Friday, September 16th
Top image screenshot from the YouTube trailer.
Watch The Princess Bride, The Literary, 6 p.m., free but you should buy some drinks and snacks
The Literary is screening book-inspired movies, and first up in this new programming is The Princess Bride. It’s a classic, and this will be fun for the entire family (and not too late!). (JH)
Celebrate El Grito de Independencia, Maize at The Station, 7 to 10 p.m., $10
This Friday night, Maize is hosting a celebration party for El Grito De Independencia, Mexico’s Independence Day, on September 16th. There will be live music, arts vendors, and folklorico dancers in addition to delicious Mexican food and drinks from Maize’s taco truck and patio bar. Check out all the deets here. (AB)
Enjoy Pure Imagination at Urbana High School, 7 p.m., $10
The Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company’s Penguin Project presents a family-friendly musical revue featuring music from Seussical, Shrek: The Musical, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast and more. The Penguin Project creates access to community theatre for special needs kids. Be the audience these young thespians deserve. Get ticket information here. (DD)
Photo from The Great Cover Up’s Facebook page.
Celebrate the return of The Great Cover Up, Rose Bowl Tavern, 8:30 p.m. $15
After a two year absence, The Great Cover Up returns. Local bands perform cover sets of famous bands to raise money for local charities. Loads of fun for a great cause. The event technically started last night (Thursday), but you’ve still got Friday night and Saturday night to attend. Tonight’s performers include Whiskey Shadow, Modern Drugs, Curb Service, Chase Baby, and Los Guapos with Brandon T. Washington. (SW)
Saturday, September 17th
Photo from the Facebook event page.
Learn to dye fibers naturally, Forest Glen Preserve, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., $10
C-U Spinners and Weavers is hosting a Natural Dye Day at Forest Glen Preserve. Participants are asked to bring ½ ounce samples (wool or other protein fibers) to dye, but these will also be available to purchase ($3). You’ll dye your fibers in pots over an open flame, which sounds very badass. Bring lunch, a chair, and something to do; additional details are available on the Facebook event page. (JH)
Shop the West Side Arts Fair, West Side Park, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., bring $ to shop
It’s not every day you get to witness the start of a new arts festival. Featured vendors include Cindy Blair Sampson (see a crop of her painting above), Barry Callahan, Darin Doty and many more. Check out the full list here. Come shop and show your support. Let’s make sure this becomes a new fall tradition. (DD)
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
Try pad lard nar, Sticky Rice, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., $14.95
This weekend, you might want to try my favorite dish at Sticky Rice, the mother-daughter owned Lao-Thai restaurant in Downtown Champaign. Pad lard nar is just sauced up noodles with broccoli and yu choy, but there is something seriously incredible about these deep-fried noodles. Check out my review of Sticky Rice that published earlier this week for more about this dish and other food on the menu. (AB)
Catch Incident at Kickapoo Creek, Virginia Theatre, 7 p.m., $10
The Virginia Theatre kicks off it’s 2022-2023 season with a screening of the documentary Incident at Kickapoo Creek, about the Woodstock-inspired Kickpoo Creek Rock Festival held in Heyworth in 1970. Get there early for a street festival featuring a variety of local musical acts as well as food trucks. The party begins at 5 p.m. (JM)
Sunday, September 18th
Photo from Facebook event page.
Celebrate Oktoberfest, Riggs Taproom, 12 to 8 p.m., bring money for beer and food
Fall is upon us, and that means Oktoberfest is too. Riggs is hosting their version from Thursday through Sunday. There will be live music, and some of your favorite food trucks will be adding German fare to their menus. And of course, there will be beer. Check out the full schedule of events on the Facebook event page. (JM)
Hear a great musical combo, Rose Bowl Tavern, 3 p.m., free
Fiddle Sax Fusion Band is just what it sounds like — a fiddle and a saxophone (with percussion as well). The group consists of Brian and Jesse Stark alongside Stephen Busath on percussion. On Sunday night, the group will be celebrating the release of their album Grumbling, Growling, and Other Pandemic Breakdowns, which you can read our review of here. The album is only available in physical copies, so come pick one up at the show. (SW)
Top photo from the 40 North website.
______
All event information is accurate to the best of our abilities, but sometimes we make mistakes and sometimes event information, times, prices, etc., change after we look them up. Whenever possible, we’ve provided a link to the original event page; you should always double-check the source before you make any firm plans. Thanks for your understanding.