Annual Aurora Ukulele Festival returns with performances, vendors and workshops

The ninth annual Aurora Ukulele Festival will return Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26, at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway in Aurora. The festival features performances from big names in the ukulele scene, workshops, vendors and an open mic.

The public is invited. Tickets to both days of the festival cost $40, excluding fees; single-day tickets cost $25. Admission can be purchased via auroraukefest.com.

Introduced in 2018, the City of Lights Ukulele Festival Society-hosted event promises performances from big names in the ukulele scene, workshops, vendors and an open mic. The festival was previously held in downtown Aurora.

It will begin on Saturday with an open mic session from noon to 1:30 p.m.; sign-up for open mic starts at 11:30 a.m.

The Hix Bros Ukulele Band will take the stage from 2 to 3 p.m., followed by the Hoapili with Hula ‘O Puanani from 3:15 to 4 p.m. Uncle Jon's Music will host a play-along workshop from 4:15 to 5 p.m., followed by Lisa Mannion from 5:15 to 6 p.m. and Lisa, The Ukulele Fool from 7:15 to 8 p.m. The Ukulele Kings will perform from 8:15 to 9:15 p.m. An open jam session will close the night from 9:30 to 10 p.m.

The schedule for the Sunday performer workshop will be Carl Hix from noon to 12:45 p.m., Ukulele Kings, Ben Hassenger and crew from 1 to 1:45 p.m. and again from 3 to 3:45 p.m., Lisa, The Ukulele Fool from 2 to 2:45 p.m. and again from 6 to 6:45 p.m., and Lisa Mannion from 4 to 4:45 p.m. It will close with an open jam session from 5 to 5:45 p.m.

For schedule updates, visit auroraukefest.com.