October First Fridays Celebrates Hispanic Heritage In Aurora

AURORA, IL — A new month has begun, and in Aurora that means First Fridays is back. This month, the event will celebrate Hispanic heritage and more as the lineup includes a bra drive and chicken soup contest.

Hosted by nonprofit Aurora Downtown, October's First Fridays will feature about 30 activities for a variety of ages.

Among featured events this month is a celebration of Hispanic heritage at Santori Public Library, 101 S. River St. From 6-8 p.m., the event will feature artisan ice cream, Danzantes Unidos dancers, a craft, Oaxacan Woman Cultural Heritage photography exhibit, free adult flu vaccinations and voter registration.

Over at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, organizers will host CUPS Bra Drive in the museum's lawn and parking lot. The event will also include live music, food trucks and vendors; plus, admission to the museum will be free from 5-8 p.m.

Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., will host the Chicken Soup Cook-Off with Indivisible Aurora from 5-9 p.m. The pay-what-you-can fundraiser will benefit the Community Fridge Project.

It wouldn't be a First Fridays event without the return of Food Trucks Food Court from 5-9 p.m. at Water Street Square. Grumpy Gaucho, Strawberries BBQ, Holy Pierogi, Home Run Hot Dogs and Lemonade, Harvey's Fire Box and Charity Blooms will be among the vendors participating.

Check out the full lineup to see what's in store:

• French 75 Gallery and Lounge, 56 E. Galena Blvd., will celebrate its first anniversary with new art and a new fall cocktail menu from 4 p.m. to midnight.
• If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing & Gallery, 32 S. Stolp Ave., will host the opening of “Awaken Your Senses Sunrise to Sunset,” featuring oil paintings by artist Janice Czerwinski from 7-10 p.m.
• Nuna Ceramics Art Studio, 77 S. Lake St., will be open with art on display, pottery demos, and tarot readings by Huge Witch from 5-8:30 p.m.
• The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will host its October Edition featuring community artists. Live hand-pulled prints by Tara Zanzig and prints by Angel E. Perez and Ian Little from 7-11 p.m.
• Aurora Public Art at The DLP Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, will continue “Resilient,” innovative textile works by acclaimed female artists from Chicago from 6-9 p.m.
• McCarty Mills Taproom and Bottleshop, 140 S. River St., will be open with “Birria Tacos and Art,” featuring Chalos Grill and artist Marco Cardenas until 10 p.m.
• Artesan Lofts Art Gallery, 2 S. Stolp Ave., will host “Gallery of Terrors,” a collaboration with local artists from 6-9 p.m.
• Gary Brown Art Gallery and Studio | Mark Radina Stained Glass, 7 S. Broadway, will be celebrating Harvest "A Time to Gather" with live music by guitarist and songwriter Peter Cholewinski from 5-9 p.m.
• The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 64 S. River St., will host “Bats For A Cause: A Creepy Cute Solo Show,” featuring Dzhelasi new snack bats and a special art print benefiting Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Music and light refreshments from 5-8:30 p.m.
• Zen Loft Wellness Center | I of the Angeles, 6 W. Downer Place upstairs, will host “Stories From The Loft: A Night of Songs and Storytelling” at 8 p.m. with Mirabelle Skipworth, Mark Dignam, Aaron Kelly, and Eric Meuer. Magnolia Dance Collective will perform at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy a $1 per minute chair massage, $10 mini-tarot readings, $10 mini-guitar lessons, and hang in hammocks from 5-10 p.m.
• G.A.R. Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, will be open with a night of live music featuring Ryan Carney Trio from 5-9 p.m.
• La Quinta de los Reyes, 36 E. New York St., will host a fall celebration with free Palomas Samples with dinner and La Sociedad D'Paul Music from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
• Altiro Latin Fusion, 1 S. Stolp Ave., will host live Spanish Rock featuring Damián Rivera from 6-8 p.m.
• Wyckwood House Boutique and Cocktail Bar, 80 S. River St., will be open with live music, fall cocktails and fashion from 5-9 p.m.
• Tavern on Broadway, 24 N. Broadway, will host live music from 8-10 p.m.
• Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Place, will host live music featuring SonicSoul from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Aurora Historical Society at The DLP, 20 W. Downer Place, will be open with “Take a Seat” featuring chairs, sofas, and other seating from AHS collections from 6-9 p.m.
• Amy Morton’s Stolp Island Social, 5 E. Galena Blvd., will feature a First Fridays Drink Special: Frida Kahlo cocktail “What do I need feet for when I have wings to Fly” from 4:30-11 p.m.
• Superjumbo, 105 E. Galena Blvd., will feature Halloween Time with Halloween merchandise from noon to 8 p.m.
• The Cornucopia Tea & Gift Shop, 63 S. Broadway, will be open with Bewitching Brews Tea Taster and Ghoulish Treats Sale: Come in if you dare to enjoy our festive fall fair; buy a tea if you please, get the second one free (one night only/exclusions apply) from 5-9 p.m.
• The Perch, 31 W. Downer Place, will host “Night of Hope,” with sales and donations to benefit Mutual Ground in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Create some hopeful art from 5-8 p.m.
• Waubonsee Community College, 18 S. River St., will be open with a fall open house featuring a student art show, ceramics, DJ, live jazz and free t-shirt screen printing from 5-9 p.m.
• Paramount School of the Arts, 20 S. Stolp Ave., will host a “Not So Scary Halloween Party” with a dance party, costume contests, story room, and crafts from 6-8 p.m.
• Society 57, 100 S. River St., will host a Detroit-style pizza pop-up and craft cocktails. Square1 Pizza brings back their Motor City-inspired pizzas. Live jazz by The Luxure Trio and art by Pierre Lucero from 5:30-9:30 p.m.