Seasonal & Holidays
Downtown Aurora Rings Holiday Season In Style With Santa Visits, More
Downtown merchants will participate in a window decorating contest, free holiday trolley rides will be offered over two December weekends.
AURORA, IL — There will be plenty of festivities to go around over the next two weeks as merchants and others help to ring in the holidays around downtown Aurora.
The holiday happenings include a visit from Santa to the annual Christkindlmarket and other events will be taking place throughout the downtown district.
Local organizers said that the Art and Market Aurora will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 10 and 17 at Society 57, which is located at 100 S. River St. The indoor market features two dozen local makers at each market. There is no cost to enter.
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The market features gifts and treats for the holidays as well as local artists selling their artwork.
Residents and visitors alike will be able to view Holidays Around the World as storefronts throughout downtown will participate in the annual window decorating contest that was won by Ballydoyle Pub last year.
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This year, 20 businesses decorated their windows with the theme.
Visitors to the downtown area will also be able to ride a festive Downtown Holiday Trolley from noon to 3:30 p.m. the next two Saturdays. Stops will be made throughout downtown and at the Aurora Transportation Center. The trolley is free to ride and features holiday decor and music, organizers said.
Photos with Santa at the Gazebo will be from 1-3 p.m. on Dec. 10 at Millennium Plaza gazebo, which is located at 21 S. Stolp Ave. Free photos will be available for download the following week on Aurora Downtown’s Facebook page.
The event is open to all ages and abilities. Tredwell Coffee will join the event with complimentary hot beverages if the weather allows.
Other events include productions of The Sound of Music, which continues at Paramount Theatre through January 15. A Christmas Carol will be also performed over the next two weekends at The Riverfront Playhouse.
The Christkindlmarket will continue at RiverEdge Park through December 24 and shops and restaurants throughout the downtown district will be open for holiday shopping and dining.
G.A.R. Memorial Museum, Aurora Historical Society, and Aurora Regional Fire Museum will also be open.
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