North Aurora Days may add a day and move the party

North Aurora Days may move and lengthen the party next year.

That way, it could get more carnival rides and cause fewer inconvenience for businesses in the area where it usually sets up the entertainment and beer garden.

The early August festival could centralize most of its activities on the grounds at Fearn Elementary School and Fearn Park on Hawksley Lane, according to village administrator Steven Bosco, who is on the North Aurora Days committee.

The festival uses a shopping center parking lot at Oak Street and Randall Road for bands, a beer garden and carnival amusements Friday and Saturday. Other activities, such as a child safety fair, take place elsewhere, including at Mooseheart. There is a pet parade Sunday afternoon.

"There are no carnivals of a substantial size that are willing to do our event because it (the carnival portion) is only two days, and is a small size," Bosco told the board.

It ends up being some games, bouncy houses and a few small rides for young children, nothing that interests middle-schoolers and teenagers, he said.

Carnivals want at least three days, he said, in case one of the days is rained out.

But if it adds more substantial rides, such as a Ferris wheel, the event would need more space, likely on Oak. And that could mean closing the street as early as Monday for setup for a party that starts Thursday evening.

If it moved to the school/park site, the committee would likely close the event earlier than in the past, when it stayed open until midnight on Friday and Saturday, to reduce noise bothering nearby residents.

The Fox Valley Park District and West Aurora School District 129 have already agreed to the plan.

"It's exciting that it is being kicked around," said Trustee Mark Gaffino, a longtime organizer of the festival.

"It sounds good," President Dale Berman said.

Official votes on the matter, including carnival and beer tent permits, will come later in the spring or early summer.