Summer tunes at sunset return to iconic Blackberry Farm for the 11th season of Live & Uncorked – the Fox Valley Park District’s outdoor concert series that plays on Thursdays at our 55-year-old living history museum. For eight weeks beginning Thursday, June 6, through Thursday, August 1, summer concertgoers can enjoy the sounds of Chicagoland’s… Read More

Springtime – the season to get outside, enjoy the fresh air and begin anew, just as the nature surrounding us does the same. We’ve got literally hundreds of activities from which you can choose, so plan your time accordingly. For a full lineup of spring adventures, visit foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/events/. For starters, check out these 10 events… Read More

Popular summer concert series extended to eight weeks  Some jammin’ news for fans of summer tunes, sing-a-longs and sunsets … Live & Uncorked, the Fox Valley Park District’s popular outdoor concert series, is playing an extra week this year for a total of eight live performances at historic Blackberry Farm. FVPD officials extended the summer… Read More

Press Release – November 27, 2023 AURORA – The sights, sounds and spirit of the season return to festively garnished Blackberry Farm, where Holiday Express revs to welcome all aboard another magical experience highlighted by a train ride to the virtual North Pole. Trimmed with accents of the treasured 2004 movie The Polar Express, the… Read More

“I could have been an American citizen living in Aurora.” Given the robust, multi-cultured society that helps define the City of Lights, those aren’t exactly words that get accompanied by parades and noisemakers. But when they’re spoken by the Ambassador of Luxembourg to the United States of America, well, two city blocks filled with people… Read More

Paul Thill gets the picture.   (Quite literally, in fact, when you consider the Sugar Grove resident hadn’t seen one of our favorite images when asked: What makes Live & Uncorked so enjoyable?)  “The setting of Blackberry Farm is idyllic, particularly on a sunset night,” said Thill, a Live & Uncorked “regular,” along with wife Jen.… Read More

Winter 2023 Dear Residents, In June I announced my intention to retire at the end of 2023. As I reflect on these past eight years, I’m humbled and privileged to have helped serve the communities of Aurora, North Aurora and Montgomery that together make up the Fox Valley Park District.  “Together” is an important word.… Read More

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we're recognizing the achievements and contributions of four Hispanic American champions – “Local Legends” who blazed a trail of success through the fog of bigotry and discrimination to provide opportunity for generations to come. Today, more than 85,000 American Latinos contribute to Aurora’s proud, vibrant diversity. We celebrate these… Read More

Press Release – September 3, 2020 Blackberry Farm’s popular, holiday-themed events sidelined by pandemic AURORA – Due to the significant restrictions placed on Blackberry Farm, which is unique in that it carries both museum and theme-park status, the Fox Valley Park District has opted to cancel two of the living history museum’s signature, holiday-themed events.… Read More

When it comes to sledding, skating and skiing, we’re sorta at the mercy of Mother Nature, but no matter the weather, plenty of cool programs and activities await this winter season. Get started by checking out these upcoming 10 events, or visit our calendar pages for a full lineup of winter adventures. Holiday Express With a nod… Read More