Aurora Historical Society To Host July 4 Picnic, Festivities

AURORA, IL — As the nation celebrates Independence Day on Tuesday, the Aurora Historical Society will add to the festivities with a day of old-fashioned fun-themed events to commemorate the July 4 holiday.

The Historical Society will host an Independence Day picnic and Ringing of the Bells at the historic Tanner House Museum, located at 304 Oak St. from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., organizers announced.

Festivities will begin with music by singer-songwriter Bradley Keven Green and traditional children’s games on the front lawn of the Tanner House Museum. Visitors can take selfies with Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam, who will be portrayed by Tina and Jeremy Fewer, on the front steps of the house and tour the historic home's interior.

The house was built by the Tanner family in 1857 when the United States was still forming as a nation and is a typical upper-middle-class Victorian home.

The day’s events also include a petting zoo, face painting, hot dogs, chips, old-fashioned sodas, and Oberweis ice cream for sale at nominal prices, organizers said.

Andy Head the Wild Wacky Juggler will perform at noon followed by the bell ringing at 1 p.m. All children in attendance are invited to pull the ropes of the historic bells on the lawn in a nationwide patriotic salute introduced by President John Kennedy in 1963.

Immediately following the ringing of the bells, the American Legion Post 84 band will present a concert of traditional music. The final event of the day will be the blueberry-pie-eating contest which is open to all ages.

For July 4 only, visitors on-site can join the Aurora Historical Society at half-off. The offer applies only to new members who are in person at the picnic, according to membership chair Jim Varney.