Excitement Builds for May’s First Fridays: Explore Downtown Aurora’s Local Businesses and Food Truck Fest
Fresh flowers, friendly faces, and a flourishing downtown await
Aurora, Illinois — Downtown Aurora is set to come alive on Friday, May 2, as First Fridays returns with its May Flowers celebration—and this year, the excitement will be even bigger with the Food Truck Festival bringing thousands of visitors downtown. Residents and visitors alike are invited to explore Aurora’s unique local businesses, enjoy food, music, and entertainment, and experience the vibrant energy throughout the downtown district from 5 to 9 p.m. First Friday fun and the Food Truck Festival together create a vibrant celebration, offering visitors a chance to sample food, shop locally, and experience the energy of Aurora’s flourishing downtown.
In partnership with participating businesses and community partners, the Aurora Alliance has helped coordinate this month’s showcase, continuing its work to strengthen Aurora’s local economy through collaboration and visibility.
“First Friday is our favorite Friday of the month in Downtown Aurora!” said Shannon Gutierrez, Owner and Founder of Wyckwood House. “I love seeing the town alive with people out enjoying the local businesses, the art community, and socializing around food and drinks. It’s always a magical night, and we love being a part of it at Wyckwood House”. A full event map, including locations and offerings, is available at Downtown Aurora Facebook page and will also be distributed to downtown storefronts.
Highlights from this month’s lineup include restaurants like Tavern on Broadway will offer in-house specials including a Pineapple Mango Margarita and host a booth at the popular Food Truck Fest. Alice’s Corner, Aurora Tap House, and Leilani Asian Fusion are among the many downtown favorites opening their doors with evening specials and live entertainment. Wyckwood House will also welcome visitors with spring shopping specials and live music by Steve Mast from 6 to 9 p.m.
Entertainment venues will bring music and energy to the streets, with performances at The Venue, La Quinta de los Reyes, Red Room on NY, and more. At 13 Water Street, the Community Advocacy Awareness Network will host a Small Business Entrepreneur Expo featuring vendors, entertainment, and live music from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Art and retail spaces like Archetype Stained Glass, Yellow Bird Books, and Nuna Ceramics will offer hands-on experiences and displays to inspire creativity. Museums and community centers, including the Aurora Historical Society and the Grand Army of the Republic Museum, will also open their doors to guests.
For full event details, including the list of participating businesses, visit:
🌐 https://www.auroradowntown.org/
📱 @DowntownAurora on Instagram
📱 @AuroraDowntown on Facebook
About the Aurora Regional Economic Alliance
The Aurora Regional Economic Alliance (Alliance) is an Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce corporation charged with fostering equitable and sustainable economic growth. By joining forces through the Alliance, the region will present a unified front in support of existing businesses, advocate for a positive economic environment, amplify the voices of women- and minority-owned businesses, and attract investment. Its work will support and complement Aurora’s development and redevelopment initiatives by marketing the city’s assets and competitive advantages and supporting existing businesses.
