The holiday season is here! And while I do love a holiday market and a good goat photo op, I get a little overwhelmed by all the holiday things every single day in December. So when I feel grinch mode coming on, I turn on some decidedly not-holiday music and look for other things to do. I don’t think I’m alone here, so whether you don’t celebrate, need something to avoid the season, or maybe you’re like me and just want a break, then I hope you’ll enjoy these four non-holiday things to do around Champaign-Urbana in December.
Immerse yourself in flowers and sound
This fully immersive experience combines the power of sound and earth. You’ll start the night building your own flower alter and arrangement to help “connect you to the energies of the earth, adding an enriching and grounding element to your sound journey”. Next Amanda Wallace of The Disco Theory will lead the class through a sound bath with crystal singing bowls, gongs, and chimes to “promote relaxation, balance, and rejuvenation.”
Sounds Healing Journey & Flower Altar Tutorial
CU Flower House
2006 S Neil St
Champaign
Tu Dec 12th
6:30 to 8 p.m.
$75
Meet up with other BIPOC artists
Carolyn and Vivian from the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois and the Urbana Arts & Culture Program , respectively, are hosting a night specifically for Black, Indigenous, artists, makers, storytellers, and creatives of color. This is the first event of the new CU BIPOC Artist Collective with quarterly gatherings offered next year. Gifts will be available for the first 40 attendees.
BIPOC artist meet-up
Gallery Art Bar
121 W Main St
Urbana
W Dec 13th
6 to 9 p.m.
Free
Celebrate the shortest day of the year
The winter solstice marks the beginning of winter and is a celebration of the shortest day of the year but also of the sun returning. When it’s dark and cold, sometimes the best remedy is to embrace it and get outdoors. Walk through Holiday GLOW, eat some food from an on-site food truck, head to the bonfire in the Allerton Meadow at 7 p.m., and catch some live music afterwards.
Winter Solstice Celebration
Allerton Park and Retreat Center
515 Old Timber Rd
Monticello
Th Dec 21st
5 to 9:30 p.m.
$20 per car
See a not Christmas, Christmas movie
When I’m feeling a little grinchy, one of my favorite things to do is watch a decidedly non-holiday movie. I was thrilled to see that the Virginia Theatre is showing the incredible, classic, very quotable, 80s action movie (that just happens to take place on Christmas eve) Die Hard. Ugh, I love this.
Die Hard
Virginia Theater
203 W Park Ave
Champaign
Th Dec 21st
7 p.m.
$7
