FRIDAY, July 1st
Backyard Jams, The Accord, 9 p.m., Free
Kirkwood West and Reed Richards will be taking over the back patio of The Accord tonight for some free tasty jams. If good vibes are your thing, the weather should make this evening filled with them, so come out, have a few drinks, and get your chill on. (BH)
Reds, Whites, & the Blues, Allerton Park, 6 – 9 p.m., $5/person or $10/family
This is a classic evening of outdoor live music, perfectly paired with reds and whites from Von Jakob Vineyard’s wines (and wine slushies). Tara Terra play from 6 – 7 p.m., and the Laurie Morvan Band play from 7 – 9 p.m. You can also grab additional drinks and food from the variety of food trucks that will be in attendance. (RP)
Expressions IV, Institute 4 Creativity, 7 p.m., $17
This is the fourth installment of Expressions, a recurring event showcasing multi-media art created by local underground talent with a shared theme of experimental and psychedelic expression. The aim is a multi-sensory experience in a comfortable space. Live music will feature violin visionary, Dixon’s Violin, among other acts. There will also be musical video projections, live painting, Reiki sessions and yoga, and glass blowing demonstrations. Expressions captures what I4C is all about in one colorful evening. (JM)
SATURDAY, July 2nd
Buy some fruits, Urbana’s Market at the Square, 7 a.m. to noon, about $5
Last weekend I bought some peaches, black raspberries, and strawberries at the market. They were a little pricey compared to grocery store prices, but they were so much better. Those black raspberries were amazing, and you’re not going to find those at Schnuck’s. I was surprised, too, that the peaches were as awesome as they were, since it seems a little early in the season for them. Local fruit is amazing. Treat yourself this holiday weekend. Photo by Jessica Hammie. (JH)
Audiofeed Music Festival, Champaign County Fairgrounds, 7 a.m. Friday – 10 p.m. Sunday, $35 and up
Audiofeed is one of the most diverse and engaging festivals in the C-U area. The fest includes performances by dozens of bands, ranging in genre from metal to indie to Christian rock. Audiofeed also features all sorts of non-music events, including art workshops, book readings, social discussions, and a whole lot more – check the website for more details. Tickets are available for one day or full-festival, and there is also a camping option. With such a massive lineup, it’s sure to have something for everyone. (JM)
Go outside before it rains, Homer Lake, 7 a.m.-10 p.m., FREE
Nobody wants to hear it, but it’s likely — forecast calls for rain this weekend except for Saturday. Still, it’s a long weekend, so spend some of it outdoors. I suggest Homer Lake for hikes and trails and general good times, and they even loan out GPS units for geocaching. (RK)
CobraFest, The Loose Cobra, 3 p.m., $25
HUM is playing in Tolono, at the establishment owned by the lead singer Matt Talbott. If you enjoy rock music, you should be here for this. No questions asked.
You can drink really cold beer and watch some live music with friends. It will be really great. That is all, over and out. (PS)
Interact with tropical birds, Champaign Public LIbrary, 3 p.m., free
Wings of Wonder is back and bringing you a handful of tropical birds that are colorful and talkative. The Wings of Wonder is an Avian Rescue nonprofit organization based in Mahomet that helps educate poeple about adopting and caring for exotic pets. Check out this photo article we ran last year. (SL)
Arther fireworks and more, Arther, IL 4 – 10 p.m., free
Arthur Illinois is a large-small town about 45 minutes away from C-U. The largest draw to Arthur is that is has a large Amish population who live, work and sell goods in the town, making it a unique cultural experience to visit. There are open air, fresh food markets, hand made wood furnishings, comfort food restaurants and a lot of open air and farmland. It is truly somewhere worth visiting. In addition to this great little pocket of American culture, Arthur has one of the largest firework displays in the state that is happening this Saturday in Jurgen’s Park. But it’s not just fireworks, there are also helicopter rides, kid games, food stands, powered parachuters, WWII aircraft flyovers, sky divers, tishirt tosses, and much much more. Go out and spend the afternoon and evening in Arthur for a truly unique experience paired with a dope firework display.
Spindependence DJ Fest + BBQ, 105 N. Market St. Champaign, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. (Saturday) and 1 p.m. – 2 a.m. (Sunday), free
Every year Spindependence gets better and better, and this year looks to be no exception. The event features two full days of music, drinks, and food from Seven Saints. More than a dozen local and regional DJs will show off their skills. Happy hours (4 – 6 p.m. on Saturday and 2 – 4 p.m. on Sunday) include a complimentary drink while supplies last. (RP)
Ice Cream and Independence, The Virginia Theatre, 5 p.m., $8-$20, FREE for all veterans & active military service members.
I don’t really love a parade, but I do love a brass band (on occasion) and I do love ice cream (or in this case, frozen yogurt). TCBY is providing sundaes to ticketholders outside the theatre for 90 minute before the concert starts at 7 p.m. Jim Turpin will emcee an evening showcasing our local military personnel, with a concert by the C-U Civic Wind Band. It’s the perfect pre-game for fireworks. (RK)
SUNDAY, July 3rd
Buy some grillin’ meats, Common Ground Food Co-op, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., prices vary but plenty on sale
It’s the 4th of July weekend, and that means: ‘Murica, meat, grills, explosives, and flag things. Common Ground has plenty of meat on sale, including 20% off brats, chicken, ribs, and ground beef. There are also a lot of options for non-meat eaters, as well as pre-made salads, desserts, and of snackies for your celebratory cookout. Image from Facebook. (JH)
MONDAY, July 4th
Watch some fireworks, free
This is what you do on the 4th of July, eat foods and watch explosions. Check out Sam’s post (linked above) about where you can watch fireworks and get out there. (PS)
Go fishing, free (if you have a license), any body of water where fishing is allowed, any time (preferably during the day)
Last weekend I went fishing, and it was the most relaxing time I’ve had in quite some time. What better way to celebrate our independence than chilling by the river and trying to catch some fish? I can’t think of one. (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.