Free Summer Concerts in Aurora, IL (near Montgomery, Oswego, Batavia, North Aurora, and Naperville)

Aurora - Want free music in Aurora this summer? Everyone is talking about new venues like RiverEdge  Park and the big names they will bring, and while that is exciting, you might need to even our your budget with a little free music this summer. Enjoy all the great, local talent in Aurora for FREE!

Free concerts in June:
Friday, June 7 - Town Band (pictured above) plays Millennium Park on Stolp Avenue in downtown Aurora
Saturday, June 8 - Louche Puce Market shows off local talent from 9 to 4
Thursday, June 13 - Cattleprod at North Aurora's Riverfront Park
Thursday, June 27 - Montgomery Park

Free concerts in July:
Thursday, July 11 - St. Malarkey at North Aurora's Riverfront Park
Saturday, July 13 & 27 - Town Band plays Aurora's Farmers Market at 9 a.m. located at the Aurora Transportation Center
Saturday, July 13 - Louche Puce Market shows off local talent from 9 to 4

Free concerts in August:
Thursday, Aug. 8 - Todd Kessler and the New Folk Trio at North Aurora's Riverfront Park
Saturday, Aug. 10 - Louche Puce Market shows off local talent from 9 to 4
Saturday, Aug. 31 from noon to 5 p.m. - Alley Art Festival brings a handful of local musicians to perform all day long at the family-friendly artsy fringe fest.

Free concerts in September:
Saturday, Sept. 14 - Louche Puce Market shows off local talent from 9 to 4

Free shows every Monday - Culture Stock at 43 E. Galena Blvd. invites local musicians to perform from 6 to 7 p.m. as part of M.U.S.I.C. Mondays.

Earth Hour in Aurora, IL

July 15: Downtown Alive! Fan Favorites

The setting will stay the same along the Fox River, but the music scene will shift from blues to rock as Downtown Alive! starts Friday, July 15.

The concert series is presented in conjunction with the Paramount Theatre at North River Street Park. Dbl-Shot will open with high energy 80s rock followed by the Beatles tribute band American English.

Starts at 6 p.m. American English at 8 p.m. North River Street Parking Lot just north of New York Street. $3 entry

Vote for GAR!!!

The Aurora Public Art Commission (APAC) got some refreshing news this summer after the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall (GAR) was deemed eligible to receive a $50,000 grant from Pepsi.

The beverage giant is giving away millions of dollars to fund projects that revitalize communities, education and the arts. Residents can vote up to five times daily to support the GAR rehabilitation project at www.refresheverything.com/saveourgar, or they can vote twice a day by texting “Pepsi” at 73774 and then text “107607” and wait for the confirmation.

The top 10 organizations in the $50,000 category will receive a Pepsi Refresh grant.

Any grant money received would help complete tuck pointing the exterior of the GAR building, 23 E. Downer Place. Exterior restoration was completed between 2007-08 to stabilize the foundation, walls and roof, but tuck pointing was omitted from the project due to the poor economy. An addition also was built to provide modern utilities and access.

The GAR is currently undergoing interior restoration work being paid by a $250,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and a $95,000 grant from the City of Aurora.

The Grand Army of the Republic, a national Civil War veterans’ organization, existed in Aurora from the 1860s to the 1920s. The GAR Memorial Hall was built in 1878 as a monument to those soldiers who had fought in the Civil War. The building also served as a veterans’ meeting hall and as Aurora’s first free public library.

APAC is seeking to raise more money through public and private partnerships to finish the remaining GAR Memorial Hall renovations. Once work is complete, the building will be opened as a veterans’ center and museum to learn about Aurora’s role in America’s wars – spanning from the Civil War through World War II – and genealogical research.

People looking to make a donation to APAC’s GAR restoration effort can:

Go online to the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley’s website at www.communityfoundationfrv.org/fund_profiles-aurora_art.asp;
Send a check or money order to the Aurora Public Art Commission Fund, Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, 111 W. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60506; or
Call Aurora’s Customer Service Center at 630-256-INFO or call the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley at 630-896-7800.

July 4: Independence Day in Aurora

Aurora will be painted red, white and blue Monday, July 4 with a full-day of activities for the whole family.

Independence Day will begin with a downtown parade presented by the Roosevelt-Aurora American Legion Post 84 in partnership with the City of Aurora.

The event will start with a patriotic ceremony at 9:15 a.m. outside the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. The parade will step off at 10 a.m. at the corner of Benton and River streets, marching east to Broadway Avenue, north to Galena Boulevard, west to Stolp Avenue, south to Downer Place and conclude heading west to Middle Avenue.

Father Jerome “Jerry” Leake, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Aurora, has been named the 2011 Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal. Father Leake has become a popular figure in Aurora by performing chaplain duties for the City’s Police Department and the community for decades. He has logged more than 30,000 hours on ride-alongs with Aurora police officers and has provided counseling, ministry and comfort to victims and offenders in the aftermath of traumatic situations.

After being severely injured in a police ride-along accident in December, Father Leake completed a rigorous rehabilitation schedule to once again serve the students and more than 800 parishioners at St. Joseph School and Church. He also is back in the squad car on the streets with the Aurora Police Department.

Before coming to St. Joseph Church 14 years ago, Father Leake served as a teacher, coach and assistant principal at Aurora Central Catholic and Rosary high schools.

Groups scheduled to march in the parade include the American Legion Post 84 Band, Chicago Highland Rifles, East Aurora and West Aurora high school marching bands and local Boy and Girl Scouts. Bill Baker will serve as the parade emcee, and the Legacy Girls will perform in the pre-parade ceremony.

For more information on the Fourth of July Parade, visit the American Legion’s website at www.post84.com or the City’s website at www.aurora-il.org.

The fun continues in the evening with the Independence Day fireworks program starting at 6 p.m. at the Illinois Math & Science Academy, 1500 W. Sullivan Road. The event is being sponsored by the City of Aurora and the Village of North Aurora.

The entertainment schedule includes:
· 6 to 9:30 p.m. – Food vendors, Inflatables and live entertainment

· 6 to 7 p.m. – Circus Boy (Juggler and circus acts)

· 7 to 8 p.m. – Second Time Around (Popular hits from the past 50 years)

· 8 to 8:15 p.m. – Patriotic Ceremony

· 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. – American Legion Post 84 Band

· 9:30 p.m. – Fireworks


With parking near the school being limited, residents are strongly encouraged to arrive early or use the free shuttle bus service.

Parking will be available at the Illinois Math & Science Academy; Aurora Central Catholic High School, 1255 N. Edgelawn Drive; Hyundai, 1705 Sequoia Drive; Milgard Windows & Doors, 1785 N. Edgelawn Drive; Kraft/Excel, 1700 N. Edgelawn Drive; Fox Valley Park District’s Vaughan Athletic Center, 2121 W. Indian Trail Road; and Rosary High School, 901 N. Edgelawn Drive. Handicapped parking is available at the Illinois Math & Science Academy, Aurora Central Catholic High School and Randall Park, 1500 W. Indian Trail Road.

The park and ride shuttle service begins at 6 p.m. and will provide roundtrip transportation at seven locations including:

Blue Route: Indian Trail and Orchard roads
· Home Depot, 1250 N. Orchard Road

· Lowe’s, 2372 W. Indian Trail Road


Red Route: Galena Boulevard
· West Aurora Plaza, 1901 W. Galena Blvd.

· West Aurora High School, 1201 W. New York St.


Green Route: Lake Street and Indian Trail Road
· Cermak Fresh Markets, 1250 N. Lake St.

· Provena Mercy Medical Center Outpatient Lot, 1325 N. Highland Ave.


Purple Route: Orchard Gateway at Hansen Boulevard
· Woodman’s Market, 151 Hansen Blvd., North Aurora


Lawn chairs and small hand-held coolers are permitted at the fireworks festivities. Large coolers, alcohol and smoking are prohibited on the shuttle buses. Aurora police officers will be writing citations for anyone possessing or setting off illegal fireworks at the event.

For more information on the fireworks program, visit www.aurora-il.org.