Avon
Minnesota
Downtown Aurora
About Us:
Aurora Downtown is an association of approximately 250 property owners within the neighborhood generally bounded by Lincoln Avenue, Lake Street, Spring Street and Clark Street. We are a Special Service Area, governed by a 24-member board of directors, half of whom are elected by the general membership. The remaining directors are appointed by various agencies that have an interest in downtown Aurora. We tax ourselves at a rate of 1% of our property's equalized assessed valuation. The money collected is used for improvements to the neighborhood such as:
Sponsorship of events, including Aurora ArtWalk and Alley Art Festival
Holiday decorations featuring an 8-story signature shooting star and tree atop the historic Leland Tower (Fox Island Apartments)
Street planters, hanging baskets, trees and landscaping
An infrastructure maintenance partnership with the City of Aurora
Marketing and promoting the downtown
Aurora Downtown does its work through active committees, open to any business or property owner wishing to help improve the neighborhood. The Aurora Downtown partnership includes the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Aurora Civic Center Authority, the Aurora Economic Development Commission, the Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce, the Aurora Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the City of Aurora, Hollywood Casino-Aurora and Waubonsee Community College.
Recent News
The Venue Announces April 2024 Lineup Featuring Shannon McNally, Free Rock Talk Lecture
Aurora, IL - The Venue, a live music performance room in downtown Aurora, recently announced its April lineup, which includes Grammy-nominated Shannon McNally from Nashville and a free Rock Talk hosted by Aurora University’s Mark Plummer. On…
Read More »Art And Market Aurora Opens For Three Holiday Markets
Aurora, IL - Art and Market Aurora will be back at Society 57 for three fall Saturdays this season on November 11 and December 2 and 16. The Aurora Downtown group’s curated, indoor market hosts two dozen local makers at Society 57, 100 S.…
Read More »Sugar Skull City Celebrates Day Of The Dead In Aurora
Sugar Skull City In Aurora Runs Through Nov 5 Downtown Aurora - In its fourth year, Sugar Skull City will turn downtown Aurora into a celebration of Day of the Dead now through November 5. The downtown will be rich with decorations and activities…
Read More »Summer Update - Aurora Downtown Welcomes Tina De Chaud As Executive Director
Aurora Downtown Welcomes Tina de Chaud as Executive Director New Role to Lead Aurora Downtown Aurora Downtown is excited to announce the hiring of our new Executive Director, Christina “Tina” de Chaud. Tina brings over 20 years of…
Read More »Downtown Aurora News - June 16, 2023
Hello! TGIF! Can you please add the listings below to any upcoming features about local, summer events? Thank you! June 21 Summer Solstice Party from 4 to 7 p.m. at Wyckwood House, 80 S. River St., Aurora. Pop ups, new summer cocktail menu. Free. …
Read More »Downtown Aurora - Summer Event Blurbs for Aurora
First Fridays Aurora Downtown hosts a full season of First Fridays from February through December. The popular event on the first Friday of the month features art, live music, and more at dozens of participating venues throughout downtown. Summer…
Read More »Downtown Aurora News - First Fridays Includes Food Truck Festival on May 5
Aurora, IL - First Fridays will kick off the start of the food truck season with its annual Food Truck Festival on May 5. Held by Aurora Downtown, the popular and free event will welcome more than two dozen food trucks to Benton Street from 5 to 9…
Read More »Downtown Aurora - First Fridays Activities for April 7 Include Poetry Activities
FIRST FRIDAYS CELEBRATES SPRING, POETRY DOWNTOWN AURORA - First Fridays will celebrate the start of spring along with National Poetry Month on April 7. The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 64 S. River St., will host a spring sale plus coffee…
Read More »Downtown Aurora : Art And Market Aurora Opens Twice For Spring Dates
DOWNTOWN AURORA - Art and Market Aurora will be back at Society 57 for two spring dates this season on Saturday, March 25 and Saturday, April 22. The Aurora Downtown group’s curated, indoor market hosts two dozen local makers at Society 57,…
Read More »Downtown Aurora : Spring Event Dates Include Easter Fun In Aurora
First Fridays Aurora Downtown hosts a full season of First Fridays from February through December. The popular event on the first Friday of the month features art, live music, and more at dozens of participating venues throughout downtown. Spring…
Read More »Wyckwood House In Aurora Debuts Spring Cocktail Menu
As the only boutique with a liquor license in Aurora, Wyckwood House has created quite a buzz over the last year since opening up last May at 80 S. River St. The lifestyle boutique in downtown Aurora features both women’s and men’s…
Read More »Aurora Celebrates Handful Of Milestones In 2023
This year, Aurora will be celebrating five milestones that honor the city’s history and its forward momentum. “We rise through legacy, growth, and community,” will be the theme throughout the year as the Aurora Downtown…
Read More »Call for Poetry from Aurora Downtown
Aurora Downtown Celebrates National Poetry Month In honor of National Poetry Month this April, Aurora Downtown is hosting a call for poems. The theme is “Mentors” and poems will be reviewed by a jury which will include the…
Read More »Downtown Aurora : Small Business Grants open for 2023 cycle
Aurora Downtown’s Business Attraction and Retention (BAR) Committee announced its grant program for 2023 to help support established businesses, property owners, and initiatives taking place in the downtown special service area (SSA One). …
Read More »Downtown Aurora - Aurora's First Fridays Kicks Off 10th Year and Some Local Love on February 3, 2023
Aurora's First Fridays kicks off 10th year and some local love on Feb 3 DOWNTOWN AURORA - Now in its 10th year, First Fridays will celebrate its local roots with events featuring local artists and musicians on February 3. The popular, monthly…
Read More »Love Local Days In Downtown Aurora From Feb 1-14, 2023
LOVE LOCAL DAYS IN DOWNTOWN AURORA FROM FEB 1-14 Visit downtown shops and restaurants from Feb. 1 to Feb. 14 and enjoy discounts and specials during Aurora Downtown’s Love Local Days. Starting on Wednesday, Feb. 1 until Tuesday, Feb. 14,…
Read More »Downtown Aurora : 2023 Event Lineup Announced For Downtown Aurora
Aurora Downtown announced their schedule of events for the year. The downtown organization will bring back all of their popular events including First Fridays, Art and Market Aurora, and their annual Food Truck Festival. First Fridays will start…
Read More »Downtown Aurora News - 2022 A Year of Plentiful Business Openings in Downtown Aurora
2022 a year of plentiful business openings in downtown Aurora 13 BUSINESSES OPENED DOWNTOWN AURORA IN 2022 This year saw 11 storefronts filled in downtown Aurora plus two that joined existing tenants. Of the 13 businesses, eight are new, four…
Read More »Downtown Aurora : Cocoa Crawl mugs are on sale!
DOWNTOWN AURORA - Aurora Downtown will once again have mugs flowing with hot cocoa throughout downtown. The downtown organization will host the fourth annual Cocoa Crawl on December 2 as part of its First Fridays events. To participate in the hot…
Read More »Downtown Aurora - Art and Market For the Holidays
ART AND MARKET AURORA OPENS FOR FALL, INDOOR MARKETS Art and Market Aurora will be back at Society 57 for three dates this holiday season starting Saturday, Nov. 19. The Aurora Downtown group’s indoor market will feature several local…
Read More »Downtown Aurora : Winter Events Downtown Aurora
It's hard to believe that the holidays are around the corner. I wanted to make sure that these upcoming events in downtown Aurora are on your radar. Thank you for your coverage! Art and Market Aurora ~ Sat. Nov 19 | Dec 10 & 17 from 9 a.m. to…
Read More »Downtown Aurora - Aurora’s First Fridays Features Celebrations, Bra Drive, Soup Cook-Off
AURORA’S FIRST FRIDAYS FEATURES CELEBRATIONS, BRA DRIVE, SOUP COOK-OFF DOWNTOWN AURORA - On October 7, First Fridays will celebrate Hispanic Heritage and more including a bra drive and a chicken soup contest in downtown Aurora. Santori…
Read More »Sugar Skull City returns to Aurora on October 15, 2022
DOWNTOWN AURORA - Now in its third year, Sugar Skull City will turn downtown Aurora into a celebration of Day of the Dead from October 15 to November 6. The downtown will be rich with decorations and activities that surround the Mexican holiday. …
Read More »Downtown Aurora : Fall And Winter Events Are On The Way
We have lots of fall events coming up. Sugar Skull City ~ Oct 15 to Nov 6 (press release coming soon) Trick or Treat Downtown ~ Sat. Oct. 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. Art and Market Aurora ~ Sat. Nov 19 | Dec 10 & 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at…
Read More »Black Fine Art Month Kicks off at David L. Pierce Art & History Center in Aurora October 2nd
(AURORA | CHICAGO) -- Black Fine Art Month 2022 will kick off with a signature Pigment International Salon Talk in partnership with the Aurora Public Art Commission, Aurora Downtown and the Cotton Seed Creative Exchange on Sunday, October 2 at the…
Read More »Downtown Aurora - Sugar Skull City Call for Art
DOWNTOWN AURORA Aurora Downtown once again will be turning downtown into Sugar Skull City from October 15 to November 6 to coincide with Day of the Dead events during First Fridays on November 4. New this year, Aurora Downtown will host a…
Read More »Downtown Aurora Events - July , 2022
Aurora Downtown announces the following free events hosted by the nonprofit of downtown business and property owners for July. Wednesdays at the Plaza will return to Millennium Plaza, 21 S. Stolp Ave., on July 13 with Raices Latin Jazz…
Read More »Summer Fun Hunt
Aurora Downtown is partnering with Adventures in Scavenger Hunting to provide a fun, monthly challenge this summer. The Summer Fun Hunt entices visitors each month with three clues that will be released on Facebook and Instagram, which will lead to…
Read More »New Self-Guided Crawls Launched For Summer Fun
Aurora Downtown welcomes everyone to create their own pub and margarita crawls in downtown Aurora this summer. The downtown organization of business and property owners recently launched two self-guided online crawls to encourage people to pick a…
Read More »