Friday, June 2nd
Go to the first Friday Night Live of the summer, Downtown Champaign, 6 to 8 p.m., free
Friday Night Live by 40 North is back, with live music in three different locations throughout Downtown Champaign. It’s one of my favorite summer events. Go early, grab dinner somewhere, and hear some great music. You can find the full lineup for this week and every week on their Facebook page. (JM)
Learn how the Mayans used the sky to understand the universe, Staerkel Planetarium, 8 to 9 p.m., $8
Parkland’s Staerkel Planetarium regularly swaps its programming, and this summer you’ll be able to learn about the Mayans and how they used the sky to understand the universe (it’s more than just predicting the end times in 2012). Get to the Planetarium early to get your tickets. (JH)
Get your rock on with Austin Meade with Drew Cagle & The Reputation, Canopy Club, 8 p.m., $15 advance, $20 door
Get here early to catch local rock phenom Drew Cagle & The Reputation shake the rafters with their bone-rattling, guitar-driven sound. After Drew, stick around for some Red Dirt Rock and Roll courtesy of national touring artist Austin Meade. (DP)
Saturday, June 3rd
Sip something, Urbana’s Market at the Square, 7 a.m. to noon, prices vary
In this month’s Market Watch, I declared June the Month of Market Sips. There’s so much to drink at the markets on a Saturday morning — and not one of them alcoholic. Try the fresh-pressed juice by JuicyU if you want something fruity. If you’re more of a coffee person, check out NitroCup or BrewLab. For some fun drinks, try the ginger juice at Stango Cuisine’s table, local kombucha by Cloud Mountain, or the free flavored water from Berries & Flour. (AB)
Go green at the Community Plant Swap, Greener Goods, 12 p.m., free but bring something to swap
Greener Goods is hosting an event for people to swap plants, tools, supplies, herbs, and anything else plant related. In her ongoing effort to waste less and find new life for old things, owner Tara Allen is asking participants to bring something to contribute that they no longer have a use for (pots, too many herbs, tools, etc.) or have too many of. In exchange they’ll have a chance to pick up some new plants or find something they didn’t know they needed. (LKG)
Sample all of the beers at Market Street Beer Fest, Pour Bros Craft Taproom, 12 to 8 p.m., $2 beer tickets or get a pour card to sample from the beer wall
This Saturday, Pour Bros. will transform Market Street into a beer festival. Twenty-one different local breweries, from all over, will be sharing their unique brews, some created especially for this event. You can purchase tickets in advance to sample directly from the breweries or try the options on the taproom wall. You can find the participating breweries and the beers they’ll be bringing on the event page. Fernando’s food truck and Seven Saints will also be on site for food options. (LKG)
Celebrate Pride with Toast to Taylor, Taylor Street in Downtown Champaign, 4 to 11 p.m., free but bring $$ for shopping and tips
While you’re downtown, swing by Toast to Taylor for their June event, with a focus on Pride month. An afternoon and evening of music will culminate in a drag show. While you’re there, visit the vendors sharing their unique handmade items. (JM)
Kick off Pride month with LOVE FOR ALLerton, Allerton Park and Retreat Center, 6 to 9 p.m., $5-10 suggested donation
The Allerton Park Concert Series begins this weekend with LOVE FOR ALLerton, a Pride month celebration. You’ll hear music from Bad Medicine and Lipstick Jodi, and there will be a variety of food trucks and a cash bar. Allerton has invited LGBTQ+ artists and makers to set up as vendors for the event, so be sure to show your support. You can also make a weekend out of it by staying overnight and attending a drag bunch on Sunday morning. (JM)
Make some deliberately bad art, Mahomet Public Library, 6 p.m., free
The Mahomet Public Library is hosting a Bad Art contest. Contestants will be given one hour to create a “bad” piece of art, using supplies provided by the library. The winner, as voted on by the participants, will receive a prize. The event is free, but registration is required, and you must be 15 years and older to participate. (SSO)
Take a moonlight bike ride to Sidney Dairy Barn, 7:20 p.m. to whenever you get home, free plus cost of ice cream
Prairie Cycle Club’s summertime moonlight bike rides to Sidney Dairy Barn are back, and this weekend’s weather will be perfect: sunny, dry, and clear. The specific timeline is available on the Facebook event page, but some gather at 7:20 p.m., ride to get your ice cream (moonrise is at 8:18 p.m.) and then head home. It’s family friendly, so kids are welcome, too. Don’t forget your safety gear, the least of which are lights (required by law) and a helmet (should be required by law). (JH)
Sunday, June 4th
Meet fantasy author Kaighla Rises, The Literary, 6-7 p.m., free
The Literary is hosting several authors in June, with the first author event happening this Sunday. Fantasy author Kaighla Rises will be discussing her debut novel Evryn the Light, winner of the 2022 Ampersand Award for Prose. The novel just came out last month, and follows a young woman on a journey of self-discovery as she faces a new enemy threatening her culture and home. The event is free, but as always, books and snacks are available for purchase. (SSO)
Attend a drag show with a buffet dinner, Neil St. Blues, 7 p.m., $35
Neil St. Blues, the restaurant with flavor-packed Southern cuisine in Downtown Champaign, is hosting a drag dinner this weekend featuring a lineup of talented drag performers. For $35, the ticket includes the show and a buffet dinner. Tickets for the show without dinner are $10. Buy tickets here. (AB)
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.