Day of the Dead celebration in downtown Aurora

Aurora's First Fridays is celebrating the Day of the Dead on Friday evening in downtown.

Many venues will be open for art shows and community ofrenda displays, along with an outdoor celebration and a fashion show. The party is headed by Jose Torres, director of Athziry Dia de los Muertos, a nonprofit that gives scholarships to local students.

The event begins with a ceremony at 4 p.m. at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place.

The main celebration is from 5 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot just east of SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton St. It will close with a fashion show starting at 9:30 p.m. at La Quinta de los Reyes, 36 E. New York St.

There also will be community altar displays at Santori Public Library and Day of the Dead art shows at multiple venues.

Aurora Downtown will host a free pop up photo booth with Cloud Foto from 7 to 9 p.m. at Zen Loft, 6 W. Downer Place.

Other pop up shops will be at All Spoked Up, Aurora Regional Fire Museum, and Wyckwood House.

A free trolley will transport fest-goers from 6 to 10 p.m.

The night also features more than 20 venues that will celebrate art, music, and more. Here's a quick look:

• Santori Public Library, 101 S. River St., will stay open with Day of the Dead altars from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Stop by for refreshments, music, loteria, and crafts for kids.

• Waubonsee Community College's downtown campus library at 18 S. River St. will be open from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with a Dia de los Muertos art show and open mic hosted by Latinos Unidos and MEChA student organization.

• If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing & Gallery, 32 S. Stolp Ave., will host "Día de los Muertos" from 7 to 10 p.m. The show features the talents of six local artists: Jorge Alvarez, Carlos Deltizzle, Lita Lu, Christopher Lucero, Josue Paiz and Jose Torres.

• Balderas Beauty Salon, 25 N. Broadway, will welcome body painter Jose Art, who will host an art show and do face painting free to the public from 5 to 8 p.m.

• Aurora Public Art, 20 E. Downer Place, will be open until 9 p.m. with a Day of the Dead reception starting at 4 p.m. on the First Floor Gallery; "Finding Home" closes on the third floor. Bring photos to display on a community altar.

• Aurora Historical Society, 20 E. Downer Place, features "Aurora Story" on the second floor. Walk-through history of Aurora, plus mini-exhibits on the centenary of the end of World War I, and ethnicity and diversity in Aurora. Photographer Perry Slade will be in the gift shop signing pictures s from 6 to 9 p.m.

• The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will host a one-night pop up called "Los Alebrijes" from 7 p.m. to midnight. Alebrijes are fantastical hodgepodges of real and imagined creatures. Sarah Cervantes is featured in the Lounge.

• The Web, 134 W. Downer Place, will be open from 7 p.m. to midnight with "Halloween is over, but not: Works by Anton Witek."

• Oddlots, 121 W. Benton St., will host "Make Your Mark," a solo show from 6 to 9 p.m. featuring William Grahame Wilkin III.

• Branch Gardens, 77 S. Lake St., will feature artist Cheryl Holz from 5 to 8 p.m.

• Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., welcomes musician Daniel Becker from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Gremlen Recording Studios, 130 W. Downer Place, will host its annual Gremlen Halloween Party from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 18, will be open late with musical group Saint Astro from 7 to 9 p.m.

• Wyckwood House, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16, will feature face painting and James Deans, a pop up jewelry artist, from 5 to 9 p.m.

• SciTech, 18 W. Benton St., is open for exploration at no cost from 5 to 8 p.m.

• Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, will host a special George Dahlin exhibit from 6 to 9 p.m. Dahlin fought in the 33rd Division A.E.F. during World War I as part of the 129th Illinois Infantry.

• Christian Science Reading Room, 34 S. Stolp Ave., will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. with free kids' crafts, prizes and gifts.

• Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place, will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. with performances, demos, massages and more.

• La Quinta de los Reyes, 36 E. New York St., will host the Day of the Dead fashion show at 9:30 p.m. A $5 donation is requested.

• Calla Lily Victorian Tea Room, 83 S. LaSalle St., will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. with complimentary tea tastings of its handcrafted proprietary teas. Scones and dainty desserts will be available for purchase. Erica Swanson, author of the children's book "Bellossoms," will be doing caricature drawings and displaying her series.

• Family Counseling Services, 70 S. River St., will be open from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for "Fall into Gratitude," a family party with activities, crafts, yoga and more.

• Gillerson's Grubbery, 31 W. New York St., will feature KC Kandles from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. with the Aurora Fire Department Photography Show featuring more than two dozen photographs curated by firefighter James DeSomer, plus pop up shops.

• All Spoked Up Aurora, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 12, will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. with artisan Leslie Jenner of Jennerations.

For details, visit www.auroradowntown.org.