West of conventional: After-hours fun in the Aurora area
The Aurora area is a collection of 10 communities joined by their ideal placement along the scenic Fox River just west of Chicago.
Boasting a diverse mix of premium outlet shopping, vibrant night life, a lively arts and culture scene and historic charm accompanied by modern amenities, the Aurora area is an ideal location for your next meeting or event. At the Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, our mission is to connect meeting and event planners with the lodging and convention space that best meets your needs while keeping you connected to all the activities and attractions that make the Aurora Area such a great place to live, work, and play.
The Aurora area is anchored by the revitalized urban appeal of the City of Aurora, the second most populous in the state of Illinois. A pillar of Aurora's renaissance has been the Paramount Theatre. The Paramount Theatre's Broadway Series has attracted rave reviews, developed the second-highest subscriber base of any theater in Illinois, and has received numerous "Jeff" awards and nominations for its blockbuster shows. For an elegant event setting or as a group outing destination after your meeting, the Paramount Theatre offers a distinctive and downright gorgeous venue.
RiverEdge Park, Chicagoland's newest outdoor concert venue, has hosted some of the biggest names in independent rock and the Blues on a picturesque stretch of the Fox River near Downtown Aurora. Its summer concert and festival series this year includes a stylish mix of living legends, platinum-selling pop stars, and indie upstarts. Steps away from the Paramount Theatre and RiverEdge Park sits Two Brothers Roundhouse and the Hollywood Casino-Aurora. The Roundhouse furnishes a variety of meeting spaces for gatherings of up to 600 attendees and is a favorite of locals and visitors alike for dinner, drinks, and night life thanks to its Two Brothers Tavern at the Roundhouse live entertainment showroom. Hollywood Casino-Aurora offers high-stakes gaming and entertainment in true Vegas-style fashion with a gilded 1930's-era Hollywood theme, with over 1,200 slots and the region's largest poker room.
Shopping and unique day trips
Aurora's shopping districts are home to hundreds of designer and luxury brands at destinations like Chicago Premium Outlets, where meeting and eventgoers can enjoy exclusive deals in a climate-controlled outdoor shopping environment complete with some of Chicago's best fast-casual eateries, outdoor fireplaces, and a radiant reflecting pool. Aurora's Fox Valley Mall is one of Chicagoland's largest indoor shopping destinations and features a full-size carousel and top name retailers. The new Round 1 Entertainment Center at Fox Valley Mall is two floors of fun for groups with a 16-lane bowling alley, billiards, an arcade, and private karaoke rooms where you can really let your hair down.
Looking for a truly one-of-a-kind experience around your meeting? Your attendees can visit the Farnsworth House in Plano, designed by Mies van der Rohe, the master of midcentury modern architecture. Farnsworth House attracts design aficionados from around the world and is a must-see attraction for any visitor to the region. Nearby venue The Homestead 1854 is a wonderful pairing with your trip for private events, mindfulness exercises, and creative retreats far from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Another unique option in the Aurora Area is Fermilab, a national particle accelerator laboratory operated by the U.S. Department of Energy. Group tours take you inside the facilities to meet the people and machinery exploring the fundamental questions of particle physics. Fermilab's natural areas encompass over 6,800 acres of pristine natural beauty, including native plants, 300 different bird species, and a bison preserve that this spring welcomed three adorable baby bison calves to the herd.
Outdoor adventure
Whatever the season, the Aurora area has many reasons to get out and play. Home to three outdoor water parks, including Raging Waves in Yorkville (Illinois's largest), the Aurora area is where visitors make a splash for summertime events. The Fox River and its adjacent trails offer miles of opportunities year-round for cycling, paddling, hiking and cross-county skiing. Local outfitters can gear you up for your outing with kayak, canoe, and bike rentals.
Destinations for your next event
The Aurora area's meetings and events inventory features hotels and facilities with capacity for gatherings large and small, with big city amenities at a great value. You have access to cutting-edge technology and over 56,000 square feet of dynamic convention and meeting space at Timber Creek Inn & Suites and RedBerri Convention Center in Sandwich, IL. The Waubonsee Community College conference facility at its Sugar Grove Campus features over 10,000 square feet of contemporary meeting space in proximity to lodging in Aurora, North Aurora and Yorkville.
• To learn more about the Aurora Area for meetings & events destinations, contact Pete Garlock, director of sales, at (630) 256-3194 or email pete@enjoyaurora.com.