AURORA, Ill. — Aurora is trading its traditional St. Patrick’s Day parade for a two-day downtown celebration this year, driven by community interest in a more interactive experience.
The City of Aurora and the Aurora Downtown District are partnering to host the free event March 14-15, turning the heart of downtown into a bar crawl-style takeover across 15 participating businesses.
The weekend will feature Irish fare, green beer, themed cocktails, live music and family-friendly activities throughout the district. The partnership with the Aurora Downtown District also means little to no cost to the city — a factor that helped given budget challenges heading into 2026…