Aurora History Museum invites community to Grand Celebration to honor three milestones

The Aurora History Museum is hosting a "Grand Celebration" from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 in commemoration of the 25 years of the Festival of Wreaths, 10 years since the restoration of Trolley Trailer 610 and 45 years of the museum; the community is invited to be part of the festivities taking place at the Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Parkway.

"It is an honor to celebrate these milestones at the Aurora History Museum, a space that preserves and promotes Aurora's history, serving as a resource to all the members of our community," said T. Scott Williams, museum director. "The city of Aurora continues making history every day, and we want to ensure the museum remains a safe space where the stories of our diverse community are reflected and celebrated; this is why the Festival of Wreaths is such an important fundraising event to help us continue our mission."

The 25th annual Festival of Wreaths is coordinated by the Aurora Museum Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advocate for funding and community support of the Aurora History Museum. The festival features wreaths decorated and donated by local businesses, organizations and individuals. All donated wreaths are displayed at the museum's Community Gallery through Sunday, Dec. 6. Wreaths are sold to the highest bidder either through an online auction or at the live auction during the Grand Celebration event Saturday, Nov. 16. Families can also visit the museum early from noon to 2 p.m. for a special Santa photo opportunity on the Trolley Trailer 610.

The Grand Celebration is a fundraiser to celebrate friends of the museum, past, present and future, that will include entertainment, hors d'oeuvres, special artifacts on display, the live action of the wreaths and performances from local artists. The proceeds will go toward saving Aurora's history through obtaining a new museum storage facility, a critical need to sustain long-term preservation, conservation and care. For more information about the Grand Celebration, visit AuroraGov.org/Wreaths.

About the Aurora History Museum

The Aurora History Museum opened in 1979. In 1990, it moved to its present location, reopened in 1991 and became a part of the city of Aurora Library and Cultural Services Department, the largest single provider of arts and culture programs in Aurora. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is always free. To stay up to date on related programming, call 303.739.6660 or visit AuroraMuseum.org.