Press & News
Stay tuned for the upcoming news about what's happening in the greater Champaign-Urbana area!
2025
MAy 13—CU on the trail passport launches, highlighting hiking trails across central illinois
Experience Champaign-Urbana launched their fourth experience pass, this time featuring hiking and biking trails across the greater Champaign-Urbana area. The pass—CU on the Trail—features over 55 trails stretching 100 miles. LEARN MORE.
MARCH 11—IHSA Boys state basketball tournament set to play at state farm center
Returning with a new format, over 37,000 fans are expected to attend the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Boys State Basketball Tournament at the State Farm Center in Champaign, March 13–15. Sixteen teams representing four classes will compete across 16 games over three action-packed days of basketball. LEARN MORE.
February 17—ISHA state wrestling championships continue to generate significant impact
High school wrestlers from across the state will prepare for the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Wrestling Individual State Championships, February 20–22. Over 650 wrestlers from 250 high schools will compete this weekend at the State Farm Center, with hopes to make it under the spotlight for the championship match. LEARN MORE.
FEBRUARY 3—first community bus tour launched for champaign county african american heritage trail
The Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation is excited to announce the inaugural Champaign County African American Heritage Trail Bus Tour on Monday, February 17, offering residents and visitors an immersive journey through the rich history of the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail. LEARN MORE.
January 21—champaign-urbana area restaurant week returns for ninth year with record participation
The 9th annual Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week, presented by Experience Champaign-Urbana, returns with a record number of participants. The nine-day celebration of our award-winning culinary scene, held January 24–February 1, 2025, includes options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert at 63 locations across 59 local restaurants. LEARN MORE.
January 7—cu mocktail trail launches, highlighting crafted alcohol-free beverages
Experience Champaign-Urbana launched their third experience pass, this time highlighting mocktails in the greater Champaign area. The pass—CU Mocktail Trail—features over 20 bars and restaurants that have thoughtfully curated a mocktail menu to meet the growing desire for alcohol-free cocktails. LEARN MORE.
2024
December 16—sport inspired by quidditch hosts national qualifier in champaign county
Quadball, the real-life sport inspired by the magical game of Quidditch, is hosting a national qualifier right here in Champaign County. On March 8–9, it will be brooms up at the Rantoul Family Sports Complex as 18 college and adult club Quadball teams from across the country compete for qualification spots at the US Quadball Cup 2025. LEARN MORE.
december 9—champaign-made holiday films available to stream
On behalf of Flyover Film Studios, the Champaign County Film Office, a part of Experience Champaign-Urbana, is thrilled to showcase locally-made films for audiences to enjoy this holiday season. LEARN MORE.
OCTOBER 23—champaign-made halloween season films available to stream
On behalf of Flyover Film Studios, the Champaign County Film Office, a part of Experience Champaign-Urbana, is thrilled to showcase locally-made films for audiences to enjoy this Halloween season. LEARN MORE.
OCTOBER 17—black businesses in urbana to be recognized with new sign on the champaign county african american heritage trail
The Champaign County African American Heritage Trail and the Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation will unveil an additional sign in downtown Urbana at 120 W. Main St. on Tuesday, October 22 at 1:30 p.m. LEARN MORE.
october 7—champaign county african american heritage trail unveils new signs in douglass park and savoy
The Champaign County African American Heritage Trail and the Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation will unveil three signs this week. The first unveiling of two signs will take place at 2:00 p.m. on October 9 at the Champaign Public Library Douglass Branch located in Douglass Park. The second unveiling will take place at 2:00 p.m. on October 11 at Burwash Park in Savoy. LEARN MORE.
AUGUST 26—FILM CHAMpaign-urbana to host workshop for local artists
Film Champaign-Urbana, a part of Experience Champaign-Urbana, will host their third in a series of workshops focusing on the film industry in the region—“So You Want to be a Film Artist?” on August 29, 5:30–6:30 p.m. at the Champaign Public Library. Co-hosted with 40 North, Flyover Film Studios, Shatterglass Films, and The Line Film Co., this workshop will discuss how productions work with local artists and what they need to know to be successful. All forms of artwork are needed for film productions. LEARN MORE.
August 19—Economic Impact Data Shows Increased Local Impact of Travel & Tourism to Champaign-Urbana Area
Experience Champaign-Urbana (ECU) receives annual data on the economic impact of travel and tourism to East Central Illinois, from available jobs to local taxes generated from direct visitor spending. Recently received 2023 data (January 1–December 31, 2023) showed significant increases across spending, job growth, and taxes generated for the local economy. LEARN MORE.
August 8—Champaign County African American Heritage Trail Murals Underway
The work of four nationally-recognized artists contracted for murals for the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail is under way this August
and September. LEARN MORE.
June 26—Beep Baseball to Hold Annual Tournament for Visually-Impaired in Savoy
Prairie Fields Park in Savoy will host three teams for the Annual Savoy Beep Baseball Tournament, July 6 from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Hosted by the National Beep Baseball Association and supported by the local Lions Clubs, the tournament is an adaptive version of baseball for the blind, low-vision, and legally blind. LEARN MORE.
May 7—Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation to Honor Local Tourism Trailblazers at Annual Toast to Tourism
The Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation will celebrate the hospitality industry, alongside stakeholders and partners at the 11th Annual Toast to Tourism, May 15 from 4:00–6:00 p.m. at Carmon’s. During the event, the Foundation will honor five trailblazers with Tourism Impact Awards for their contributions in making the greater Champaign-Urbana area a better place to live, work, and visit. LEARN MORE.
March 18—Art in CU Passport Launches Showcasing Local Public Art
Experience Champaign-Urbana launched their second experience pass highlighting public art in the greater Champaign-Urbana area. The pass—Art in CU—features 200 pieces of public art from murals to sculpture in our parks, urban districts, and the University of Illinois campus. LEARN MORE.
March 12—Middle School Basketball Championships Set to Make Large Impact in Champaign-Urbana Area
The Champaign-Urbana area will host the Illinois Middle School Basketball Championships for the third time this March 15–17, 2024. There are 178 boys and girls’ teams representing 4th–8th grade in club and school divisions will compete for the championship at University of Illinois Campus Recreation’s Activities & Recreation Center (ARC), the Champaign Park District’s Leonhard Recreation Center and Martens Center, St. Thomas More High School, and St. Malachy Catholic School and JW Eater Jr. High, both in Rantoul. LEARN MORE.
March 5—IHSA Boys State Basketball Tournament Returns to State Farm Center
Following a successful tournament in 2023 with over 40,000 fans in attendance, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Boys State Basketball Tournament will return to the State Farm Center in Champaign, March 7–9. Sixteen teams representing four classes will compete across sixteen games over three action-packed days of basketball. LEARN MORE.
February 28—Grant Awarded Champaign County Film Studio to Build Soundstage
Governor Pritzker announced the awardees of the Illinois Soundstage Capital Grant Program through the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, including Champaign County business, Flyover Film Studios, LLC to develop a soundstage in Rantoul. Flyover Film Studios was founded by local filmmakers, Luke Boyce, Brett Hays, and Jennifer Shelby of Shatterglass Films, Dustin Hoke of Dustin Hoke Services and Rob Stern and Sarah Sharp of The Line Film Company. The team has been working behind the scenes on this endeavor since Spring 2022. LEARN MORE.
February 5—Film Champaign-Urbana to Host Workshop on Becoming a Film Location
Film Champaign-Urbana, a part of Experience Champaign-Urbana will host the first in a series of workshops focusing on the film industry in the region—“So You Want to be a Film Location?” on February 28, 5:00–6:00 p.m. at the Champaign Public Library. Co-hosted with Shatterglass Films and The Line Film Co., this workshop will share the good, the bad, and the real about offering your residence or business as potential for a film, commercial, or photoshoot. LEARN MORE.
January 22—Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week Returns for Eighth Year with Highest Participation to Date
The 8th Annual Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week, presented by Experience Champaign-Urbana, returns with a record number of participants. The nine-day celebration of our award-winning culinary scene, held January 26–February 3, 2024, includes options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert at 49 locations across 47 local restaurants. LEARN MORE.
2023
November 8—Sport Inspired by Quidditch Hosts National Qualifier in Champaign County
18 college and adult club quadball teams travel to Rantoul Family Sports Complex, November 18–19
Quadball, the real-life sport inspired by the magical game of quidditch, is hosting a national qualifier for the first time in Champaign County. On November 18-19 it will be brooms up at Rantoul Family Sports Complex as 18 college and adult club quadball teams from across the country compete for qualification spots at US Quadball Cup 2024. LEARN MORE.
September 5—Economic Impact Data Shows Record Highs for Travel & Tourism to Champaign-Urbana Area
ECU reports that travel and tourism supported 4,900 jobs (14.8% increase), generating $160.8 million in payroll (17% increase), plus $17.3 million in local taxes (21.4% increase) were generated through $608.8 million in visitor spending (21% increase). Spending surpassed pre-pandemic numbers and jobs are back to where they were in 2019. The counties supported by ECU in 2022 include Champaign, Douglas, Moultrie, and Piatt. LEARN MORE.
August 9—Experience Champaign-Urbana Launches Accessible CU, A New Resource Highlighting Accessible Attributes of Area Hospitality Businesses
In collaboration with Community Choices and the University of Illinois College of Education, Experience Champaign-Urbana launched Accessible CU, a new section on their website that helps users find local businesses that meet their accessibility needs, outlining the physical, sensory, cognitive, and accommodation-ready characteristics of local businesses. LEARN MORE.
August 7—Champaign County & Chicago Indie Film, You’re OUT!, Premieres at Savoy 16
Local independent film You’re OUT!, distributed by Gravitas Ventures and described by nationally syndicated radio host Steve Dale as “a cross between National Lampoon’s Vacation and The Hangover with a dog hero,” will premiere at Savoy 16 on Saturday, August 12 at 3:00 p.m. LEARN MORE.
July 5—Asian Culinary Trail Pass Launches to Promote Champaign-Urbana’s Culinary Scene
Experience Champaign-Urbana launched a new experience pass promoting the Asian culinary scene in the greater Champaign-Urbana area. The pass—CU in Asia—features several dozen restaurants spanning the continent, highlighting the range of flavors and cuisine originating from China, Korea, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, Thailand, and Laos. LEARN MORE.
June 21—D1 Nation Football to Make Big Impact in Rantoul
Experience Champaign-Urbana is thrilled to announce the inaugural D1 Nation Annual Spring National Championships, a premier football event set to take place at the renowned Rantoul Family Sports Complex, June 30–July 2. This highly anticipated tournament will bring together top teams from across the country to compete. Over 60 teams—1,800 players aged 5–14— and 2,700 spectators from Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Ontario, Boston, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Evansville, Charlotte, Alexandria, Muskegon, and Toledo will descend upon Rantoul, for an exhilarating showcase of talent and skill. LEARN MORE.
May 9—Visit Champaign County Foundation to Honor Local Tourism Trailblazers at Annual Toast to Tourism
The Visit Champaign County Foundation will celebrate the hospitality industry, alongside stakeholders and partners at the 10th Annual Toast to Tourism, May 17 from 4:00–6:00 p.m. at Carmon’s. During the event, the Foundation will honor five trailblazers with Tourism Impact Awards for their contributions in making the greater Champaign County area a better place to live, work, and visit. LEARN MORE.
April 21—Paxton Partners with Visit Champaign County to Promote Tourism
The City of Paxton is entering into a regional marketing partnership with Visit Champaign County, the certified destination management organization (DMO) for the area. As Visit Champaign County continues to promote the entire region, regional partnerships already in place with Monticello and Amish Country of Illinois—Tuscola, Arcola, Arthur, Sullivan—would be further enhanced with adding Paxton, growing our presence further north. LEARN MORE.
April 11—Champaign County Launches First-of-its-Kind “Community Job Application”
Digital platform makes it easy for potential residents to connect with Champaign County’s employers and community members—Connecting prospective new residents with Champaign County area employers just got easier with a new addition: the Community Job Application. Created by Champaign County Economic Development Corporation and Visit Champaign County, the platform allows newcomers to streamline their job search and community exploration process with personalized assistance, job matching, and relocation information in three short steps. The team worked with RoleCall, a national talent attraction consulting agency, to build this program. LEARN MORE.
March 15—Middle School Basketball Championships Returns to Champaign-Urbana
The Champaign-Urbana area will host the Illinois Middle School Basketball Championships for the second time this March 17–19, 2023. 130 boys and girls’ teams representing 4th–8th grade will compete for the championship at University of Illinois Campus Recreation’s Activities & Recreation Center (ARC), the Champaign Park District’s Leonhard Center, St. Thomas More High School, St. Matthew’s Middle School in Champaign, St. Matthew Catholic School in Philo. LEARN MORE.
March 6—IHSA Boys State Basketball Tournament Back for Year Two in Champaign
Following a successful tournament in 2022, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Boys State Basketball Tournament will return to the State Farm Center in Champaign, March 9–11. Sixteen teams representing four classes will compete across sixteen games over three action-packed days of basketball. LEARN MORE.
February 13—Wrestlers Set to Make an Impact at IHSA State Wrestling Championships
Following this weekend’s sectionals, high school wrestlers across the state will prepare for the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Wrestling Individual State Championships, February 16–18, 2023. Over 650 wrestlers from 250 high schools will compete next weekend at the State Farm Center, with hopes to make it under the spotlight for the championship match. LEARN MORE.
January 30—US Quadball Midwest Regional Coming to Rantoul Family Sports Complex
US Quadball will bring their Midwest Regional Tournament to the Rantoul Family Sports Complex (RFSC) this November 18–19, 2023. This will be the first quadball event hosted at the Complex and the first major tournament hosted in Champaign County. LEARN MORE.
January 23—Champaign County Area Restaurant Week Returns for Seventh Year
The 7th Annual Champaign County Area Restaurant Week, presented by Visit Champaign County, returns with a record number of participants. The nine-day celebration of our award-winning culinary scene, held January 27–February 4, 2023, includes options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert at 42 local restaurants. LEARN MORE.
2022
IHSA State Football Championships Departs Memorial Stadium
Economic Impact Data Shows Rebound in Travel & Tourism
New Podcast Launches Promoting Community Pride in the Champaign-Urbana Area
New Chambana Proud Tee Asks Residents to Pick “Champaign-Urbana” or “Urbana-Champaign”
Visit Champaign County Launches Retail Space
Football and Softball to Take Over Rantoul This Weekend
Visit Champaign County to Sponsor 3rd Annual AJGA Junior All-Star at Urbana
Visit Champaign County Foundation to Honor Local Hospitality Leaders at Annual Toast to Tourism
Beep Baseball to Hold Second Annual Tournament for Visually-Impaired in Savoy
New Downtown Champaign Mural Highlights Native Plants & Wildlife
Visit Champaign County Celebrates the Future of Travel During National Travel & Tourism Week
New Residents Invited to Network at Inaugural New to CU Mixer
Arrowhead Lanes Set to Host Teen MastersTM Champaign Open
Middle School Basketball Championships Bringing More Business to Champaign County
IHSA Boys State Basketball Tournament Set to Make Big Impact in Champaign
Wrestlers Return to State Farm Center for IHSA State Wrestling Championships
Champaign County Area Restaurant Week Returns with In-Person and Takeout Dining