Aurora: 'Little treasure' puts best foot forward for Colony Days

Tracy Paulson loves it. Kimmie Simpson thinks its enjoyable. Mikel Kensington never fails to find a treasure.

Those three visitors to Aurora on Aug. 10 all had different ways of describing the same thing – this year’s Aurora Colony Days delivered plenty enjoy.

Paulson and Simpson traveled south from the Portland area for this year’s event, a trek they have been making since before the pandemic. They antique, they eat, they listen to music, but most of all they just kind of revel in Aurora’s celebratory vibe.

“I think this town is such a little treasure and when they put on their Colony Days, you get a real feel for just how much people love their community here,” Paulson said. “They have two separate markets, a parade, good food and live music, it’s just a pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon.”

Simpson concurred, adding that she’s always up for a trip to Aurora to indulge in antiquing, but finds a visit during Colony Days to up the ante nicely.

“Great fun, great diversity of vendors to check out their stuff, and folks are so friendly,” she said. “And if the temperatures aren’t blazing, it’s just about perfect for a day-trip south.”

As for Kensington, the ambiance of Aurora works for him, but it’s the booths he really gets excited about. He lives between Molalla and Woodburn and said that as a collector of sorts, he values what Colony Days delivers.

“It’s nice to come and enjoy this small-town atmosphere and just go through all the stuff that’s here,” he said. “In all honesty, I never come to this thing and not go home with something – usually multiple items. It’s a simple, well-run, fun event that I look forward to each year.”

It all tied up into a nice package of fun tied up with a bow of music at the end of the night from the Slicker Country Band at the Aurora City Park Amphitheater.