It’s been 12 years since a gunman opened fire in a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” at a theater in Aurora.

On July 20, 2012, the gunman took 12 lives. Seventy more were injured but survived — and the lives of countless others were upended.

Those who died that day were: Jonathan Blunk, 26, Alexander J. Boik, 18, Jesse Childress, 29, Gordon Cowden, 51, Jessica Ghawi (also went by Jessica Redfield), 24, John Larimer, 27, Matt McQuinn, 27, Micayla Medek, 23, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6, Alex Sullivan, 27, Alexander C. Teves, 24, and Rebecca Wingo, 32.

The day after the shooting at the Aurora Century 16 theater 12 years ago Saturday, people gathered near the theater and held a candlelight vigil for those affected, according to Heather Dearman, the CEO of the 7/20 Memorial Foundation. 

Since then, a vigil has happened every year at midnight on the anniversary of the shooting, remembering those who lost their lives. 

This year, it will happen from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday at the 7/20 Memorial in the Aurora Water Wise Garden, 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy. The vigil will be prefaced by a survivor reception at the Aurora Municipal Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

It will be an open house gathering with food and those interested should RSVP on the website.

Paired with the vigil, a Saturday event brings together artists, musicians and community resource providers to honor the anniversary of the shooting.

“It gives me hope, seeing the community come together and see that everyone is there for each other and comforting each other,” Dearman said. “I see and hear from a lot of people who come to the event about how healing it is for them.”

This weekend, Aurora is hosting a series of events in annual remembrance of the Aurora theater shooting in 2012.

The events will happen at Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy. on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. sponsored by the 7/20 Memorial Foundation, which hosts the Day of Resilience every year on the anniversary of the shooting. 

The foundation called it a day of “healing and sharing and family fun.”

At 8 a.m. Saturday, the Heroes Run 5K will take off from the Municipal Center. The run was organized by shooting survivor, firefighter and former NFL player Zack Golditch. 

Money from the 5K will go toward an athletic scholarship for an Aurora Public Schools student. There will also be a Kids Run. 

From 8 a.m. to noon, the Reflection Garden on Tap festival will have beer from local breweries, food trucks, live music from School of Rock and booths from organizations who assist with healing.

Chalk artists will be drawing live in the memorial garden throughout the event, with art representing the theme of resilience.

The event is free and wristbands for the beer garden are $35 on the organization’s website or $40 at the event.