AURORA | A Sept. 11 commemoration event is expected to bring more than 25,000 people to the Arapahoe Park Race Track over three days in September and bring in an estimated $2 million in out-of-town spending for the city.

The nonprofit Colorado Charity Alliance chose Aurora as the new location and permanent home for its 9/11 Freedom Rally event, a public festival that was held in Commerce City last year and aims to commemorate the victims of 9/11 as well as local first responders and military men and women who have lost their lives in conflicts since 2001.

The event will be held on Sept. 7, 8 and 9.

“Aurora has such strong military ties and such a strong community, and we’ve been very impressed with what the city has to offer,” said Michelle Mallin, community relations and projects manager for the Colorado Charity Alliance.

The organization is still in the preliminary stages of planning the event, but it’s expected to feature more than 100 vendors, a military jet flyover, a motorcycle rally, and local bands.

“Our goal is to reclaim the date of 9/11 not just as a day of mourning, but a day where we remember all of those who have served our neighborhoods and our nation,” Mallin said.

The Colorado Charity Alliance has about $10,000 worth of public donations in its coffers to put on the festival, and Mallin hopes to raise more money at the event to support military veteran charities and other causes for families of first responders who have lost their lives.

“We’re continuing to lose members of our first responder community and our active military community every day, but there are still veterans and families on the home front who need our help,” she said.

The first 9/11 Freedom Rally was held last year in Commerce City and it drew more than 10,000 people, featured 14 musical acts on three stages, 10,000 American flags, car and motorcycle shows, 140 vendor booths, 350 volunteers, and a motorcycle rally that 2,000 people participated in.

Gary Wheat, president of Visit Aurora, estimates that the event will result in about $2 million from out-of-town hotel and restaurant spending.

Reach reporter Sara Castellanos at 720-449-9036 or sara@aurorasentinel.com.