At Tuesday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Mayor John Laesch honored 12 Aurora residents who earned national recognition at the 2026 Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games, placing within the top 15 in a number of track and field events.
The competition, which took place in Iowa from August 3 through August 8, featured athletes from both the Aurora Sundowners Track Club and the Aurora Flyers, who competed among 11,000 total track and field athletes from across the nation at the meet.
Amari Lewis, a 13-year-old phenom from the Aurora Flyers, placed second in the nation in the 200-meter hurdles event, fourth in the 100-meter hurdles event, and sixth in the 200-meter run. Jakoi Ruff, the 12-year-old standout from the Aurora Sundowners Track Club, placed third in the nation in the 100-meter dash and 10th in the 200-meter sprint. Lewis and Ruff’s placements served as some of the highest finishes among the Aurora residents competing in the event and proudly put the City on the map.
Additional athletes who placed in the top 15 include Alexandria Richmond, who finished third in the country in the triple jump, Noah Howard, who placed third in the pentathlon, Harper Hutton, who placed second in the high jump, Brisline Lankah, who placed second in the 400-meter hurdles, Chloe Crimm, who placed seventh in the 800-meter run, Victoria Sanuade, who placed ninth in the 400-meter dash, Sanuade again, along with Rowan Slowinski, Kayla Jackson, and Kaodichimma Ifeajekwu, who placed 11th in the girls’ 4x400-meter relay, and Ari Watson, who placed 15th in the 400-meter dash.
“What an outstanding effort from both the Flyers and Sundowners at the Junior Olympic Games,” Mayor Laesch said. “You represented our City so well and put together such a phenomenal effort at the national level.”
Congratulations to all of Aurora's young athletes for their amazing finishes at the Junior Olympic Games! You continue to make the City proud!
 Click on the photo to see the program featured on ABC 7 Chicago!
The City of Aurora, in partnership with Ampion, is excited to unveil a new community solar offering designed to help residents lower their monthly electricity costs while supporting local renewable energy.
Through the program, eligible residents can subscribe to a local solar farm and receive credits directly on their monthly electric bills. Participants can save up to 10 percent on their electricity costs without installing rooftop solar panels, purchasing equipment, or changing their current utility provider.
Residents can enroll online through Ampion using a current electric bill or utility account number. Once enrolled, the participating solar farm generates clean electricity that feeds into the local power grid. Subscribers then receive credits based on their share of the solar farm’s output, reducing their monthly electricity bill through their existing utility provider. There is no need to install rooftop equipment or switch utility providers.
Because the solar farm has limited capacity, enrollment is limited. Residents interested in participating can learn more and enroll at ampion.net/cityofaurorail. Additional program information is available through the City of Aurora at www.aurora.il.us/CommunitySolar.
For enrollment assistance, residents can contact Ampion directly at (847) 579-4658 or at signup@ampion.net.
The 2026 Aurora Special Census continues, with field workers beginning to go door-to-door and following up with residents who did not respond during the Internet Self-Response Period, along with those who did not receive any mailings from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Official Census canvassers will have proper identification visible when coming to your door. You will be able to take the Special Census with the Census canvasser. If you are not home at the time of the visit, the Census canvasser will leave an official notice of visit.
The notice will contain the phone number for the Special Census Field Office, based in Aurora, which is (630) 256-6680. Residents are not able to go to the Field Office in person, but can call this number between 8 A.M. and 8 P.M. to respond to the Special Census, too! This process will continue until a response is received from every household within the Special Census area.
The City of Aurora, in partnership with RiverEdge Park and the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board, is excited to announce that Fiestas Patrias is returning to RiverEdge Park on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13!
Gates open on Saturday, September 12 at 3:30 P.M. Opening acts include Aurora’s own Ballet Folklorico at 4 P.M., Los Creyentes del Poder at 5 P.M., Grupo Furisoso at 6:30 P.M., an onstage ceremony recognizing scholarship recipients at 7:45 P.M., and headliner Banda Carnaval at 8:30 P.M.
Gates open at 3 P.M. on Sunday, September 13. The festival kicks off with Los Aces Del Norte at 3:30 P.M., the annual Parade of Nations at 4:30 P.M., Grupo Mandingo at 5:15 P.M., La Fiera de Ojinaga at 6:45 P.M., El Grito at 8 P.M., and La Maquinaria Norteña at 8:45 P.M.
Tickets are on sale now! Each day, tickets will cost $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Due to popular demand, there is no guarantee that tickets will be available for purchase in person during the festival.
On Sunday, September 20th, our Fiestas Patrias Parade will return to downtown Aurora, stepping off at 11:00 a.m. from the corner of Broadway (IL Route 25) and Benton Street.
It's our hope that this year's Fiestas Patrias Parade is one of the most beautiful and unifying cultural celebrations in the area! Invite your friends, family, and neighbors and come out to celebrate with us!
Join us in downtown Aurora for a weekend of independent film!
The fest kicks off Friday night for our opening feature, the sibling comedy-drama ADULT CHILDREN.This sibling comedy-drama follows Morgan, a sheltered 17-year-old who reconnects with her older half-siblings, hoping they can shed some light on what it means to be an adult...only to discover they’re all faking it.
Featuring light bites, a DJ, and Q&A with the film's producer. Entry to Opening Night gets you into the after party at Craft Urban Aurora, where we'll keep the party going.
On Saturday, settle in for a documentary feature film, a round of student film selections, short films, and a legacy screening...celebrating a film-aversary!
All events take place at The Venue (21 S. Broadway) in downtown Aurora!
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Join us at East Aurora High School as we witness the richness of Mexican folklore being brought to life through stunning performances with traditions of states like Nuevo León, Michoacán, Jalisco and more!
This event is FREE to the public, but space is limited!
Make room on your Saturday schedule, Aurora! The Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall and Museum is hosting another exciting craft day!
Join the fun this Saturday, September 5 from 11 A.M. to 2 P.M. as staff will help you make your own faux stained glass bookmarks.
No registration is required!
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Everybody loves a good Par Tee!
Don’t miss the 2026 Aurora Alliance Golf Classic at the Aurora Country Club on September 14!
Grab your clubs and get ready for 18 holes of golf, friendly competition, great food, networking, raffles, a silent auction, and plenty of opportunities to connect.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available, so if you have an item, gift card, experience, etc. to donate, get it to the Aurora Alliance Events Team by September 4.
Switch Together is doing another round of the group buying initiative to help you purchase rooftop solar and/or home batteries at a significant discount!
Switch Together, a program supported by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and the Citizens Utility Board, has helped empower over 13,000 homes to make the switch to solar energy.
To ensure you qualify and receive the full tax credit, please register with Switch Together by September 30, 2026!
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Subscribe to Aurora’s text alert service!
Stay up to date on all things taking place within the City of Aurora by signing up for the City’s new text alert service!
You can receive alerts about events, warming shelter notifications, snow operations, and much more.
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The City of Aurora is now hiring for a code compliance officer/electrical inspector!
The position functions as an electrical inspector, as well as a multi-discipline inspector performing a variety of inspections across the City.
This is a full-time, union represented position with pay beginning at $39.36 per hour and increasing to $40.26 per hour after six months!
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 The City of Aurora's Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board is seeking to fill multiple vacancies!
Joining the Board helps to embrace and preserve the heritage and contributions of Indian Americans, while promoting civic engagement and encouraging Indian Americans to increase their involvement in Aurora's growth.
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Fall Food Truck fest is coming soon!
Head to Benton from Broadway to River on Friday, September 25 from 5 P.M. to 9 P.M.
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Flavors come to life at Pomegranate Restaurant & Cafe!
Join our hosts Manny & Flo as they take on one of the most diverse menus yet at an Aurora east-side favorite. We're talking pancakes, skillets, Greek chicken, and more!
Get your taste buds inspired for your next visit to Pomegranate Cafe! Watch the full video below.
Spend your weekend at the David L. Pierce Art & History Center in downtown Aurora!
Tonight, Aurora Public Art will host an evening of song and dance, featuring Rosario Guerra of La Voz del Sentimento. The event takes place at 6 P.M. at 20 E Downer Place.
On Saturday morning at 10 A.M., visit Aurora Public Art again for a free mask-making workshop, led by Maestro Roberto Ferreyra! Attendees will learn how to make their own paper masks, plus find out more about the traditions and cultural heritage of Mexico.
 In preparation for the 2027 grant funding cycle, the City of Aurora will host a pre-application virtual workshop on September 15 at 10 A.M. The workshop will be viewable via Zoom.
The Quality of Life, Opioid Use Disorder, Community Development Block Grant, Home Investment Partnerships Program, and Home Investment Partnerships Program – American Rescue Plan grant applications, along with their submission instructions, will be available for download on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at www.aurora.il.us/CommunityDevelopment.
All grant applications are due by Friday, October 16 at 5 P.M.!
Happy Labor Day, Aurora!
This Monday, we celebrate our 1,100+ staff members who go above and beyond seven days per week to keep the City of Lights shining bright!
Thank you for your service to the community, Team Aurora! You are ALWAYS valued and appreciated!
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