Oct. 6: Lions Club Fall Fun Fest

A first-ever Fall Fest with food, face painting and a craft show will be held at Luigi's Pizza and Fun Center, 732 Prairie St. in Aurora, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6.

Kids and adults are invited. Admission is free. The sponsor is the Aurora Noon Lions Club.

The first 100 children to attend will receive a free mini-pumpkin and $1 food coupons for hot dogs, pizza and ice cream.

Free photos will be taken of children on a fire truck or in a police car.

Crafts by local artists will be sold and a garage sale will be held at the fest. Five varieties of Lions brooms--from kids-size to industrial push broom will be available.

Luigi's game room will be open. Used eyeglasses will be accepted for recycling.

Proceeds will benefit Lions vision and hearing-impaired charities.

Call             (630) 921-1307      .

Sept 29: Harvest Day @ Aurora Farmers Market

Aurora’s Farmers Market Downtown

“The oldest Farmers Market in the State of Illinois!”

Harvest Day @ the Market Saturday, September 29, 2012
Wilder Promenade - 350 N. River Street 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

DEMONSTRATIONS @ the Demo Tent:

• 8:00 a.m. – Salsa Man Secrets – “Come Early, Get Secrets!” You won’t want to miss the “Salsa Man” (a.k.a. Dan Barreiro) as he reveals some of his clandestine Salsa making techniques.   Utilizing locally grown farm fresh ingredients, “Salsa Man” will craft before your very eyes, one of his healthful and flavorful top-secret recipes. Spicy? Savory? Sweet? Only those in attendance will know the SECRET!  But you can guarantee your taste buds will be tantalized and tingling.  Recipes and samples will be included.

• 9:00 a.m. Autumn Wreath – Learn how to spice up your fall décor from Susan Johnson, Phillips Park Horticulturalist.  Susan will demonstrate an easy to make Autumn Wreath perfect to add seasonal color to your front door or over the mantle.

• 10:00 a.m. – Preserving the Harvest - If you’re up to your elbows in tomatoes or apples this month, then chances are you need a little nudge in the right direction.  Why not reap the benefits of locally grown fruits and vegetables harvested at the peak of ripeness!  University of Illinois Extension Nutrition & Wellness Educator Laura Barr and Master Gardener Ruth Ann Seney will alleviate any fear you might have of Home Canning.  Their presentation will demonstrate the differences in water bath and pressure canning, equipment choices, ph values of foods and best practices. Discover the deeply rewarding experience of selecting your own produce and canning it into delicious homemade preserves, pickles and more.

ACTIVITIES & EXTRAS:

• ENTERTAINMENT: The Goats -Led by renowned musician and cello prodigy Eric Ross, this versatile group of dynamic twenty-something’s offer a unique musical mélange of string instruments, including cello, guitar and violin. Their unique sound is based in classical and acoustic repertoires with enthusiastic touches of folk, pop, jazz, and world music.
• Children’s Autumn Crafts: Fall is in the air so let the kids have some fun making autumn themed crafts with Chris Kral and Jennifer Tannenbaum experts in crafting!
• Aurora Hispanic Heritage Masks: Come make a mask in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month courtesy of the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Board.  FREE
• Animal Control & Friends of Animal Control: Bring home a new F.B.F. (Furry Best Friend)!  Puppies, Kittens, Dogs & Cats, all ready for a loving home will be onsite for a “Meet & Sniff”.  Adoption information will be available.
• Aurora Fire Prevention: Learn about Fire Safety and see an Aurora Fire truck up close.
• The Aurora Public Library Foundation Book Sale: A wide selection of new, used, donated, ex-Library books and some advanced reading copies.  ONLY 50 cents to $1 with donations gladly accepted.  All proceeds benefit the Foundation’s early childhood literacy and technology initiatives.
• FACE Painting FUN:  Dots and Splashes’ Chris Kierstead, famed “Visage Festooner”, will be onsite embellishing faces with colorful works of art!  FREE
• Farmers Market Photo Ops:  Farmer Up!  Get your picture with our Market Mascots “Penelopea” & “Cornelius”.  Plus you can also “Get Your Farmer On” in Grant Woods’ “American Gothic” painting or maybe you are more an “Aurora Andy.”  No matter your choice it will be fun and memorable for everyone. FREE
• Friends of Phillips Park: Fall planting brings Spring beauty!  FREE Tulip Bulbs along with a selection of fall foliage plants and perennials will be offered for a small donation along with horticulture information.
• Aurora Historical Society:  Have your picture taken with Andy Aurora and the Aurora Historical Society's 1922 Chevy panel truck, the kind of vehicle that was once a common sight on the streets of Aurora as a delivery wagon.  Plus a historical display of the City of Lights!
• Paddle and Trail: FREE BIKE VALET!  Just pedal to the market and valet check your bike for FREE while you shop!  Paddle and Trail staff will also perform a complimentary inspection to ensure your equipment is at maximum performance.
• Insure One: FREE beverage mugs and information regarding your insurance needs.
• Grand Dental Fox Valley: Meet & Greet with Dr. Taina Yanez.  They’ll have FREE Pumpkins for children to decorate and take home!  PLUS Grand Dental will be hosting a “Magic Show” Oct. 28 at the Akoo Theatre to benefit Salute Inc. Salute Inc. passionately pursues meeting the financial, physical and emotional needs of military service members, veterans and their families.  Discount tickets are available for only $30 (Reg. $42), all proceeds benefit Salute Inc.
• REGISTER TO VOTE: Deputy Registrars from the League of Women Voters of Illinois will be on hand to assist with voter registration. If you are a US citizen who is a resident of Illinois, here’s an opportunity to sign up now to exercise your right to vote!
• The Light of the Heart: A Community Art Therapy Project: Come and show off your creativity with a fun and simple art activity.  All ages welcome to participate!
• Fox Valley Montessori School – Scout Pack 6: Help support the scouts with their Popcorn Fundraiser.
• Dreyer Medical Clinic – Cardiology Department, Highland Campus:  - Complimentary blood pressure checks and education materials on Hypertension, heart healthy diet and smoking cessation.
• Missing Children Child Search:  Information to raising awareness of missing children and complimentary Kettle corn with a donation.

Harvest Day Vendor Specials:

• Juice Plus: FREE decorated pumpkin with Orchard, Garden and Vineyard Trio purchase.
• Dick’s Mini Donuts: BUY a Mini “D: GET a Mini “D” FREE! PLUS Dick’s Donut Mascot!
• Pampered Chef: FREE Apple Wedger (with a $60 purchase), FREE Shipping & FREE Recipe Card for stopping by!
• PLUS Many More Specials!

Sept. 29: Billions & Billions at The Yetee Gallery

Oct. 5: Aurora ArtWalk "Some Like it Hot"

The Downtown Aurora Fall ArtWalk, “Some like it HOT!,” the eighth in a continuing series of highly anticipated and hugely successful Aurora ArtWalks produced by Cultural Creatives, Inc. will take place Friday, Oct. 5, 2012, from 7 to 10 p.m. on North Broadway in Downtown Aurora.

The hot, diverse and inspiring event—created and planned by and for artists—will be filled with local and regional artisans. Paintings, sculptures, drawings, textiles, dancing, singing, and strumming are just a few of the things in store for visiting patrons. All are invited to stroll down Broadway, enjoy great art and music and experience exciting exhibitions during this FREE event. The ArtWalk will be hosted by multiple venues including: Aurora Transportation Center, Two Brothers Brewery, Jake's Bagels & Deli, Comfort Suites Aurora, Aurora Regional Fire Museum and La Quinta de los Reyes. Each site will feature a combination of music, performance arts, visual arts, exhibits and light refreshments.

Previous ArtWalks have seen outstanding attendance with standing room only audiences and have brought thousands of patrons and art lovers to downtown Aurora. In this version, “Some Like it HOT!,” two blocks of North Broadway, spanning from the Fire Museum to the Transportation Center, will be transformed into a HOT  urban art scene featuring Fire Eater Tom Hill and a unique musical flame exhibit created by local artist Jeff Weber. Bring your camera; you won’t want to miss the unique photo opportunities these exhibitions will demand.

The Aurora 88s will once again be out in full force thrilling patrons with short roller derby exhibitions. This FREE visual, tactile and auditory event promises to be a fun, family evening filled with entertainment and gorgeous art for sale spanning all mediums. More than 30 artists are expected to exhibit and perform.

The event line-up includes nationally recognized oil pastel artist George Shipperley and  award-winning painters David Hettinger, Cheryl Holz and Maureen Gasek to name a few. Additional visual artists include Scott Harding, Maury Guerra, Mary Anne Cummings, Gideon Haynes, Miguel SZ, Darius Hurley, Angie Draper, Annette Egan, Ladan Ghajar, Ella Gomez, Noah Gabriel, Mary Hyatt, Patti Parish, Christian Campos, Joanna Goss, Renee Rose, Angela Hibben and Loretta Hamilton utilizing oils, pencil, watercolor, acrylics and digital methods. Photographers include Tia Brooks and Mary Rodriguez, (2012 Summer Artwalk People’s Choice: Best Visual Artist). Performance Artists: Natali Brulc and the Aurora 88s will captivate crowds. Musician Santos Ramos will play at the Aurora Transportation Center, with "Jake Mack and the Last Stand" and "the Kevin Trudo + Meathawk" performing at Two Brothers Brewery. Don't miss the unique demonstrations at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum featuring Fire Eater Tom Hill along with Jeff Weber's Rubens Tube.

The juried exhibition will award $500 in cash prizes. Patrons attending the ArtWalk will be asked to participate in determining the winner of the Weber Award, a People’s Choice Award for both Visual and Performance prizes. Voting is available at participating venues.

This event is sponsored by Aurora Downtown, the Hollywood Casino, and the City of Aurora in conjunction with the Cultural Creatives, Inc. (a group of more than 50 local artists, property owners and businesses). The Aurora ArtWalk was sparked by several concepts: to offer an opportunity for artists to meet other local artists; to showcase Aurora’s open-armed embrace to its burgeoning artist colony; to highlight downtown’s historic venues; and to promote Aurora’s art-friendly business and property owners.

For information on the Aurora ArtWalk, visit www.AuroraArtWalk.com