Aurora’s RiverEdge Park Reopens After $24 Million Renovation for Blues on the Fox Festival

The wait is over for Aurora concertgoers

Aurora’s RiverEdge Park reopens Saturday after a yearlong renovation that cost approximately $24 million, according to city engineer and director of public works Jason Bauer. The park will host its first event under the new layout with the annual Blues on the Fox festival on June 20.

The overhaul addresses years of growing crowds and complaints from both fans and performers. The venue had become a bottleneck for bigger acts because it lacked the infrastructure to host national touring bands.

Restroom lines were the biggest complaint

Jim Jarvis, general manager for the Aurora Civic Center Authority, said restroom expansion was the top priority.

“You could literally stand in line for 20 minutes to wait to get into a restroom,” Jarvis said. “We had porta potties there, that's not always ideal.”

The renovation added 24 new women’s stalls and 18 new men’s stalls. The restrooms feature touchless sinks and hand-washing stations, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Backstage got a 10,000-square-foot upgrade

Performers used to eat from an old construction trailer and shower at nearby hotels after shows. The new 10,000-square-foot artists building includes five large dressing rooms with private showers, a 1,500-square-foot green room with a balcony patio, and a spacious dining area.

“So many bands were turning us down” because RiverEdge lacked the amenities found at competing venues, Jarvis said. “This new facility changes that equation.”

The Chicago Tribune reported that when KISS performed at the park in 2017, there was not enough room to store the band’s costumes.

What else changed

The renovation included the following improvements, according to the Daily Herald and Patch:

• Capacity increased by 1,500 people to a total of 7,500
• A new southern entrance (Entrance 4) with a 6,900-square-foot plaza
• A new beverage pavilion with 16 service windows
• Two giant LED screens, the same type used at the Sphere in Las Vegas, installed by Nighthawk Video of Sycamore
• An improved sound system
• A new VIP section and sponsor skydeck
• Four family and all-gender restrooms

Some earlier reports from Patch and the Chicago Tribune cited a renovation cost of $16 million. City engineer Jason Bauer told the Daily Herald the total project cost approximately $24 million, which included water, power, and sanitation upgrades in addition to the structural improvements.

Why it matters to Aurora

Mayor John Laesch said the renovations will help attract higher-profile acts to the city.

“These key renovations to RiverEdge Park will continue to attract diverse and high-quality acts that expand Aurora's entertainment portfolio and drive more visitors to our City,” Laesch said in a statement.

The Aurora Civic Center Authority, which manages RiverEdge Park along with the Paramount Theatre and Copley Theatre, also announced a new Movies in the Park series. Three family-friendly films will screen on July 16, July 30, and August 6.

Blues on the Fox 2026

• When: Saturday, June 20, at 3 p.m.
• Where: RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora
• Headliners: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Eric Gales, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, and Ally Venable
• Tickets: $50.24 online; $44 at the door

“If you loved it before, wait until you walk through those gates now,” Jarvis said.

The park was established in 2013 and renamed in 2016 in honor of former Mayor Thomas J. Weisner, who served from 2005 until his death in 2016. It has since hosted acts including Willie Nelson and OneRepublic.

The renovation planning began under former Mayor Richard Irvin and continued through the administrations of interim Mayor Bob O’Connor and current Mayor John Laesch, according to the Chicago Tribune.