Aurora Downtown's First Fridays hosts Illinois Bicentennial Birthday Bash June 1
Aurora Downtown's First Fridays will feature an official Illinois Bicentennial Birthday Bash on June 1. The bash will be 6 to 7 p.m. at Millennium Plaza, 21 S. Stolp Ave. It will include birthday cake, a strolling magician and singing, as well as food trucks.
Also joining the bash, Paramount School of the Arts and SciTech Hands On Museum offer family-friendly activities from 5 to 8 p.m. Dog and Pony Show perform in the gazebo starting at 7 p.m.
Food trucks will be parked on both Stolp Avenue and Downer Place from 5 to 10 p.m. and include Grumpy Gaucho, A-Town Hot Dogs, Wurst Kitchen, and Foxy's Ice Cream.
The night also features more than 20 venues open with art, music, and more for First Fridays.
Visit pop-up shops at Aurora Regional Fire Museum, All Spoked Up, and Wyckwood House, and ride a free trolley from 6 to 10 p.m.
• Gallery 1904, 1 E. Benton St., hosts "All About Fathers," an art show featuring Gerardo R. Madrigal, Dr. Pencil, Grahame Wilkin, Anton Witek, and Bill Austin from 6 to 9:30 p.m. There will be live music performed by Jim Green. Tease Dance and Fitness will be demonstrating aerial silks, pole fitness, and more from 6 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot.
• The ArtBar, 205 N. Broadway, hosts its season six finale, "Loteria," from 7 p.m. to midnight in the tavern at Two Brothers Roundhouse. Brad Mortenson will perform in the lounge.
• Branch Gardens, 77 S. Lake St., is open with artist Christopher Pappas and teas from 6 to 10 p.m. in the garden. Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., features art and live music from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 18, is open with live music, art and specials from 7 to 9 p.m.
• AKA Dance, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 10, hosts a free dance class from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
• Gremlen Recording Studios, 130 W. Downer Place, offers studio tours and karaoke from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Aurora Historical Society, 20 E. Downer Place, hosts "Ethnicity and Diversity in Aurora, 1834-Present," an exhibit featuring the contributions of immigrant groups to Aurora culture, on the first floor and "Aurora Story" on the second floor from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Santori Public Library, 101 S. River St., welcomes Fox Valley Orchestra Small Ensemble Series: Antiqua Baroque Consort from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
• If These Walls Could Talk, 32 S. Stolp Ave., opens "Altered States: Penelope Garcia" from 7 to 10 p.m.
• Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, is open with World War II artifacts from 5 to 9 p.m.
• Rocktown Adventures, 106 Spruce St., offers free paddle rides on the Fox River from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• The Web, 134 W. Downer Place, hosts "Peace is My Weapon: Art by Miguel SZ" from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Gillerson's Grubbery, 33 W. New York St., welcomes brewery Tangled Roots from 6 to 9 p.m.
• SciTech, 18 W. Benton St., opens "Sustainable Choices," a traveling exhibit, from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place, is open with $5 mini classes, demos, massage, and welcomes special guest Jennifer Minott with Young Living Wellness from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Christian Science Reading Room, 34 S. Stolp Ave., is open with prizes, gifts, and free kids crafts from 6 to 9 p.m.
First Fridays maps are available at all venues. Free trolley rides from downtown parking areas run approximately every 10 to 15 minutes from 6 to 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.auroradowntown.org.