RiverEdge Park Wants YOU to Want
Live, Thursday, June 25th in downtown Aurora
Legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Cheap Trick, the iconic rock band from Rockford, Illinois, are coming to downtown Aurora’s RiverEdge Park with their classic hits like “I Want You To Want Me,” “Dream Police,” “The Flame,” “Surrender” and more.
Don’t miss Cheap Trick’s signature blend of hard rock and power-pop sensibilities, live at the newly expanded RiverEdge Park. And just announced today: the opening act is James Hatem, a “Nashville-based artist with New Jersey chest hair.”
“Surrender” to Cheap Trick’s beloved pop rock licks at RiverEdge Park on Thursday, June 25. Gates open at 6 p.m. Show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50. For tickets and information, visit riveredgeaurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, stop by RiverEdge’s satellite box office, Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, 10 a.m.to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and until show time on show days, or purchase day-of at RiverEdge Park. Ticket prices are for in-person purchase. Additional fees apply for phone and online orders. All tickets are general admission.
RiverEdge Park is located at 360 N. Broadway, right across from Metra’s Aurora Transportation Center. Following a year off for renovations, music fans are going to find RiverEdge is bigger and better than ever, ready to attract music lovers to downtown Aurora for live concert excitement, a warm community feel, and gorgeous views of the Fox River. Festivalgoers can look forward to new amenities including a new 16-station beverage pavilion, an expanded entrance with ticket booth, an expanded grass seating area, three new jumbotrons, a new restroom building with 24 women’s and 18 men’s facilities, four new family/anyone restrooms, a new backstage artist pavilion, and a new, in-house food vendor, local Aurora favorite Strawberries BBQ.
Audiences are encouraged to bring bag chairs for seating on designated cement areas. Bag chairs and blankets are welcome on grass. Standing room only in front of the stage. Visit the Park’s Plan Your Visit page for more information, directions, parking options and outside food policies. For weather updates, call the RiverEdge Park Weather Line, (630) 723-2480, or follow @RiverEdgeAurora on Facebook and Instagram.
Razorblade Riffs: About Cheap Trick
The Associated Press said it best: “All we can do is be thankful for the longevity and endless creativity of the quartet from Rockford, Illinois.”
Cheap Trick remain an indisputable, indispensable rock ’n’ roll institution, beloved everywhere for their instantly identifiable, hugely influential union of mischievous wit and maximum melodies, powerhouse pop hooks and razor-sharp riffs. Established almost half a century ago by Robin Zander (vocals, rhythm guitar), Rick Nielsen (lead guitar), Tom Petersson (bass guitar), and Bun E. Carlos (drums), the Rockford, IL-based band has become part of the very fiber of American music, with more than 40 international Gold and Platinum certifications, myriad awards and industry honors, and featured appearances on over 20 movie soundtracks.
Five decades on, Cheap Trick remains the same at its core as ever – four great guys, three great chords, and an unparalleled canon of tunes that will last an eternity, from “He’s A Whore,” “California Man” and “Dream Police” to “Surrender,” “I Want You To Want Me” and the worldwide #1 hit single, “The Flame.” Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, Cheap Trick maintains an almost constant touring schedule, having performed live more than 6,000 times since their formation, selling more than 20 million albums and building a dedicated cult following. Learn more at CheapTrick.com
James Hatem: A Nashville-based artist with New Jersey chest hair
James Hatem is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter originally from New Jersey, known for his raw, guitar-driven sound and emotionally honest songwriting. Blending blues, rock, and Americana influences, his music draws from artists like John Mayer, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and The Band- delivering a modern yet timeless feel that resonates both live and on record. A relentless performer, Hatem has toured extensively across the U.S. and built a reputation for captivating, high-energy live shows. He has been on tour with Cheap Trick, and shared stages with The Rolling Stones, Kansas, and LeAnn Rimes. jameshatem.com
Songs of Summer: The 2026 Concert and Event Line-up at Aurora’s RiverEdge Park
Blues on the Fox
Featuring Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Eric Gales, Ally Venable, and Tommy Castro & the Painkillers
Saturday, June 20, 3 p.m.
Tickets: $44
Aurora’s Fireworks Celebration
Friday, July 3, 9:15 p.m.
Free
Lauren Alaina
July 5, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $37
Movies in the Park: The Goonies
Thursday, July 16, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $2 in advance; $4 day of; children 2 and under free (must have a ticket)
Downtown Alive: Sixteen Candles
Friday, July 17, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Get the Led Out
Saturday, July 18, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $27
Six One Five Collective
Saturday, July 25, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $22
Movies in the Park: The Princess and The Frog
Thursday, July 30, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $2 in advance; $4 day of; children 2 and under free (must have a ticket)
Hollywood Nights: The Bob Seger Experience
Friday, July 31, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $23
Movies in the Park: Coco
Thursday, August 6, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $2 in advance; $4 day of; children 2 and under free (must have a ticket)
Downtown Alive: 90’s Pop Nation
Saturday, August 8, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $5
UB40 featuring Ali Campbell
Sunday, August 9, 8 p.m.
Tickets $60
Gov’t Mule
Thursday, August 13, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $39
The Beach Boys
Friday, August 14, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $56
Poi Dog Pondering
Saturday, August 15, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $46
Totally Tubular Festival
Sunday, August 16, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $45
The Australian Pink Floyd Show
Friday, August 21, 8 p.m.
Tickets $44.50
Third Eye Blind
Sunday, August 23, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $71
Stayin’ Alive
Saturday, August 29, 8 p.m.
Tickets $24
About RiverEdge Park
RiverEdge Park debuted in 2013 and was renamed Thomas J. Weisner RiverEdge Park in 2016 in honor of late Aurora Mayor Thomas J. Weisner. RiverEdge is anchored by the contemporary John C. Dunham performance pavilion, with state-of-the-art acoustics and lighting set against a beautiful night sky. Following renovations this past year, RiverEdge has grown its capacity from 6,000 to 7,500, while still offering live concert excitement with a warm community feel and gorgeous views of the Fox River.
RiverEdge Park is managed and programmed by the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA), which also oversees Aurora’s historic Paramount Theatre, Copley Theater, Stolp Island Theatre and the Paramount School of the Arts. For tickets and information, visit riveredgeaurora.com or call (630) 896-6666.