The city of Aurora will officially welcome in the holiday season from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday during the annual Winter Lights Fest, which will include a parade as well as the illumination of the city’s Christmas tree, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus and a new drone show.
Last year, the event drew an estimated 7,000 people to downtown Aurora and is expected to possibly exceed that total this year, city officials said.
The illuminated parade, which will begin at 6:30 p.m., will be led by Santa and Mrs. Claus, followed by lighted vehicles filled with costumed characters and more, officials said. The parade will begin at Downer Place and Water Street and head west on Downer Place to River Street.
The Christmas tree-lighting ceremony will follow at 6:50 p.m. at the GAR Memorial Hall, 23 E. Downer Place, with a community countdown before the lights are turned on.
Next up will be the drone show, which will begin at 7:05 p.m. over downtown Aurora.
Clayton Muhammad, chief communications and equity officer for the city of Aurora, said the Winter Lights Fest has been offered “for about two decades here in Aurora” and continues to be the way “people here in Aurora kick off the holiday season.”
A change was made this year as the fireworks show that usually follows the tree-lighting ceremony has been replaced with a drone show.
“Normally, we have a fireworks show but this is the first time we’re doing a drone show,” Muhammad said. “We’re catching up with the innovative times.”
He said the drone show will allow the city to “make better use of the airspace as sometimes with the fireworks there are all the people and buildings” that can block participants from seeing the display.
Muhammad said the “pronounced airspace will allow potentially more people to view the drone show,” and that following it there will be a host of activities for people to enjoy.
“People can get photos with Santa and there are food trucks and music and dance and just a fun time in downtown Aurora,” he said. “People can also shop downtown for holiday deals. It’s going to be a little chillier but it’s perfect for getting in that holiday spirit.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
