FRIDAY, May 6th
San Fermin, Elsinore, The Besnard Lakes, J Fernandez, The Accord, 7 p.m., $12 Advance / $15 Door
Elsinore are coming out of their hibernation to play what is sure to be a fantastic Friday night show. They’ll be joined by always-exciting San Fermin and The Besnard Lakes, all of which are some of the most innovative musicians in the world. It’s gonna be a good one, folks (BH)
CU Ballet presents Coppelia, The Virginia Theatre, 7 p.m., $24 adult / $12 child
The week before his wedding to his childhood sweetheart, a small-town boy is entranced by the mysterious, beautiful, and silent daughter of the local eccentric. Highlighting the acting talents of UofI theatre student and dancer, Luke Worland, as the strange Dr. Coppelius, CU Ballet presents its Mother’s Day weekend performance. (RK)
Have some blueberry ale, Triptych or Sipyard, all weekend, about $5
These Aren’t the Blueberries You’re Looking For, a tart blueberry ale, is one of my favorite Triptych creations. And since the Fourth was just with us, it seems fitting. In fact, you could pick up a four pack of these cans, and have a Star Wars marathon. Or not. Suit yourself. Photo from Sipyard’s Facebook page. (JH)
SATURDAY, May 7th
Market at the Square, corner of Illinois and Vine, Urbana, 7 a.m. to noon, prices vary
Urbana’s Saturday farmer’s market kicks off the season this weekend. Summer is on the way! There isn’t going to be a whole ton of produce, but there will be some. You can also find breakfast, meats, eggs, cheeses, plants, and crafts. Bring the kids, check it out. Leave your furry family members at home. Image from Facebook. (JH)
Herb and Native Plant Sale, Lincoln Square Mall, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., free
Who doesn’t love an herb or two? The Champaign-Urbana Herb Society is hosting its annual herb plant sale alongside the annual native plant sale. Proceeds from herb sales go toward book donations to area libraries, mini-grants to schools, and an educational public herb garden at Meadowbrook Park. (RP)
Buy a new (used) bike, Champaign Cycle, 506 S Country Fair Dr, Champaign, 10 – 5 p.m.
Bikes are fun. But they can be expensive. If you’re in the mood for some new wheels this is a good time to check out what Champaign Cycle has to offer. If you’re looking to donate a bike you can do so as well. All donations will help to fun the new bike trail being built from Champaign to Kickapoo. More info on the Facebook page. (SL)
Free Comic Book Day, Champaign & Urbana locations, all day, FREE.
FCBD is celebrating its 15th year, and in C-U, fans will have opportunities to socialize, show off costumes, and get free books at three locations throughout town. G-Mart Comics in Champaign, Action Jackson Comics in Urbana, and Champaign Public Library will all be hosting all-day events featuring costume contests, giveaways, and sales. CPL will also be hosting a short pub-style trivia set from 12:30-1:30 p.m., with prizes from both comic shops. It should be a super time! (RK)
Juleps and Jockeys, Jupiter’s at the Crossing, 4-7 p.m., $25 advance, $30 at the door
The Junior League of Champaign-Urbana is hosting their fourth annual Juleps and Jockeys Derby Day fundraiser at Jupiter’s at the Crossing. Guests are encouraged to wear their Kentucky Derby best and cheer for their favorite equine during the greatest two minutes in sports. Although the race is scheduled for 5:24 P.M. CDT, there will be a silent auction, light appetizers, a raffle, and a photo booth to keep guests entertained after they’ve either been disappointed or encouraged to keep on playing the ponies. Even if you bet and lose, you can feel good that you’ve helped out an organization that supports community projects, mainly those related to helping kids get ready for school. You can order the discounted advance tickets here. (EJ)
SUNDAY, May 8th
Go on a bird walk, Anita Purves Center, 1505 N. Broadway, Urbana, free
For night owls the Anita Purves center offers owl prowls. But for the early birds, they offer bird walks. Join the Audubon Society on a morning stroll through Busey Woods learning about the birds that inhabit the area. (SL)
Echoes of Emmett The Teen Public Showcase, Orpheum Children’s Science Museum, 6 p.m., free
The Echoes of Emmett The Teen Public Showcase brings together middle- through high-school-aged students from across the community to create art around themes related to the Emmett Till story. The Echoes of Emmett workshops are a collaboration between local teens with the most vibrant local artists, painters, performance artists, rappers, film producers, professors, teachers, African American historians and Black Lives Matter activists to create works to be showcased to the larger community. (RP)
Call your mom; tell her that you love her, Anywhere you want, any time.
If you’re lucky enough to have your mom around this Mother’s Day, try to spend some time with her. Buy her flowers or a beer or something; take her to brunch at one of our fine C-U establishments. Tell her thank you for bringing you into this world and raising you and stuff like that. (BH)
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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.