood restoring a mural in situ, on the first floor. Aurora Historical Society presents "Aurora Story" on the second floor and museum store is open 6 to 9 p.m.

• Emergent at Metropolitan Co-Working, a pop-up gallery at 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16, shows the works of Washington D.C. artist, Kelly Hazime. This is a solo show you definitely don't want to miss from 6 to 10 p.m.

• HealthMarkets, 40 W. Downer Place, is open with art from local artists Damon Rowley and Steve DuCharme from 5 to 8 p.m.

• If These Walls Could Talk, 32 S. Stolp Ave., features photographer Cynthia Kannan's unique take on traditional Día de los Muertos imagery from 7 to 11 p.m.

• Fresh Tee Boutique, 8 N. Broadway, is open with fun fashions, sneakers, and art for $30 in The P Nut Gallery from 5 to 10 p.m.

• Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd., hosts open mic from 6 to 9 p.m.

• The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, features a pop-up art show themed "The Tarot," artwork inspired by tarot cards from 6 p.m. to midnight.

• Bella Rose Boutique, 112 E. Galena Blvd., is open with photography by Mary Rodriguez from 6 to 10 p.m.

• River's Edge Cafe, 14 W. Downer Place, is open until 10 p.m. with art and music from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

• SciTech Hands-on Museum, 18 W. Benton St., is open with free admission plus art stations from 6 to 8 p.m.

Free trolley service runs throughout downtown from 6 to 10 p.m.

First Fridays in Downtown Aurora invites the community to enjoy art, music, food, theater, and more on the first Friday of the month.

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.com.

Aurora Downtown is an organization of downtown property and business owners who are dedicated to making downtown Aurora a premier destination for arts, culture, entertainment, dining, living, and working.