Cocoa Crawl Ushers In Holiday Season As Part of December First Fridays

AURORA, IL — As December hits calendars, the fourth annual Cocoa Crawl is hitting downtown Aurora businesses.

The Dec. 2 event is part of this month's edition of First Fridays, hosted by nonprofit Aurora Downtown. The Cocoa Crawl is bringing nearly 40 shops and restaurants together to serve various types of hot chocolate.

To participate in the crawl, attendees must purchase both a mug and button for $20. People who joined the crawl last year and want to reuse their mug — only 2019, 2020 and 2021 mugs will be accepted — can do so but must still buy a button, which serves as a ticket for the event, for $10. From there, hot chocolate sampling is unlimited.

Ahead of the event, mugs and buttons can be purchased at the Aurora Historical Society, 20 E. Downer Place; Society 57, 100 S. River St.; Renew Salon and Spa, 160 S. River St; and Wyckwood House, 80 S. River St.

Kids ages 12 and under don't need a button to participate, organizers said. The event will last from 5-9 p.m.

The following businesses are participating:

• Aurora Historical Society and Aurora Public Art at The DLP, 20 E. Downer Place
• Compton Law Group and Latino Immigration and Legal Center, 22 E. Downer Place
• The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway
• Artesan Lofts Art Gallery, 2 S. Stolp Ave.
• Gary Brown Art Gallery & Studio, 7 S. Broadway
• French 75 Gallery and Lounge, 56 E. Galena Blvd.
• Nuna Ceramics, 77 S. Lake St.
• Holz Fine Art and Aurora Artist Studios, 50 E. Galena Blvd.
• Altiro Latin Fusion, 1 S. Stolp Ave.
• Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Place
• McCarty Mills Taproom, 140 S. River St.
• Kathryn's Place, 61 S. Stolp Ave.
• G.A.R. Museum, 23 E. Downer Place
• Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 E. Downer Place
• Wyckwood House, 80 S. River St.
• Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place
• All Spooked Up, 14 W. Downer Place
• Pure Skin Solutions, 26 S. Stolp Ave.
• Alive Center for Teens, 78 S. LaSalle St.
• The Cornucopia Tea and Gift Shop, 63 S. Broadway
• The Perch and Aurora Business Center, 31 W. Downer Place
• Waubonsee Community College, 18 S. River St.
• La Quinta de los Reyes, 36 E. New York St.
• Alice's Corner, 37 W. New York St.
• Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Place
• Warehouse 55 and Blissful Blooms, 55 S. Lake St.
• Society 57, 100 S. River St.
• Christian Science Reading Room, 34 S. Stolp Ave.
• Ballydoyle Irish Pub, 28 W. New York St.
• FNBO Mortgage, 140 S. River St.
• Community Christian Church, 78 S. LaSalle St.
• Renew Salon and Spa, 160 S. River St.
• Hoof and Horn, 14 W. Downer Place
• Yetee Station Arcade, 11 N. Broadway
• The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 64 S. River St.
• Chupacabra Puerto Rican Kitchen, 31 N. Broadway

A detailed listing of events — plus what kind of cocoa is being served — at each shop participating in the Cocoa Crawl can be found on Aurora Downtown's website.

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