Event Details

Aurora is a town in central York Region in the GTA. north of Richmond Hill, partially situated on the Oak Ridges Moraine. In 2020, the Aurora Town Council approved and commenced the construction of Aurora Town Square. The new Town Square is to be located directly between the Aurora Public Library building and the Aurora Cultural Centre (previously the Church Street School). The project will include the construction of a new performing arts centre directly adjacent to the Aurora Cultural Centre and a covered pedestrian footbridge to connect the new performing arts building with the library building. The capital project budget for the Square is a total of $51.6 million and is being implemented as part of a long-term strategy to transform and revitalize Aurora's ailing downtown core. The Town of Aurora currently produces 23 unique festivals and events annually, such as Aurora’s Ribfest, Aurora’s Santa Under the Stars Parade and Aurora’s Concerts in the Park.

This application is for “Aurora Town Square Grand Opening”, a series of events planned for September 21 to October 13, 2024. Taking place over 23 days, the Grand Opening will showcase a variety of cultural performances and programs from a wide range of talent geared to various interests, ages, and demographics. The Grand Opening will also demonstrate the municipality’s commitment to downtown revitalization, creative economic development, and the expansion of cultural tourism opportunities. Programming will include:

1) A Multicultural Festival (September 21) featuring music, dance performance by the Norman Dance Company, food samples, and cooking demonstrations. A permanent mural by Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation painter, drawer, and muralist, August Swinson, will be unveiled followed by an artist talk. Nine youth artists working with Toronto-based public art collective, Oddside Arts, will design large-scale banners with an augmented reality (AR) component that will be hung throughout Town Square;

2) Culture Days programming (September 22); featuring programming from several local cultural groups and will include pottery making, interactive painting, and hands-on artifact and archival experiences. Other Culture Day activations will include: (i) The Aurora Cultural Centre will open their gallery spaces, which will feature a temporary Indigenous mural and works by other regional, national, and international artists; (ii) the York Chamber Ensemble will perform live classical music concerts; (iii) the premiere screening of a documentary film about Aurora’s historic Happy Woodland Pet Cemetery; and (iv) a performance by the Pick Brothers Band;

3) Concert by pop, rock and new country artist Marshall Dane (September 24);

4) Concert by Juno Award-winning blues artist Crystal Shawanda (September 28);

5) Candlelight Concert by the Aurora Community Band (October 1);

6) The Sultans of String’s Refuge Project (October 2), featuring over 30 musicians who have come to North America as recent immigrants and refugees;

7) Alan Cross hosts a salon focused on the world of alternative rock which will also include display of music-related artifacts connected to Aurora and York Region (October 3);

8) Juno-nominated R&B and Soul singer, George St. Kitts performs as part of a cocktail lounge evening that includes Town Square themed cocktails from the Armoury, food selections from local chefs, and an Illusionist (October 4);

9) Concert featuring Zeus and the Rubber Tire Peep Show (October 10);

10) Concert featuring Sloan (October 11);

11) The inaugural Fall Faves Festival (October 12 and 13): featuring a roller skating ABBA-themed disco party, hay bale art, pumpkin carving, and autumn-themed crafts.

The Grand Opening will also include film screenings, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation programming, Aurora Farmers’ Market & Artisan Fair, concerts in the Aurora Cultural Centre, performances by local musical, dance and theatre groups, open-mic nights in the cafe, architectural tours, museum exhibitions and displays, and drop-in workshops.