Celebrate the Fourth of July in Aurora with parade and fireworks

Posted June 26, 2023 11:00 pm

Submitted by City of Aurora

Aurora is celebrating the nation's 247th birthday with a grand parade through downtown Aurora on Tuesday, July 4, with more than 40 units led by WGN TV weather anchor and Aurora native Paul Konrad.

At 8:45 a.m., there will be a "Grand Marshal Meet & Greet" with Paul Konrad on the third floor of the Aurora Public Art building, 20 E. Downer Place. Light refreshments will be provided.

A graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School, Konrad is a nine-time Emmy Award winning television weather anchor for Chicago's top-rated WGN Morning News, reaching millions of viewers per week.

At 9:30 a.m., the pre-parade ceremony will feature the national anthem, awards presentation, remarks from the grand marshal, and the a cappella group and vocal ensemble, Radius.

The reviewing stand is located at 20 E. Downer Place.

Members of the American Legion Post 84 roll down Downer Place during the 2021 Fourth of July parade in downtown Aurora. Steven Buyansky for the Daily Herald

At 10 a.m., the parade steps off from Benton Street and Broadway Avenue, heads north on Broadway to Downer Place, west on Downer to River Street.

The night before the parade, the "City of Lights" will live up to its nickname when the sky illuminates with vibrant lights during Aurora's 2023 Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza.

Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. Monday, July 3.

Watch from one of the parks: RiverEdge Park & McCullough Park!

Both parks open at 6 p.m. with DJs from 7 to 9 p.m.

There will be inflatables and bounce houses at McCullough Park.

Stop by the Food Truck Hub at Wilder Park across the bridge from RiverEdge Park and down the path from McCullough.

Shuttle bus

For the fireworks, park off-site and take a convenient shuttle. The trips to the fireworks operate from 6 to 8:45 p.m. and the trip from the fireworks begin at 9:45 p.m.

Gold route

• Pickup locations: Aurora Police Department, 1200 E. Indian Trail; and Indian Trail Shopping Plaza, 254 E. Indian Trail

• Drop-off location: City of Aurora Central Garage, 720 N. Broadway, near the corner of Broadway and Illinois Ave

Blue route

• Pickup locations: Belle Salle Banquets, 1920 E. New York St.; and Car Quest/Dunkin' Donuts, 3 N. Smith St.

• Drop-off location: Aurora Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway; museum parking lot on LaSalle Street

Orange route

• Pickup locations: St. Athanasius Church, 1855 E. Fifth Ave.; and East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Lane

• Drop-off location: Aurora Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway; museum parking lot on LaSalle Street

Red route

• Pickup locations: West Aurora High School, 1201 W. New York St.; and Holy Angels School, 720 Kensington Place

• Drop-off location: McCullough Park, 150 W. Illinois Ave., adjacent to the Prisco Center

Green route

• Pickup locations: Ascension Mercy Hospital, 1325 Highland Ave.; and Cermak Grocery Store, 1250 N. Lake St.

• Drop-off location: McCullough Park, 150 W. Illinois Ave., adjacent to the Prisco Center

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