FRIDAY, July 29th
Eat a corn dog at the County Fair, Champaign County Fairgrounds, 6 p.m., All Ages
There’s a demolition derby at 6:30, plus all the fun of corn dogs and a beer tent (there is a beer tent, right?). Those right there are three of my top five favorite things. I’m not sure what more you could ask for on a Friday night in summertime Champaign-Urbana, honestly. (BH)
Lonely Trailer (+ Bookmobile & more), The Accord, 9 p.m., $7
Paint My House, you guys, it’s time to call Sherwin and Williams. Jimmy, You’re Not a Werewolf. And bona fide incredible stage banter. If you’ve never experienced the thrill of shouting “You are blue and full of water” then it’s past time that you do. Even if you have, I encourage everyone out there to seize this particular day. Bookmobile, Mercy Bangs, and Risky Casanovas will also be there, which is a lot of bang for seven bucks. (RK)
Plank’s Amish Mustard & Pekara Bread Tasting, 11:30 – 2:30 p.m., Crossroads Corner Consignment, free
Crossroads Consignment is offering a tasting of Plank’s Amish Mustard with an assortment of breads, including the amazing pretzel bread sticks, from Pekara Bakery and Bistro. Enter to win gift cards and other prizes while browsing old and new wares at Crossroads. (RP)
Go to a great neighborhood bar, Hubers, 1312 W Church St., Champaign, 8 p.m.
We have a lot of great neighborhood bars in C-U and Hubers is one of the best. There are drinks, a small food menu, candy, a few televisions, outdoor seating, darts, wifi and a whole bunch of regulars. Plus there will be live music. Check out this gem this weekend. (SL)
SATURDAY, July 30th
Relay for Life, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Hessel Park
Support the American Cancer Society with a series of events and fundraisers at Hessel Park, including opening ceremony, survivor ceremony, and the luminary lap at dark. Kids’ activities will take place throughout the day and bands will play onstage. Rumor has it there will even be laser tag. (SL)
BBQ and Live Music Party, Strawberry Fields, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., free (music is free)
Do you do your shopping with earbuds in? Well, if you shop at Strawberry Fields this Saturday afternoon, you won’t need to. The store will be hosting a lunchtime barbeque, and Mike & Olivia and The Chickadee Sermon will be playing a little folk music to go with your burger. Strawberry Fields works hard to provide C-U with healthy, locally-sourced food that tastes delicious, so an awesome spread is a sure thing. Take your weekly grocery run here and you won’t regret it. (JM)
Eat at Golden Harbor, all weekend, 4 to 9 p.m., about $15 per person
Did you miss Golden Harbor when the restaurant was closed last week? I did. Grab a group of friends and treat yourself to a lovely meal; Golden Harbor is a fantastic brunch alternative. Also, after all that hub bub with The Bitchy Waiter’s post about the table cleaning fee, let’s show C-U’s most beloved restaurant how much we do love it. Photo by Jessica Hammie. (JH)
PechaKucha v21, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts (Lobby), 8:20 p.m., FREE
Not wanting to slow the momentum from v20, CUDO is bringing PKN back to KCPA and has asked Kelly White to emcee. DJ Mertz will be providing the mood music, and there will even be a photo booth. 18+ recommended for this event that may get saucy, especially since Stage 5 Bar will be open for business. (RK)
Nashville hot sandwich, Watson’s, late night until 2 a.m. (but also available during regular business hours by request), about $8
Looking for a kick in the face (and guts), but not a full-on fight? Watson’s Nashville hot sandwich is just what you need. It’s delicious. The bread helps with the burning hotness of the spice, and you don’t have to get your hands all dirty and burny with spicy sauce. It’s a win-win. Order with some adult slushie(s), and you, my friend, are having a great night. Photo from Watson’s Facebook page. (JH)
Adult Swim Night, 8 – 10 p.m., Sholem Aquatic Center, $4
It’s hot as hell, so get in the water as soon as possible this weekend. This event is a great time to check out the beauty of Sholem Aquatic Center without dealing with kids’ freakouts. Child care is available for $35 for residents (two children). (RP)
Dub Foundation, The Accord, 8 p.m., $10, 19+
If you haven’t been paying attention lately (and I can’t say I blame you), the world is a pretty crazy place as of late. In times like this, feeling good vibes are important, and Dub Foundation’s reggae music may provide enough positivity to get you through the night, at least. We could all use some chill vibes, right? (BH)
SUNDAY, July 31st
Teenage Ghosts Album Viewing Party, Library House, 7 p.m., free/donations suggested
The shoegaze/drone band Teenage Ghosts are releasing their first album in five years. Called Revelations, it’s going to be a doozy, and Library House is hosting an album viewing party for it on Sunday. Featuring a plethora of other heavy and heady bands as introduction, the album viewing is wrapping up the evening with an audio-visual presentation set to mesmerize you. It’ll be a total trip. (JM)
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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.