Santa and Mrs. Claus with welcome two kids during a recent holiday season kickoff. (Downtown Aurora photo)

The streets of downtown Aurora will be illuminated like a well-staged Hallmark movie at next week’s annual Winter Lights Festival.

Featuring roaming costumed characters, festive photo-ops, , pop-up shops, food trucks and even live reindeer, the Nov. 17 family-oriented event will kick off at 5 p.m.

A holiday parade that will include very special guests—Santa and Mrs. Claus —will begin at 6:30 p.m.

“It’s followed by a grand fireworks display along the banks of the Fox River,” said Gina Moga, Special Events Manager with the City of Aurora.

The evening also includes the introduction of this year’s Miss Merry Christmas and Mr. Jack Frost who will help Mayor Irvin light the City of Aurora’s official Christmas tree.

Naming an Aurora Miss Merry Christmas and Jack Frost is a long-standing tradition.

The Miss Merry Christmas and Mr. Jack Frost contest is over 50 years old, according to volunteer and former reporter Christine Goerlich Weber. It is open to Aurora residents between the ages of 4 and 7 years old. Submissions were collected in October.

Six boys and six girls were chosen as semi-finalists. Community members voted on the winner by submitting a printed ballot.

Goerlich Weber,  a former reporter for the Aurora Beacon News which  ran the contest prior to being taken over by City of Aurora, said she remembers counting thousands of ballots by hand.

Today, the ballots are still counted by hand, Moga said, “Twice.”

This year’s Jack Frost finalists were Nathaniel Eudave, Andrew Kravcar, Mason McAllister, Benjamin Mendoza, Philip Ries and Jeremiah Smith-Jones.

2017’s Miss Merry Christmas finalists are Jillian Becker, Emma Burgess-Walker, Sienna Flores, Tahlia Lewis, Harmony Merriweather and Melina Monjaras.

All 12 semi-finalists will be part of the 2017 Winter Lights Court, however, the top  three vote earners in each category will be the 2017 finalists and entered into a random drawing that will crown the 2017 Miss Merry Christmas and Jack Frost.

The drawing and crowning was scheduled to be held during the Aurora City Council meeting on Tuesday.

Aurora’s official Holiday Tree, located in front of Grand Army of the Republic Museum, will be illuminated by the Mayor, Miss Merry Christmas and Mr. Jack Frost.

At that time, the Downtown Window Decorating Contest winners will be recognized.

After the tree lighting, Santa and Mrs. Claus will listen to Christmas wishes at the steps of the GAR Museum at 23 East Downers Place.

Pop up shops will be located at various storefronts throughout the Winter Lights event area at 14 W. Downer and along Stolp from Leland Tower’s lobby to Gallery 1904 at 1 E. Benton St.

Food truck vendors include Grumpy Gaucho, The Little Red Donut Truck, Andre’s Kitchen, The Olive Branch, Cheesie’s, Wurst Kitchen, and Atrevete Confections.

Pop-up shops and food trucks will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Organizers suggest festival goers “Bring your camera! Dress for the weather.”

— Aurora gets jump on holidays with parade, tree-lighting  —