Thursday, August 8th
Celebrate the sunflowers, Clearview Farm (3605 N Mattis Ave, Champaign), 5 to 8 p.m., free, but bring money to buy food
Clearview Farms is hosting a sunflower celebration, with the sunflower maze, live music, food trucks, and goats. Sunflowers are really gorgeous, and the weather looks promising for a lovely evening of family-friendly fun. (JH)
Think some thinks with Seussical, Jr., Virginia Theatre, 7 p.m., $13-$15 (free for children under two)
I do love watching kids have fun on stage and the Champaign Park District’s Youth Theatre production of Seussical Jr. is sure to be a romp of a play for the youth on stage and for kids of all ages in the audience. Thursday is opening night; the show runs all weekend with evening shows on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 p.m. and a Saturday, August 10th matinee at noon so those little ones can get a good afternoon nap in after the show. The show is reserved seating so go online to get your favorite spot. And as always, don’t forget to give yourself enough time to get warm popcorn and a cool drink. (AP)
Friday, August 9th
Donate your stuff to Dump & Run, Stock Pavilion at the U of I, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., free
The University YMCA’s annual Dump & Run is happening in a few weeks, and you can donate your unwanted furniture and household goods (check out the Facebook event page for a list of what you can and cannot donate). Prevent perfectly good items from ending up in landfills, and mark your calendar for shopping on August 24th. (JH)
Groove to the blues this weekend, Bunny’s Tavern, Urbana, 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 3:30 p.m., free (donations encouraged)
Celebrate the blues with a two-day lineup at the 2024 Prairie Crossroads Blues Fest featuring local and nationally touring acts. The festival brings together a stellar lineup of blues acts, offering a weekend of soulful rhythms and community spirit. Enjoy free admission while supporting Blues in the Schools with donations. (DP)
Enjoy an art opening, Analog Wine Bar, 5 to 7 p.m., free (but you’ll want to hit that wine bar)
The Artists of Marm’s opening reception is on Friday but the exhibit runs through August 24th. Artists include Leslie Barr, Lorraine Graham, Kathy Micek, Sue Orr, Ann Pimblott, and Jeannie Vansickle. Enjoy shopping the fine art cards, jewelry, pottery, Zentangle art, and talk with the artists. And wine. (AP)
Groove to CU Days, Douglass Park, 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, noon to 9 p.m., free, but bring money for food and vendors
Friday night will feature live music, and Saturday will feature DJ Slim. There will be vendors, food, community, and plenty of activities for kids and adults. CU Days has been happening for more than 30 years, so don’t miss out on this long running tradition. (JH)
Saturday, August 10th
Check out the Bloomington farmers market, Downtown Bloomington, 7:30 a.m. to noon, free, but you’ll want to buy produce and goods
We have an incredible farmers market in Urbana on Saturdays, but sometimes we all just need to check out something different. The Bloomington Farmers Market is a chance to do that while getting out of town for a morning. Bring a cooler for your produce, then grab lunch in Bloomington-Normal before heading home. Learn more about vendors on the Bloomington Farmers Market Facebook page. (JH)
Drink super nice whiskey at a gala, the old Destihl space, 2 to 5 p.m., $69
Whiskey lovers should get a ticket for this weekend’s Champaign Whiskey Fest Gala, a tasting event in Downtown Champaign. Check out the tasting list, and get ready to scroll because it long! The ticket includes a commemorative nosing glass and small bites by three Downtown Champaign restaurants: Big Grove Tavern, Punch!, and Watson’s. Plus, it’s in the old Destihl restaurant space that’s been closed since 2020, which is pretty cool. (AB)
Take a trip down C-U’s rock music memory lane, Rose Bowl Tavern, 8 p.m., $15 suggested donation
Experience a Champaign-Urbana rock music time capsule with performances by the Tractor Kings, The Dirty Feathers, and Colonel James Presents — three bands that have been pillars of the local scene, delivering everything from Americana-infused melodies to high-energy rock. (DP)
Sunday, August 11th
Eat Thai food, Sticky Rice, noon to 9 p.m., prices vary
Sunday scaries will not get us if we’re eating food by Sticky Rice restaurant. Give into weekend laziness and let a local Lao-Thai restaurant do the cooking. Dine in to enjoy my favorite thing on the menu: chicken pad lard nar with extra crispy noodles. Or the delicious food dinner to go. My go-to takeout order here is veggie egg rolls, chicken pad Thai (with an extra side of peanut sauce), yellow curry, and the most amazing spicy beef salad called yum nuau, but the whole menu slaps. For more inspo, check out Louise’s review of the curry flight sampler and my restaurant review love song from 2022. (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.