Friday, December 9th
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
Eat some cheesy chicken flautas, El Paraiso, noon to 3 p.m., $11.25
Make it a Flauta Friday and chow down on these amazing flautas at El Paraiso in Downtown Urbana. These three flautas are perfectly crispy and served piping hot with a cheesy chicken filling, plus sides of rice, beans, and pico de gallo. If you can’t make it for lunch, the restaurant opens back for dinner at 4 p.m. and stays open until 8 p.m. (AB)
See a holiday movie at the drive-in, Harvest Moon Drive-In, 6:30 p.m., prices vary
This weekend is the last opportunity to catch a drive-in movie before Harvest Moon closes for the season. Friday and Saturday they will be showing The Grinch That Stole Christmas (the Jim Carrey one) and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The nice thing about going to these late in the season movies is they start early! Gates open at 5 p.m., showtime is at 6:30 p.m. The concession stand will have hot chocolate and cider and other seasonal treats, and there will be a lighted walk. You might even see Santa and the Grinch. Get your tickets here. I recommend paying the extra $10 for a front row spot. (JM)
See Homegrown: An Insurrection Play, Station Theatre, 7:30 p.m. (both on Friday + Saturday), $15
SP contributor and all-around incredible thinker and writer Nicole Anderson-Cobb’s play Homegrown: An Insurrection Play only has a few seats left for the Friday and Saturday night performances. The play explores the January 6th insurrection through the lens of a church community. For more info about the play and Anderson-Cobb, read Julie’s recent interview. Watch the trailer above. (JH)
Saturday, December 10th
Road trip to Normal for Destihl’s Christkindl Market, Destihl Brewery, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., bring $ to shop
Shop from dozens of artisans and makers while enjoying live music, cookie decorating, hot cocoa and more. If you can’t make it on Saturday, you can also stop by on Sunday during the same hours. (DD)
Photo from the NORDEN at Home Facebook page.
Check out the Winterfest Holiday Pop-Up Shop, Norden German Design Studio, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., bring $ to shop
This three-day holiday pop-up is brought to you from the founders of the Mistletoe Market, NORDEN at Home, and will also feature photography by Anna Longworth, jewelry by Dawn Manire, and goods from Berries and Flour Harvest Goods. Click here for more information, including Friday and Sunday hours. (DD)
Meet Santa Goat and eat cheese, Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, 1 to 4 p.m., bring $ for food and shopping
Enjoy a festive time at the Prairie Fruits Farm with Santa goat. There will be wine and cheese available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Cakes & Bakes by Kate will be there, too, serving sweet treats like apple pies made with Meyer Produce apples, cookies, and gluten-free jammy fruit bars. At 3 p.m., there will be a special wine tasting. (AB)
Photo provided by the Independent Media Center.
Celebrate the new stage at the IMC, Independent Media Center, Urbana, 4:30 p.m., free
The IMC recently built a new stage with the help of the Twin City Theatre Company and the U of I Department of Theatre. To celebrate the remodeling, the IMC is hosting a concert this Saturday. The lineup of performers includes Jaz, Jordan, Ibrahim Ouedraogo, Matt & Claire, and more. There will also be storytelling, dance, poetry, and the IMC is kind enough to provide a free dinner at 6 p.m. (SW)
Sunday, December 11th
Photo from pexels.com.
Shop the Chanukah Showcase, Sinai Temple Gift Shop, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., cost varies
Chanukah begins on December 18th, and Sinai Temple Gift Shop has everything you might need for your celebration at their annual Chanukah Showcase. Be sure to bring cash or checks with you. You can use a credit card for purchases over $25. (JM)
Compete in a puzzle race, Champaign Public Library, 1-3 p.m., free, but registration required
Teams of four people will compete to complete a 500-piece puzzle. Up to ten teams can complete, so grab three friends and get your team registered. The race is open to all ages, so it might be a fun whole family activity. (JH)
Photo from Dino Bravo’s Facebook page.
Reconnect with a reunited band, Brass Rail, 8 p.m., free
An old favorite band, Dino Bravo will be reuniting for a show this Sunday. The bass/drum duo hasn’t played a show in years, and it may be a while before they play again, so seize this opportunity and come out Sunday. Joining the band is two other great rock groups Yap Trap and Colonel James Presents. (SW)
Top photo from Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery Instagram.
_______
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.