Things to Do in North Aurora, Illinois

The Village of North Aurora is home to some of the Aurora Area's most celebrated restaurants, perfect options for a hearty meal after you've worked up an appetite exploring the Fox River Trails, seeing Chicagoland's best Broadway Series at Paramount Theatre, or touring holiday light displays. Whether you're dining family style or celebrating a special milestone, you'll find a great meal to begin or end your day in North Aurora. 

North Aurora Days is an annual 2-day community celebration attended by over 13,000 people each year. Learn more and plan your visit at northauroradays.org. 

After enjoying family-friendly attractions or a night out in the Aurora Area, enjoy destination dining in North Aurora, Illinois! Top-rated restaurants include The Turf Room, three-time winner of Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence for its extensive wine collection matching up to a seasonally rotating menu of eclectic American cuisine. Hardware, a sustainable gastropub and home to the B.B.G.B. Brewery and Hop Farm, has made a splash on the Chicagoland dining scene for its inventive menu of locally sourced ingredients—some of which are grown on-site at Hardware's greenhouse, orchard, and living wall—and the depth of its classic cocktail program, backed by shelves stocked with over 400 different whiskeys. Intimate, fireside patio dining is available at both locations and a perfect way to enjoy an evening with friends, family, or that special someone. 

Harner's Bakery and Restaurant has been kicking taste buds into high gear since the 1960's. This idyllic location on the Fox River has been a family favorite for decades, offering fresh-baked donuts and pastries along with hearty, good old-fashioned home cooking. Follow your nose down the Fox River Trails to this Aurora Area institution. 

Unique to North Aurora is one of the Midwest's longest-running consumer dairies, Oberweis Dairy. Its production location is available for group tours and you can visit the shop to enjoy a cone or sundae and watch the old-fashioned glass jugs fill up on their way out the door to distributors throughout the region.

Red Oak Nature Center is a prized piece of Fox Valley Park District property snug against the eastern shoreline of the Fox River. Home to the area's storied limestone cave, the Red Oak Nature Center offers outdoor educational programming for children and families year-round, with popular events like Maple Fest in spring and Bug Fest in the summer. In winter months, Red Oak is popular with birdwatchers aiming to get up-close views of the majestic migratory American bald eagles that nest in tall trees on the islands of the Fox River and along its shores.

The North Aurora River District Alliance's (NOARDA) beautiful Riverfront Park is where you can enjoy free concerts, festivals, and fun for the whole family in the summer months. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and a picnic basket to watch 4th of July fireworks over the Fox River, or delight in local favorites like pizza from Raimondo's and beer from Brother Chimp Brewing. 

North Aurora's distinctive collection of retail shopping includes unique specialty shops like Cremer Guitarworks, where for over 30 years musicians from all over Chicagoland and beyond have trusted their beloved instruments to the expert treatment and care of this modest guitar store tucked into a mid-century style building on a busy stretch of the Lincoln Highway. 

The Village of North Aurora is pleased to announce the completion of the Silo Restoration and Illumination project that will literally brighten up the town. 

Plan ahead for North Aurora Days, a fun-filled weekend of activities and entertainment to enjoy with family and friends. Look for North Aurora Days 2022 to occur the first weekend in August. 

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