What started out as one village's way to celebrate the nation's bicentennial in 1976 has flourished into an annual summer celebration.
George Peter, who helped organize the original AuroraFest in the fall of 1974, said it was a tradition born out of stubbornness.
“We originally scheduled a parade with our festival when someone decided we couldn't do it because it was raining,” Peter said. “A handful of people decided ‘What the heck, its just a little rain,' and did the parade anyway.”
The parade, which travels down Route 90, has grown over the years into one of the festival's main events, Peter said. There will be animals, music, antique cars and much more to help people get into the festive mood.
Another event will be a small battle of the bands featuring six local groups playing punk, rock and heavy metal, Peter said.
“We have been getting more younger kids involved, so this year we will have a band concert aimed just at them,” Peter said.
That involvement carries over to the Aurora Run, a 2.5- or 1-mile trek through the village organized by Chrissi Brozon.
“The event starts out in the morning as the first event of the day to invite people to gather and celebrate,” Brozon said. “And as long as we have good weather, we have also added a swim.”
Unlike the swim, the more than 150 runners will be expected to brave whatever elements nature throws their way, which could be part of the excitement.
“We have a lot of active people in the community and they find racing events to be a lot of fun,” Brozon said. “It's a way to gather a lot of the folks in the community.”
Bill Mullarney, who is helping Brozon with the run, said a lot of local students like to use the run as a way to see where they stand for sports in the fall when school starts again.
“It's a local thing,” Mullarney said. “You're running along the lake on a Saturday morning and its really just mostly local people doing it. There will be some people from the surrounding area like Auburn, who like to use this event as a low key race.”
The strong sense of community can be found anywhere at the festival, whether it's at the blessing of the boats by John Miller, a scavenger hunt, the Taste of Aurora or the fireworks display that will be launched from the Wells College docks.
“It's a lot of fun and there is something for everyone to do or get involved with,” Brozon said. “This is a community where people want you to come and know what Aurora is all about.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
If you go
What: Aurora-Fest 2008
When: 6 p.m. Friday, July 11, and 9 a.m. Saturday, July 12
Where: Village of Aurora
Cost: Free
Info: For a full list of events, visit www.auroranewyork.us
“We originally scheduled a parade with our festival when someone decided we couldn't do it because it was raining,” Peter said. “A handful of people decided ‘What the heck, its just a little rain,' and did the parade anyway.”
The parade, which travels down Route 90, has grown over the years into one of the festival's main events, Peter said. There will be animals, music, antique cars and much more to help people get into the festive mood.
Another event will be a small battle of the bands featuring six local groups playing punk, rock and heavy metal, Peter said.
“We have been getting more younger kids involved, so this year we will have a band concert aimed just at them,” Peter said.
That involvement carries over to the Aurora Run, a 2.5- or 1-mile trek through the village organized by Chrissi Brozon.
“The event starts out in the morning as the first event of the day to invite people to gather and celebrate,” Brozon said. “And as long as we have good weather, we have also added a swim.”
Unlike the swim, the more than 150 runners will be expected to brave whatever elements nature throws their way, which could be part of the excitement.
“We have a lot of active people in the community and they find racing events to be a lot of fun,” Brozon said. “It's a way to gather a lot of the folks in the community.”
Bill Mullarney, who is helping Brozon with the run, said a lot of local students like to use the run as a way to see where they stand for sports in the fall when school starts again.
“It's a local thing,” Mullarney said. “You're running along the lake on a Saturday morning and its really just mostly local people doing it. There will be some people from the surrounding area like Auburn, who like to use this event as a low key race.”
The strong sense of community can be found anywhere at the festival, whether it's at the blessing of the boats by John Miller, a scavenger hunt, the Taste of Aurora or the fireworks display that will be launched from the Wells College docks.
“It's a lot of fun and there is something for everyone to do or get involved with,” Brozon said. “This is a community where people want you to come and know what Aurora is all about.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
If you go
What: Aurora-Fest 2008
When: 6 p.m. Friday, July 11, and 9 a.m. Saturday, July 12
Where: Village of Aurora
Cost: Free
Info: For a full list of events, visit www.auroranewyork.us
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