AURORA — Lake monsters took to dry land for AuroraFest on Saturday.Â
The 51st annual village festival was themed around mystical lake creatures this year, and underwater imagery was prevalent throughout the event's parade down Main Street.
Children in a float for Camp Gregory, with a cardboard cutout of one such creature, tossed candy to those in the crowd. Not far behind, children with the Southern Cayuga Little League threw bags of white chickpeas from their aquatic-themed float. A woman labeled the "Mer-Matron of Cayuga Lake" also waved at onlookers wearing aqua blue hair and a flotation device atop a car.
Among the other marchers were fire departments from the village, Genoa and more, children and staff with Peachtown Elementary School and the Aurora Preschool, and Auburn Enlarged City School District band students. This year's AuroraFest theme came from the stories of mystical creatures in the lake that have been circulating since the 1800s.
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Watching the parade were friends Elan VanArnum and Alex Arpino, with VanArnum's golden retriever, Lumi. A lifelong village resident, VanArnum told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV she remembers watching the parade when she was a baby. Her family's roots run deep in the area, as her mother, Christy Gunderson, organized the festival in the '90s and her grandfather Tom Gunderson is a former mayor.Â
Even though VanArnum has seen the parade before, she said she still likes to watch, as the new theme every year allows participants to "do things a little different." She also enjoys seeing how many people she recognizes and how many people come to the event. While she noticed a lot of people she didn't know, she feels attendance was solid this year.
"It's usually so quiet here," she said. "When events happen, people usually come out."

Children in a Southern Cayuga Little League float greet people during the AuroraFest parade on Saturday.
Former Aurora resident Emily Hitchcock came to the parade with her 7-year-old twin daughters, Ruby and Madeline, to see her daughter Zoee, 11, who was performing with the Auburn band students.
"It's just nice to bring people together," Hitchcock told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV.
The festival continued after the parade at the Aurora Volunteer Fire Department. Attractions included food trucks like Pete's Treats of Union Springs, rides with FLX Helicopters, live music by Cast Iron Cowboys and vendors like Robia McCown's business , which featured chainsaw-carved wooden sculptures and hand-painted rocks.
AuroraFest committee member Erin Weber told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV that with Wells College closing in 2024 after being in the village for over 100 years, she feels it's important to celebrate the community.
"There are people here who were born and raised here, raised their children here, their grandchildren are here. And those people are becoming fewer and fewer and fewer," Weber said.
"I think it's really important to celebrate those families that have spent their lives loving Aurora."
Gallery: AuroraFest 2025 parade, vendors

Children in a Southern Cayuga Little League float greet people during the AuroraFest parade on Saturday.

People enjoy AuroraFest at the Aurora Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday.

Auburn Enlarged Central School District students perform during the AuroraFest parade on Saturday.

Josh McCown holds down the fort for his wife Robia's business, Lost Moss Artistry, with goods made by Robia and Josh, at AuroraFest on Saturday.

Emily Hitchcock and her twins, Ruby and Madeline, 7, hang out at the AuroraFest parade on Saturday.

Children and staff with Peachtown Elementary School and the Aurora Preschool walk during the AuroraFest parade on Saturday.

People talk at the Aurora Volunteer Fire Department during AuroraFest on Saturday.

Mike Festa and his son Rocco watch the AuroraFest parade on Saturday.

Friends Elan VanArnum and Alex Arpino, with VanArnum's golden retriever, Lumi, hang out during the AuroraFest parade on Saturday.Â

People watch the AuroraFest parade on Saturday.

"The Mer-Matron of Cayuga Lake" waves to people during the AuroraFest parade on Saturday.Â

Children in a Southern Cayuga Little League float greet people during the AuroraFest parade on Saturday.

Kristina Kelley displays jewelry at the table for her business, Turtle & Bird Homestead, at AuroraFest on Saturday.

People have fun on a jungle-themed float during the AuroraFest parade on Saturday.

Shyra Murphy, Chuck Frueh and Judy Thoroughman, members of the adult Lego fan group CNY Blocks, run a table for the group with decorations they created during AuroraFest on Saturday.

Children in a Camp Gregory float participate in the parade during AuroraFest on Saturday.
Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.