Aurora Downtown announces the lineup for First Fridays on April 1. Celebrating its 10th season of bringing art, music, and more to dozens of downtown storefronts, First Fridays welcomes everyone to explore the growing arts and culture scene. On May 6, Aurora Downtown will celebrate with the return of its popular Food Truck Festival on Benton Street.
Visitors can tag #firstfridaysaurora and @downtownaurora on Instagram to enter giveaways.
Nearly two dozen venues will be open next Friday with the following offerings:
If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing & Gallery, 32 S. Stolp Ave., will present “A Group Effort,” a four-artist group exhibit featuring the talents of Casie Alexander, Kat Lisle, Anton Witek, and Tom Mahady from 7 to 10 p.m
Artesan Lofts Art Gallery, 2 S. Stolp Ave., will be open to the public, showing various works of art by resident artists from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Gary Brown Art Gallery and Studio | Mark Radina Stained Glass, 7 S. Broadway, will feature art and antiques for sale from 5 to 9 p.m.
The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will host “ArtBar: Intergalactic: from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Aurora Public Art at The DLP Art & History Center, 20 E. Downer Pl., 3rd Floor, will present “(Re)volution,” Kyle Reeves’ painting retrospective from 1999-2021 with a live DJ from 6 to 9 p.m.
Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Pl., will feature live music by True Company Band starting at 9 p.m.
Altiro Latin Fusion, 1 S. Stolp Ave., will present live Spanish Rock with Damián Rivera from 6 to 8 p.m.
Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Pl. Ste. 18, will host live music and works by a new artist from 5 to 9 p.m.
Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., will present Southside Soul Kings from 6 to 9 p.m.
Tavern on Broadway, 24 N. Broadway, will be open with live music by Olivia Ports from 7 to 10 p.m.
French 75 Gallery and Lounge, 56 E. Galena Blvd., will launch a new, springtime cocktail. The cocktail bar and art gallery is open until Midnight.
Paramount School of the Arts, 20 S. Stolp Ave., will be open with a lip sync battle and ticket giveaway for Paramount Theatre’s Rock of Ages from 6 to 9 p.m.
Aurora Public Library, 101 S. River St., will be open with live, all-ages improv with Knuckleball Comedy, a 'bright idea' craft, and a greenscreen photo op from 6 to 8 p.m.
McCarty Mills Taproom and Bottleshop, 140 S. River St., will host a food pop up with RKNTCO, DJ ROGUE1TBA, and featured artist Geli Inks. The taproom is open until midnight.
G.A.R. Museum, 23 E. Downer Pl., will be open with “The Smithsonian's Righting A Wrong: Japanese Americans and World War II,” from 5 to 9 p.m.
Aurora Historical Society at The DLP Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Pl., will host “Portraits of the Past: Dozens of oil and photographic portraits from the 1840s to 1980s” from 6 to 9 p.m.
Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will open the museum for Smoky's Silly Scavenger Hunt. Explore the museum and complete the hunt to win a prize. Meat raffle tickets on sale. The museum will be open from 5 to 8 p.m.
Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Pl. upstairs, will feature an open house with music by Mo Pippy plus massages for $1/min., shop I of the Angeles, hang in hammocks, $10/mini-tarot readings, and sound healing from 5 to 9 p.m.
Wyckwood House, 14 W. Downer Pl. Ste 16, will present live music from Dan Becker plus a big moving sale before heading to their new River Street location. The clothing and gift boutique will be open from 5 to 9 p.m.
Society 57, 100 S. River St., will be open late with cocktails and bites from 6 to 9 p.m.
The Perch, 31 W. Downer Pl., 3rd Floor, will host “1000 Paper Cranes Memorial.” Come see the finished memorial with paper cranes marking 2 years of the pandemic and honoring all the people we've lost. Light refreshments will be served from 5 to 8 p.m.
Hope Chest, 34 N. Lincoln Ave., will host a storewide sale from 4 to 7 p.m.
Community Christian Church, 78 S. LaSalle St., will feature Karaoke Night from 6:45 to 8 p.m.
All Spoked Up, 14 W. Downer Pl. Ste 10, will host Huge Witch, a fun and laid back Tarot and Astro reader from 6 to 9 p.m.
Offbeat Thrift and Vintage, 14 W. Downer Pl. Ste. 16 Basement, will feature Ruby Retro pop up featuring secondhand housewares and clothing with a retro flair from 5 to 9 p.m.
Aroma Roots Bath & Body and Obsidian Clothing, 32 N. Broadway, will host Vela Bae Candles pop up at 6 p.m. plus enjoy 25 percent off winter and men’s apparel from 5 to 9 p.m.
Undisputed Vintage, a new nineties vintage clothing store at 14 W. Downer Pl. Ste. 8, will offer late night shopping from 5 to 9 p.m.
For a complete map and participating venues, visit auroradowntown.org.
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