Aurora Express storefront windows take you on a journey downtown

Posted December 14, 2020 10:00 pm

Submitted by Aurora Downtown

Check out Aurora artist Sam Cervantes' "Aurora Express" storefront window at Crystal House, 59 S. LaSalle St. Courtesy of Aurora Downtown

Trains are the stars of the show this holiday season in downtown Aurora.

Aurora Express, a downtown-wide holiday window theme featuring trains and other modes of transportation from yesteryear to today, is in full steam ahead throughout the season.

Over 30 storefronts are decorated for the theme.

From nods to "Star Wars" and "The Polar Express" to large-scale paintings of the Burlington Zephyr that rode through Aurora starting in the 1930s, downtown windows festively feature ways to get around and honor Aurora's deep train history.

Aurora Downtown provided grants to businesses for them to hire local artists to paint the windows. More than a handful of artists were hired for window displays.

The Yetee Station window celebrates the holiday window theme "Aurora Express," with trains and other modes of transportation from yesteryear to today. Courtesy of Aurora Downtown

Local photographers and poets were also asked to submit work that can be seen online and in storefronts.

Visitors to Aurora Express are encouraged to download a virtual map of participating storefronts from Aurora Downtown's website at auroradowntown.org.

Several businesses are offering specials for the month of December as part of Aurora Express.

Videos available on the website feature Aurora train history and engineering. Aurora Downtown partnered with SciTech Hands-on Museum on videos that explore train wheels and a Ford Model A.

Sam Cervantes, the Aurora artist creating local murals like La France Bakery's "Hope Wings Aurora," is designing many of the "Aurora Express" storefront windows. Courtesy of Aurora Downtown

To learn more about Aurora Downtown and experience virtual offerings, visit auroradowntown.org.

Aurora Downtown is a nonprofit group of business and property owners within Special Service Area (SSA) #One dedicated to a healthy and thriving downtown for everyone to enjoy.

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.