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Festivals for All this Autumn

Weekends in the Champaign-Urbana are filled with festivals and events to attend, filling our days with music, food, art, and pride. Check out what’s coming up and make your plans for your weekend visit around these must-attend events!

Pygmalion | September 22–24

For over a decade, Pygmalion has pushed the boundaries in innovation in programming, with up and coming musicians alongside national names, cutting-edge comedy, local and national author book readings, hackathons, tech demos, and local makers. The 2022 continues to keep us on our toes with a lineup including Joanne Lee Molinaro, Misterwives, Shane Torres, and many more. Get your festival passes and head down for a diverse weekend of events.

	CU Pride Fest | September 24–October 2 The second largest Pride Fest in Illinois, the CU Pride Fest takes place every fall to ensure our University of Illinois LGBTQ+ students and allies can take part in the weekend’s events. The Pride Parade is sure to bring smiles to everyone’s faces, while educational programming is available for youth and families. Check out a week’s worth of programming with art shows, dances, talks, hikes, and a drag brunch.
	Flannel Fest | October 14–15 Nothing screams fall like flannel! Celebrate this fall must-have at Champaign Park District’s annual Flannel Fest at Centennial Park. Be wowed by axe throwing, log rolling, and speed carving alongside plenty of music, art, and food trucks. If you’re really feeling fall, join in the Lumberjack Dash, a fun one-mile course complete with log flips, log crawls, and more obstacles.
	Folk & Roots Festival | October 20–22 Spanning venues across downtown Urbana and Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, the CU Folk & Roots Festival brings the community together for a love of good music. Artists large and small lead us in jam sessions, song circles, and revelatory performances in intimate settings. Festival passes get you into three-full days of performances for a weekend you won’t forget.
	Parade of Lights | November 27 Get into the holiday spirit and this festive parade through Downtown Champaign! Always held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the Parade of Lights brings together the community for caroling, hot chocolate, and other holiday-themed activities before the sun goes down and the parade begins. Stay through the end to catch Santa as he makes his way through the parade to the tree lighting at One Main Plaza.

Want more upcoming events?

Check out our calendar for everything coming up in the area.

Ready to plan your festival weekend?

Need help planning your visit to the greater Champaign-Urbana area? Check out our Experience Guide, or contact us for more information! Don’t forget to book your stay at our area hotels, located conveniently throughout the community.