Some people who move into the DuPage County section of Aurora rarely venture west past the county line and have yet to discover the treasures that await them downtown and beyond. There is incredible history downtown as well as all kinds of exciting new developments underway and planned along the river.
The main library downtown is a gem and I have fond memories of going there as a child, especially the day my brother and I realized that there was no limit on how many books we could check out. We brought home books by the armload. I visited the same library as a teenager doing research for school papers and projects. Now I am a more frequent visitor to the new (seems new to me anyway!) Eola Road branch library because it’s on a route I drive frequently. The libraries have fabulous programs going on all year long.
SciTech is housed in a building that used to be our post office but has turned into an intriguing place that all of my children have enjoyed at one time or another. They have also provided exhibits at other events we’ve attended.
The Paramount Arts Centre has world class entertainment on a regular basis. We go there several times a year for a wide variety of performances.
The Aurora Historical Museum, both the Tanner House and the downtown museum, are fascinating places to visit. The items on sale at both are interesting as well.
Splash Country, The Vaughan Center, Blackberry Farm, and the Phillips Park Aquatic Center are some of the fun park district places in Kane County that are worth taking advantage of. I remember climbing through the cave at Red Oak Nature Center when I was small and my children have had fun doing the same.
Many in this area and east like to visit Cosley Zoo in Wheaton, but may not know that very close by we have Phillips Park. It is free and a joy to visit with or without children any day of the year, but even more fun on days when there is something big like a fall festival going on.
Though we have lost our beloved drive-in for the greater good of yet more houses, we will have some opportunities for outdoor movies this summer. The park district will be showing free outdoor movies at McCullough Park and the city is offering a series of free outdoor movies at Phillips Park throughout the summer. There is also a free music concert series that will take place this summer in various locations.
Downtown Alive on summer Friday evenings is an amazing street party with great music, delicious food, activities for kids, and a chance to hang out with both old and new friends.
The annual Midwest Literary Fest each fall is another great opportunity available downtown for anyone who has interest in reading or writing. Plenty of workshops and sessions with published and sometimes very well-known authors are provided.
Each year the day after Thanksgiving is the Holiday Magic festival downtown complete with Santa and fireworks. The winter fireworks show is better than anything I’ve seen on the fourth of July and the colors are absolutely brilliant in the cold, dark night sky. This year’s Fourth of July fireworks will be held on the west side for the first time and I’m hoping that this location will work out better than the mall has these past few years.
Aurora west of the Kane-DuPage county line has so much to offer, I hope thousands of DuPage Aurora residents will take the opportunity this summer to explore the treasures of our great city.
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