AURORA, Illinois - June 21, 2006 - The Aurora Area (including Batavia, North Aurora, Montgomery, Plano, Sugar Grove and Yorkville communities) heralds in the summer with enough events slated this weekend to satiate anyone's taste for fun-whether you appreciate the fine arts, love canoeing, dig garden walks, hunt down history or collect crafts.

Visit the Promenade of the Fine Arts festival visual arts themed event-to find wood carvings and folk art June 24 in Yorkville. Take a guided canoe tour down the Fox River waterway in Kendall County on June 24. Enjoy family fun, food and a fine arts fair (Art on the Lawn) at Plano Community Days June 23-25. Traipse through 10 never-before-seen exquisite gardens at the Pallet & Spade Garden Walk in Sugar Grove, also June 24.

Ever see a black fire engine or flames shooting up 40 feet into the air? The Aurora Fire Department celebrates its 150th anniversary (second oldest fire department in the state) with an all-day affair on Saturday that includes a 100-fire truck parade (one of them painted the rare black).

Downtown Aurora truly comes alive as throngs of people descend on Downer St. to hear electrifying bands Friday nights. Hot Rocks, a Rolling Stone cover band, rocks the hood this Friday. North Aurora hosts a country quaint Craft Show on June 24.

ABOUT THE AACVB:

The Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau serves as the tourism marketing and management organization for Aurora, Batavia, Hinckley, North Aurora, Montgomery, Plano, Sugar Grove and Yorkville. This not-for-profit organization provides numerous travel resources to visitors via the Web site at www.enjoyaurora.com and a toll-free number 1-800-477-4369