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, July 24th
Check out the Jupiter Quartet live from Smith Memorial Hall,, online, 4 to 5 p.m., free
Photo by Anna Longworth.
Joe Stamm Band, Pour Bros Craft Taproom patio, 8:30 p.m., free
Looking for some country/rock tunes for your Friday night in Downtown Champaign? Check out what Pour Bros is serving up with Joe Stamm Band on their outdoor stage. Free of charge, so find yourself some space on the patio and enjoy. (PS)
Saturday, July 25th
Image from Facebook.
Put on a mask and drive to an in-person art and music festival in Fairmount, Illinois, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free
With many spring and early summer arts festivals turning to digital formats, Sleepy Creek Vineyard’s Art & Music Festival, is a rare chance to experience the arts live (and from a safe, social distance). There’s plenty of room to spread out plus a full menu of art and music to enjoy both Saturday and Sunday. Note that Sunday’s hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. So mask up, get out of the city, and enjoy. (DD)
Get a lemon cookie, Cafe Kopi, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., about $2
I miss the days of sitting in a cozy corner of Cafe Kopi with my laptop, but thankfully I can still grab my favorite treats curbside, and maybe even sit at a sidewalk table for a while, when it’s not 800 degrees outside. A couple of weeks ago I tried their lemon cookie, and it was truly delightful. I highly recommend. (JM)
Photo from Buy Black Chambana Facebook page.
Check out the new Urban Market, 303 W. Kirby, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., prices vary
Buy Black Chambana is hosting the Urban Market on six Saturdays throughout the summer, as part of the Let’s CU Shop Small events. If you’re looking to support Black owned businesses, this is a great way to see what C-U has to offer. (JM)
Try some free cheese, World Harvest International and Gourmet Foods, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free
Get out of the house and head to World Harvest International and Gourmet Foods in Urbana. They’re offering free cheese tasting all day, so feel free to go whenever is convenient for you and your cheese-hungry tummy. (AB)
Photo from the Facebook event page.
Sunshine Daydream, Rose Bowl Tavern’s outdoor stage, 5:30 p.m., $10
While I’m not the biggest fan of the Grateful Dead, I can certainly get behind this sort of environment on a Saturday night in Downtown Urbana with Sunshine Daydream performing. Rose Bowl has been doing a terrific job with their social distancing policies to keep everyone safe while still providing live music to their loyal customers. Now that the shows are outside, they are starting a little bit earlier, so keep your eye out in case you are in a time crunch on Saturday. (PS)
Play some Bingo, Boomerangs, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., free
Try some bingo with COVID measures: touchless app, disposable markers, masks, and more. This bingo event is held in the outdoor seating of Boomerangs Bar and Grill with drink specials like $2.25 Natty Light and $5 Jager boom bombs. (AB)
Sunday, July 26th
Image from YouTube.
Enjoy some Super Happy Awesome News, anytime, free.
Step away from the real news and check out this fabulously fun virtual musical put on by Class Act and available on YouTube. Directed and edited by Jaclyn Loewenstein and performed by students from her Virtual Musical Production Camp, Super Happy Awesome News follows two siblings as they “launch rival good news networks” and compete for the title of “happiest news show.” That’s the kind of sibling rivalry we can all get behind these days. (DD)
Get an education about Black education, online, 4 to 5:30 p.m., free
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.