Alley Jam Music Series — Michael Allen and Saskia
Week two of the free Saturday laneway series brings the duo Michael Allen and Saskia downtown. Bring your own chair — the alley fills quickly, and it's a short walk from the market.
Local Life · Aurora, Ontario
This weekend in Aurora
Week of Friday, August 7, 2026
A showery start gives way to a bright Sunday, and Aurora has a full Saturday either way: the market in Town Park in the morning, Alley Jam in the laneway at noon, and a Canadian roots collective on the Town Square stage that night.
Forecast
Unsettled Friday and Saturday with showers moving through, then a sunny, warm Sunday — highs holding in the mid-to-upper 20s all weekend.
Fri27° / 19°Cloudy, 40% chance of showers
Sat26° / 17°Cloudy, 60% chance of showers
Sun27° / 17°Sunny and warm
Weekend events
Aurora Farmers' Market & Artisan Fair
Peak-season produce, bakers, makers and live music in Town Park. Rain or shine, every Saturday through October — and with showers in the forecast, the early hours are the smart bet.
Rubber Tire Peep Show and Burs, with special guests
A Canadian musical collective whose repertoire runs across decades and genres — jam-band dynamics, country-blues sensibility and rock and roll spirit, with Burs and guests opening. Tickets through the Town Square box office.
Splash pads, parks and the Arboretum
Sunday is the pick of the weekend for outdoors — sunny and 27°C. The free splash pads and the shaded Arboretum trails along the East Holland River are the easy, no-planning-required call.
Looking ahead — Concerts in the Park
The free TD summer concert series continues on Wednesday nights through August (12, 19 and 26). Food vendors and licensed beverages on site; bring a lawn chair.
Looking ahead — gallery openings at Town Square
Two free gallery nights midweek: a closing talk with artist Jing Fu on the 12th as Unearthed: My Equilibrium wraps up, then the Fall Halls opening reception on the 13th, with remarks at 7pm.
Library & kids
- TD Summer Reading ClubNow through August 31 — log your reading anytimeKids & families
- Teen Summer Reading Challenge 2026Runs all summer, plus a weekly candy-jar guessing gameTeens
- Baby & Toddler StorytimeWeekday mornings, 10:30–11am — check the calendarBabies & toddlers with a caregiver
- Baby Café — music, rhymes and an EarlyON specialistWeekly — see the events calendar for the dayBabies & caregivers
- Stuffed Animal HospitalDrop off anytime at the children's desk, 2nd floorKids
Pools & rinks
Tap a tab to see this week's drop-in schedule.
Civic brief
Nomination Day is two weeks out — Friday, August 21
Anyone running for mayor or one of Aurora's six ward-councillor seats must file in person on August 21 between 9am and 2pm, with 25 endorsement signatures and a filing fee ($200 for mayor, $100 for all other offices). Voting day is Monday, October 26.
South Town Hall & Seniors' Centre parking lot still closed
The parking lot at South Town Hall and the Aurora Seniors' Centre remains closed for construction. If you have a program or meeting booked there, plan for alternate parking.
Council & committee agendas
Council remains on its summer schedule, but agendas, minutes and live streams for upcoming Council and Committee of the Whole meetings are posted in advance on the Town's website.
Notable news this week
Movies in the Park goes double-header this year
Aurora's free outdoor movie nights return on August 20, August 27 and September 3 at Town Park — and for the first time each night is a back-to-back double feature, so you can come for one film or stay for both. Themed activities start at 6pm, with free popcorn while it lasts.
The council race starts to take shape ahead of August 21
Lauren Hanna and Connor Logan are among the first to declare for Aurora town council, campaigning on accountability, inclusion and housing affordability. Hanna, a Town Park Community Association member and chair of the Aurora Public Library Board, is seeking the Ward 1 seat.
Aurora to fight five-home plan for a single Heathwood Heights lot
Council has voted to oppose an Ontario Land Tribunal appeal over a proposal to replace one house at 161 Heathwood Heights Dr. with five detached homes. Mayor Tom Mrakas backed the move, arguing the plan doesn't fit the character of one of Aurora's most established neighbourhoods.
Alley Jam runs every Saturday in August
The free noon-to-2pm music series in Machell's Alley continues all month: Michael Allen and Saskia on the 8th, The Tap Room Gang on the 15th, Larra Skye with Gord Girvan on the 22nd and North Of The Border on the 29th. Parking is behind the alley, off Victoria St.