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.
Highlights include live bands and Irish dancers at Ballydoyle Irish Pub, a green lager tapping at Foreign Exchange Brewing Co. and a pot-of-gold scavenger hunt at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. The Perch will host St. Patrick-themed family yoga on Sunday, March 15.
A map of all 15 stops is available to guide visitors through the celebration.