A Fighting Illini Weekend
For Illini fans looking to make the most of their weekend. Come for the game, stay for everything else!
Friday
- Grab dinner in downtown Champaign where over 40 local restaurants offer flavors of all kinds.
- Unwind with a cocktail and live music at downtown Urbana’s Rose Bowl Tavern, a longtime honky tonk that’s a destination for live music 365 days of the year.
Saturday
- Rise and shine with coffee and breakfast at Urbana's Market at the Square.
- Tailgate with local beer or N/A options from spots like Riggs Beer Company, Triptych Brewing, Blind Pig Brewpub, or Cloud Mountain Kombucha. Pro tip: Apple donuts with cider from Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch make you a hero for early games.
- Cheer on the Illini to victory! I-L-L!
- Putt-putt at Parcadia in downtown Urbana for an immersive mini-golf experience like no other.
- Cross the street to The Yard on Broadway, a food hall where you can choose from six community favorites for dinner and dessert.
Sunday
- Brunch at Caprae at Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, where you’ll taste farm-fresh flavors, including their award-winning goat cheese.
- Hit up a forest preserve on your way out of town for a final breath of fresh air: Lake of the Woods for those heading up to the suburbs, Homer Lake for those heading East, and Middle Fork River for those heading to Chicago.
A (Literal) Marathon Weekend
Made for the runners, walkers, and fans attending the Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend.
Friday
- Pick up your Wooden Nickels, good for discounts around town at the Health & Wellness Expo. Find fun spots to shop and bring home a C-U souvenir.
- Carb up before the big race at Nando Milano Trattoria or on campus at Susuru Ramen Bar.
Saturday
- Enjoy your race then come get your Riggs Beer at the Meijer 27th Mile Celebration with live music and plenty of food trucks.
- Solve an escape room at CU Adventures in Time & Space, recently named the #2 escape room in the country.
- Decompress over a glass of wine at Analog Wine Library in downtown Urbana then walk down the block for a hearty sandwich at Baldarotta’s Porketta & Sicilian Sausage.
- Have a low-key evening playing skee-ball at Pour Bros. in downtown Champaign.
Sunday
- Grab a cup of coffee from Mad Goat Coffee (use your Wooden Nickel!) then take a walk through Meadowbrook Park in Urbana so your tired muscles don’t cramp.
- Brunch at Lazy Daisy Diner & Café (with vegan options) and stop by Record Swap, both inside Urbana's Lincoln Square Mall, to add to your vinyl collection before heading home.
A Pride Fest Weekend
Designed for anyone in the LGBTQ community and allies!
Friday
- Pop into queer-owned Art Coop, an inclusive art-supply space lifting up the LGBTQ community with fun, quirky, and affirming gifts and gear.
- Explore Krannert Art Museum, an impressive collection of fine art and rotating exhibits that speak to your soul.
- Dine at The Space, a frequent host of drag nights, female-led comedy nights, open-mic for all ages, and much more. Their farm-to-table dishes are the cherry on top.
- Enjoy late-night cocktails at Gallery Art Bar in downtown Urbana, where you’ll immerse yourself in projection art and music.
Saturday
- Get yourself set for a full day with a hearty bagel and coffee at Good Judys Espresso & Bagel Bar, a queer-owned business.
- Connect with Uniting Pride’s full list of activities for the day, including October’s Pride Parade in downtown Urbana, where the community comes out in colors of all kinds.
- Slurp on boozy slushies or whiskey cocktails alongside tasty hot chicken sandwiches at Watson’s Shack & Rail in downtown Champaign.
- Dance your night away and catch a drag show until the wee hours at Amy’s Place, our latest LGBTQ space.
Sunday
- Find sanctuary on a walk through Busey Woods in Urbana’s Crystal Lake Park.
- Peruse the brunch menu at The Literary Book Bar & Café with mimosas, coffee, and a hearty breakfast—and the latest books to bring something home.
An Artful Summer Weekend
For first-timers, culture lovers, or anyone ready to be pleasantly surprised.
Friday
- Take Friday afternoon off and go to Krannert Art Museum. It’s free, world-class, and never too crowded.
- Download the Art in CU Experience Pass and hunt for the public art through the University of Illinois campus before heading to downtown Champaign to see the vibrant murals, including Outside of Ordinary, You Are Loved, and Village Roots.
- Stay in downtown Champaign for Friday Night Live. Four stages, warm evenings, excellent food and drink right there—the best possible introduction to the city.
Saturday
- Take a day trip to Arcola and Tuscola. In Arcola, find the Walldog Murals, wander the Broom Palace, and stop at Panadería Saldivar for a sweet treat!
- In the afternoon, browse the Vault Art Gallery in Tuscola (just try to leave without buying some local art).
- That evening, catch a comedy show at Yellow & Co. in Mahomet for a jovial night out.
Sunday
- Take a morning walk through the Wandell Sculpture Garden at Meadowbrook Park, then immerse yourself in the Japan House gardens. Quiet, beautiful, and a perfect way to end a weekend.
The Prairie & Pasture Overnight
Formulated for couples, slow travelers, anyone ready to genuinely unplug in the summer or fall, when the prairie’s at its most beautiful.
Saturday
- Stay the night at Ironhide Bison Ranch near Villa Grove (book in advance!), with open grassland and a herd of bison doing exactly what they want. Be sure to take a guided Hummer EV tour to learn about the herd.
Sunday
- Head to Green Meadow Farm in Arthur for a horse-and-buggy ride through Amish country.
- Swing by Okaw Valley Orchard on the way home to pick some Scruffy or Ludacrisp varieties, plus a dozen donuts to take home
Holiday Shop & Stay Weekend
For gift-givers, couples, friend groups, and anyone who wants to make an event of the holidays, ideally in early December.
Friday
- Turn your holiday shopping into a cozy winter getaway at Allerton Park & Retreat Center in Monticello. Check in and start the weekend at the Allerton Showcase, where local vendors, makers, and artists gather in one of the area’s most beautiful settings.
Saturday
- In the morning, head into Urbana for the Champaign-Urbana Winter Farmers Market, where you’ll find edible gifts, specialty foods, local products, and the kind of treats you genuinely won’t find anywhere else.
- From there, continue the maker-market momentum at Mistletoe Market, a festive stop for handcrafted gifts, seasonal décor, art, jewelry, candles, and all the little finds that make shopping local so satisfying.
- In the evening, head to Riggs Beer Company in Urbana for their beloved Christmas Market, a German-style holiday market with artisan vendors and warm mulled wine.
- Return to Allerton for Holiday GLOW, the estate’s annual illuminated walk through gardens, grounds, and light-filled displays.
Sunday
- Head back into Champaign for brunch and one final dose of holiday spirit. If you can get tickets (order early!)—catch a matinee of The Nutcracker performed by CU Ballet. The whole weekend pays for itself in gifts you’ll feel good about giving.