What a week to be in Champaign-Urbana! Halloween lands on a Saturday, we all get an extra hour of sleep Sunday, and Dads Weekend fills the town with family the very next weekend. I went through every event on the community calendar and pulled out the very best. Let's go!
Max's three picks
1. Urbana Firefighters Trunk-or-Treat & Vehicle Show · Sat Oct 31, 11 am – 1:30 pm · The Vineyard Church, 1500 N. Lincoln Ave., Urbana. Candy, costumes and real fire trucks the kids can climb into. They'll talk about it all week!
2. Fighting Illini Football kicks off Dads Weekend · Fri Nov 6, 7 pm · Gies Memorial Stadium. Friday night lights, Illini fans and dads in town. Book dinner early!
3. Craft League of C-U Annual Art Fair · Sat–Sun Nov 7–8, 10 am – 4 pm · Savoy Recreation Center. Beautiful handmade pottery, glass, jewelry and woodwork, and the best head start on holiday gifts in the county!
Halloween weekend
- Fri Oct 30 – Sun Nov 1: Christmas Open House at Prairie Gardens (annual), 3000 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign. The holiday rooms are open early and they're gorgeous!
- Fri Oct 30, 5 pm: Hot Dogs and Goats at Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, Champaign. Supper on the farm with the goats, plus a 5:30 cheese tasting.
- Fri Oct 30, 7 pm: Haunts and Legends of UIUC at the Illini Union. Campus ghost stories told right where they happened.
- Fri Oct 30, 7:30 pm: Straight No Chaser at the Virginia Theatre. A cappella in one of the best old theaters in Illinois!
- Sat Oct 31, 7 am – noon: Urbana's Market at the Square (annual). One of the last outdoor Saturdays of the season. Go early for apples and baked goods.
- Sat Oct 31, 1 – 4 pm: Library trick-or-treat at Champaign Public Library (Howl-o-ween) and Urbana Free Library. A cozy indoor option.
- Sat Oct 31, 1 pm: Mt. Hope Cemetery Walk, Champaign. Some of the city's oldest stones and stories.
- Sat Oct 31, 7:30 pm: Sinfonia da Camera: Spellbound at Krannert Center. Halloween-night orchestra music!
- Sat Oct 31, 8:30 pm: Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Virginia Theatre. Costumes welcome. Such a fun night!
- Sun Nov 1, 9 am: Cupcake 5K at Carle at the Fields Trail. Run it or walk it, then enjoy the cupcake.
- Sun Nov 1, noon: How to Find an Owl in Your Neighborhood at Allerton Park, Monticello.
- Sun Nov 1, 1 pm: Día de Muertos at La Casa Cultural Latina, Urbana.
- Sun Nov 1, 1 pm: Holiday Open House & 10 Year Bash at Monticello Mercantile, the same weekend Merry on Main kicks off downtown.
- Through Nov 8: Hardy's Corn Maze (annual), Hardy's Reindeer Ranch, Rantoul. Last chance this season!
During the week
- Tue Nov 3, 10 am: Tuesdays at Ten: The Observatories of Chile at Champaign Public Library.
- Wed Nov 4, 4 pm: Allerton Mansion Library Dedication, Monticello.
- Wed Nov 4, 5:15 pm: Japanese Tea Ceremony at Japan House, Urbana.
- Thu Nov 5 – Sat Nov 7: Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Musical at the Virginia Theatre. Perfect for grade-schoolers!
- Thu Nov 5 – Sun Nov 8: Dear Evan Hansen at Parkland College's Miner Theatre.
Dads Weekend, Nov 6–8
- Fri Nov 6 – Sat Nov 7: CU Spinners and Weavers Guild Show and Sale (annual), Hessel Park Church, Champaign.
- Fri Nov 6, 6:30 pm: Allerton Supper Club, Monticello. Reserve ahead!
- Fri Nov 6, 7 pm: Fighting Illini Football, Gies Memorial Stadium. Go Illini!
- Sat Nov 7, 10 am: Curtis Orchard Family Day, Champaign. Cider donuts and family fun!
- Sat Nov 7, 1 pm: Explore Archeology Open House at the Museum of the Grand Prairie, Mahomet.
- Sat Nov 7, 6 pm: Diwali on the Quad, Bardeen Quad, Urbana. A beautiful night!
- Sat Nov 7, 7:30 pm: Varsity Men's Glee Club Dad's Day Concert (annual) at Krannert Center.
- Sat–Sun Nov 7–8: Christmas Shop Hop at shops across the area.
- Sun Nov 8, 3 pm: S'mores Social at King Park, Urbana.
For homeowners: fall back, then test!
Clocks go back an hour Sunday, Nov 1. While you're resetting the oven clock, press the test button on every smoke and CO alarm and swap any batteries that chirp.
See you next Thursday!
A brand-new list lands every Thursday afternoon, so check back and pass it along to friends. There's always something great going on in this town! And if you're curious what your home would bring this winter, I'd love to come by sometime next week and take a look. Call or text me at (217) 369-0376.
Max Mitchell, REMAX Realty Associates
Event details from the Experience Champaign-Urbana Calendar of Events. Times can change, so check the event page before you head out.
