North Aurora’s annual community party returned this weekend as North Aurora Days was held Friday and Saturday at Riverfront Park along the Fox River.
The event included food vendors, a beer and wine tent, music, face-painting, balloon art, a reptile show, a giant inflatable slide and more.
New this year was a video game truck, which was open both Friday and Saturday.
Natalie Stevens, community relations coordinator for North Aurora, said the event has been running since 1990 and remains an integral part of the village.
“This is our big community festival. It’s live music, it’s food and entertainment and attractions and is meant to bring the community together and celebrate being in North Aurora,” she said.
A typical year will draw about 5,000 people over the two days, Stevens said, adding that “we put a little bit more money into the bands this year hoping that people would enjoy some great music.”
“We kicked off with the Blooze Brothers and are having a police chase throughout the park with our police department participating with a big light and sirens show,” she said before the event. “We are also bringing back fireworks for the first time at this location. We used to have them at Clock Tower Plaza, but since the event moved here we’ve not had them until now.”
Kristy Williams of Aurora lost no time extolling the virtues of the “Blues Brothers” culture, saying that her son Jer, 4, “is a huge fan.”
“He came for the show – he brought us,” Williams said. “I like that this is a small town, happy place.”
Stevens said that one of the biggest attractions to North Aurora Days is that “everything here for the community is free.”
“The village of North Aurora and our generous sponsors are covering all the costs so people can ride the mechanical bull for free, face-painting, balloon art and, of course, all the bands,” she said. “There’s a petting zoo and a reptile show – everything is free. All people have to do is buy food and beverages.”
Stevens said a wide range of activities are held throughout the village during North Aurora Days including a community-wide garage sale, fishing derby, softball tournament, touch-a-truck event and a fun run held throughout town at various locations on Saturday.
“We work with the school district who are hosting the run as well as the touch-a-truck event at a middle school. It’s not just your typical get-the-community-together for a food truck festival or craft fair,” she said. “It’s a whole community affair of coming down to this central place and putting on a festival for everyone to enjoy. This is a long-running tradition and we’re always excited to put it on.”
Chris O’Brien of North Aurora said he has come to the event “pretty much every year” and that it really creates a sense of community.
“As the years have gone by it has changed but … it’s still very much the same,” he said on Friday. “We meet up with friends and catch up, have something to drink and some food and kids play games. I plan on coming both days. My daughter goes to school where they are going to have the run Saturday and as far as going to the touch-a-truck – definitely.”
Barbara and William Densmore of North Aurora were relaxing near the concert stage on Friday and said the festival is a winner.
“I’ve been to almost all of them,” Barbara Densmore said while looking over the crowd. “It’s nice to see people out enjoying themselves and be a part of the community. They have nice music and I think the village puts a lot of great effort into this making something fun for the people. We appreciate that.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
