While we encourage you to check out what’s happening around C-U this weekend, please use precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you are out and about, please wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands, and most importantly, respect the people around you, especially the employees that work at these establishments.
Friday, August 21st
Send us your questions about voting, your house, all weekend, free
What do you want to know about voting in November’s election? We’re putting together a list of questions for our next installment of Ask Politely, so put on your thinking or anxiety cap and send those worries our way. We’ll do our best to answer them, or find the answers from our elected officials (or other official sources). Email us your questions. (JH)
Photo from the Drive-Thru Sweetcorn: A Virtual Urbana Sweetcorn Festival Event Facebook event page.
Get your sweetcorn, Drive-Thru Sweetcorn: A Virtual Urbana Sweetcorn Festival Event, 2 to 7 p.m., $5 donation
The corn event of the year is happening this weekend. Instead of the usual outdoor gathering, the Sweetcorn Festival will be a drive-through version at the Lincoln Square Mall. Stay in your car, buy some corn, and stay physically distant while still celebrating that sweet sweetcorn. Check out the Facebook event here. (AB)
Saturday, August 22nd
Fill out your census form, at home, all weekend, free
I know, I know. I’m tired of saying it just as much as you’re tired of hearing it. But just do it, okay? Reach out to people in your community who haven’t, and help them complete the form. (JH)
Photo by Maddie Rice.
Try a new park, locations vary, whenever, free
Have you seen our new series, Year of the Park? Each week we are highlighting parks throughout Champaign County, assessing what they have to offer, and hopefully encouraging you to go try one you’ve never been to before. My personal favorite is “cute snack of a park” Davidson Park. Hopefully you can find a new adventure this weekend. (JM)
Take a virtual story break with Rachel Lauren Storm, anytime, free
Young and young-at-heart book lovers will be transformed by the power of art as Urbana Arts & Culture Program Coodinator Rachel Lauren Storm reads Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell; and illustrated by Rafael López. Sponsored by the Urbana Free Library, Story Break is a series of community guest readings geared towards children ages 3 to 7. Watch this and previous video readings here. (DD)
Photo by Anna Longworth.
The Bashful Youngens, Pour Bros Craft Taproom, 7 to 10 p.m., free
Bashful Youngens are one of the staples of the Champaign-Urbana music scene these days, and the duo of Aaron Short and Carrie Chandler have a ton of material to be able to share with an audience. They play mostly originals, but do spalsh a few covers in there with their own spin on them. If the weather’s good, this is a nice option for Saturday. Wear your mask, though. (PS)
Sunday, August 23rd
Place your order for meat, UI’s Meat Science Laboratory, 11 a.m., prices vary
Offering cuts of beef, pork, sausages, and ground meat, the University of Illinois’ Meat Science Laboratory has great, local meat available for curbside pickup. Place your order on Sunday at 11, and then you can schedule a curbside pickup later in the week. (AB)
Image from Facebook.
Get caught up on the “We’ve Got Next” series online, anytime, free
If you missed the first two episodes of this important series which “highlights the work and research of faculty of color relevant to race and equality,” the good news is you can watch them the YouTube recordings here. Stay tuned to the page as additional recordings are added. (DD)
Learn Ikebana from Japan House, online, 4 p.m., free
Japan House continues their Japan House Shares series with a lesson in Ikebana, traditional Japanese flower arranging. Professor Emeritus Kimiko Gunji will share the history of the art form, then give a demonstration on how you can create an arrangement using plants, flowers, and other items in your house or yard. (JM)
Photo by Anna Longworth.
Chickadee Sermon and/or Soul on Sunday, Rose Bowl Tavern, 5 to 9 p.m., donations encouraged
Folk outfit Chickadee Sermon perform early on Sunday evening at Rose Bowl ahead of Soul on Sunday later that night. If you’re really looking to hang and watch a ton of live music on Sunday, Rose Bowl is your spot with an early and late show. (PS)
Top photo by Julie McClure.
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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.