upcoming events:
Christmas in Aurora
December 8-10, 2023
Christmas in Aurora was relaunched in 2021 by the Aurora-Richland Township Chamber of Commerce with three days of activities that run from Friday night through Sunday afternoon. Events range from the water tower tree/star lighting, Christmas carols, a walk down the luminaria-lit Main Street, hot cocoa and s’mores, storytelling at the library, a two-day artisan and crafters fair at the Community Center, and a BBQ fundraiser at the Aurora Volunteer Fire Department, culminating in a parade down Main Street, complete with Santa Claus. Mark your calendars for this year’s holiday fun days: December 8-10, 2023.
Visit the Chamber’s website at www.auroralife.us or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/aurorachambernc.
North Carolina Fossil Festival in Aurora
May 2024
The North Carolina Fossil Festival is planned and hosted by the Aurora Fossil Museum and takes place each year over the Memorial Day weekend. The event draws visitors from all over the country who are lured by their interests in paleontology, science, and family fun. The weekend activities include movie and game night, a BBQ fundraiser by the Aurora Volunteer Fire Department, a 5K race, parade, silent and live auctions, nonprofit organization displays, entertainment, and food and craft vendors. Other activities include a nighttime glow party, Dinosaur show, loads of children’s activities, fossil displays, and of course – digging for fossils!
For more information, visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ncfossilfest.
Fish and Farm Festival
September 14, 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The newest addition to Aurora’s festivities is the Aurora Fish and Farm Festival, which will be held September 14, to shine a spotlight on the waterfront, agriculture and aquaculture heritage of the town and surrounding Richland Township. The event will include a Bike-to-Farm tour which will take cyclists on a 30-mile circuit with stops at a number of the area’s growers and fish farms; kayaking rentals; a street fair with commercial vendors, artisans and crafters, and educational institutions that tie into the celebration’s theme. There will be children’s activities including games, a cow milking simulator and straw bale steer roping. Enjoy the roar of the mini-tractor pull; and check out the tractors on display.
Visit the Aurora History Museum and old jail and get your photo taken in the original cell, or stop by our entertainment stage and enjoy the sounds of music throughout the day.
Visit the Festival’s website at www.aurorafishandfarmfestival.com for more information, or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/aurorafishandfarmfestival.
It’s fun for the entire family!
Aurora Night Out
October 12, 2024
Come out and pay tribute to our local first responders at Aurora Night Out. The annual event, sponsored by Aurora Community Watch, is held at the Aurora Community Center and is a night of food, fun, music and honoring those who protect and serve. Visit Aurora Community Watch NC on Facebook.
photos:
directions:
From Rocky Mount: Take U.S. 64 east to U.S. 13 towards Bethel. Take U.S. 13 to NC-30 towards Washington. Make a left onto U.S. 264. As you enter Washington, take a right onto U.S. 17, just past Sheetz. Go over the bridge and take the first exit for NC-33/Chocowinity. At the light, turn right onto NC-33. Go approximately 25 miles into Aurora. Turn left onto Fifth Street at the blinking traffic light. Go down several blocks to Main Street, and turn right.
From Kinston: Take NC-11 to Grifton. Turn right onto NC-118 E. Take NC-118 E to Vanceboro. Turn right onto NC-43. Take NC-43 to U.S. 17 towards New Bern. Make a left onto Aurora Road. Follow Aurora Road until it merges with Tunstall Swamp Road. Follow it down to NC-306. Make a brief left onto NC-306, and then a right on NC-33. Follow NC-33 into Aurora. Turn left onto Fifth Street at the blinking traffic light. Go down several blocks to Main Street, and turn right.
From Morehead City: Take U.S. 70 W towards New Bern. Exit at New Bern onto U.S. 17 towards Washington. Cross the Neuse River Bridge. Take the first exit for NC-55 towards Bayboro/Oriental. Take NC-55 into Grantsboro, and make a left at the traffic light at CVS onto NC-306. Follow NC-306 all the way until it ends at NC-33. Make a right onto NC-33 and follow it into Aurora. Turn left onto Fifth Street at the blinking traffic light. Go down several blocks to Main Street, and turn right.
From Raleigh: Take U.S. 64 E/U.S. 264 towards Greenville. Take Exit 73B to continue on U.S. 264 towards Washington. Follow it around to NC-33/U.S. 264. Left at the light to continue onto U.S. 264. Follow U.S. 264 into Washington. Just past the Sheetz, turn right to enter onto U.S. 17 towards New Bern. Go over the bridge and take the first exit for NC-33/Chocowinity. At the light, turn right onto NC-33 Go approximately 25 miles into Aurora. Turn left onto Fifth Street at the blinking traffic light. Go down several blocks to Main Street, and turn right.
lodging:
The nearest hotels are located in Washington and New Bern, both approximately 40-45 minutes from Aurora. Among the hotels in Washington are the Fairfield Inn and Suites, Hampton Inn and Suites, and several local Bed and Breakfast accommodations. New Bern has a variety of hotels including Courtyard by Marriott, Hampton Inn and Suites, DoubleTree by Hilton, BridgePointe Hotel and Marina, SpringHill Suites, Comfort Suites, Candlewood Suites, Clarion Pointe, and a vast array of Bed and Breakfast locations. Oriental, which is about 35 minutes from Aurora, also offers a variety of vacation rentals, Bed and Breakfast sites, and the River Neuse Suites and the Oriental Marina and Inn.
There are several AirBnB sites available in Aurora, as well as local camping facilities.