Summer Fun, Festivals, Races, and more in Aurora, IL

Spring and Summer Fun in Downtown Aurora

By Marissa Amoni

If your weekends aren’t already busy enough, then just wait for this year’s festival season to begin. You won’t want to miss out. Here is a sneak preview so you can plan accordingly.

Big Time

Earlier this spring, Aurora’s Mayor Weisner announced the lineup for this summer’s Blues on the Fox at RiverEdge Park on Broadway. Buddy Guy, Dr. John, Tommy Castro, Robert Randolph, and The Stone Foxes will all be gracing the stage along the Fox River on June 14 and 15.

The full lineup for RiverEdge Park is now up at www.riveredgeaurora.com.

Race Time

On Sunday, June 16, the Amped Up Adventure Race will once again take local adventure seekers for a ride both in the water and on land. Athletic-types are able to bike, paddle, and run the course in and along the Fox River, and the party begins and ends in downtown Aurora. Visit www.ampedupadventurerace.com or call Paddle and Trail at 630-506-5706.

If getting blasted with color while you run a 5K race sounds cool, then sign up now for the Aurora 5K Color Vibe race on Saturday, July 6. Starting at RiverEdge Park, runners will be sprayed with a biodegradable color powder. It’s a non-timed fun run suitable for the whole family. Find out more at www.thecolorvibe.com/aurora.

Since running on the riverfront is so much fun, Run for the Riverfront is back again this year on August 3. Visit www.runfortheriverfront.com to sign up for a 5K, 10K or 1-mile fun run. The North Aurora Days event benefits North Aurora River District Alliance (NOARDA) and West Aurora High School Cross Country Teams.

Summer Time

It’s truly summer when downtown Aurora comes alive with patrons sitting outside on the deck at River’s Edge Cafe, walking the riverwalk, and perusing antique and vintage selections at Louche Puce Market on Water Street Mall.

Vendors of all things kitsch and cool will once again line the best pedestrian-friendly area in the entire Fox Valley, the alley called “Water Street Mall” that is located between Downer Place and Galena Boulevard. Louche Puce Market runs on the second Saturdays from June to September; the first market is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 8. Email louchepuce@gmail.com to participate.

Also on June 8, Aurora Green Fest returns from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., for a day of earth-friendly activities.

Activities that are more beer-friendly will be on hand at Two Brothers Roundhouse the weekend of Friday, June 21 during its annual Summer Festival (formerly Hop Juice Fest). If the weekend is anything like last year, then be prepared for great music, tasty beer, and a friendly crowd outside of the Roundhouse complex on Broadway.

Alley Art Fest Time

There’s just nothing like the last Saturday of August in Aurora. For the fourth year, local artists will converge on Water Street Mall and welcome the community to join in on a fun day of art, music, and spectacle.

Alley Art Festival invites local artists and musicians to show off their talents from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31. In past years, the family-friendly event included yoga, hula hoops, juggling, puppets, children’s activities, and more.To participate, email downtownauroran@gmail.com.

Marissa Amoni is a freelance writer living in Aurora. She likes to enjoy all that Aurora has to offer, and spends many summer days biking around town with her husband and their two children. Find out about more local events on her blog www.downtownauroran.wordpress.com.