Thursday, May 2nd
Celebrate 15 years, Po’ Boys restaurant, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., half price pizza
Urbana’s barbecue-pizza-pie restaurant Po’ Boys is celebrating 15 years in their location. In honor of the business’ anniversary, they will have half off pizzas all day, Thursday only. Go support a local restaurant and fill up on delicious food. I love the thin-crust pizza here, but I really really love the breadsticks (get the garlic butter, it’s a must!) and their chocolate pies. (AB)
Attend Kofi Bazzell-Smith’s artist reception, Gallery Art Bar, 7 p.m., free
I love that the Gallery Art Bar hosts an artist’s work each month. May’s artist is Urbana’s manga phenom Kofi Bazzell-Smith. His work is amazing and I cannot wait to see how the Gallery Art Bar uses their in-house projection and lighting to display his work. Come see him now because your next chance might just be MoMA. (Yep, he’s that good). (AP)
Friday, May 3rd
Band together for beats bright and early, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 7 a.m., free
Spanning both Friday, May 3rd, and Saturday, May 4th, the 50th annual Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts promises an immersive musical experience. Beginning at 7 a.m. each day, the festival gathers the finest middle school, junior high, and high school bands from across Illinois, each rigorously chosen for their exceptional talent. This landmark event, hosted by University of Illinois Bands, is a vibrant showcase for students, educators, and all lovers of orchestral music. Visit the University of Illinois Bands website for more details on this free, enriching cultural celebration. (DP)
Enjoy the bluebells, Allerton Park and Retreat Center, 3 to 5 p.m., free but bring money for things
Allerton will be kicking off their first ever Bluebell Festival. The goal for this new weekend-long event is to create a similar atmosphere to their Holiday Showcase. During the festival, the 11th annual Plant Sale will be happening in the main parking lot. There will also be food trucks, a cash bar, and The Market where instructors of The Farms will be selling art and doing live demonstrations. (LKG)
See cool art and eat a hot dog, Fresh Press Studio, 6 p.m., free but bring money to buy stuff
Fresh Press is hosting an Art House with the School of Art and Design at Illinois. Work will be on display from students and faculty, and there will be handmade paper and prints for sale. And it wouldn’t be a celebration without music and food, so there will also be hot dogs, karaoke, and music. (LKG)
Saturday, May 4th
Grab your basket and shop outside, Urbana’s Market at the Square, 7 a.m. to noon, prices vary
Hallelujah, it’s outdoor market season again. I have been waiting since the closing day in October for opening day. I plan to get all the market essentials: cheese, bread, greens, and too many pastries. Starting this weekend, there will be brand new vendors like Good Judys Bagels (which I cannot wait to try) plus returning favorites Sola Gratia Farm and Ben & Molly’s Farm. From lemonade to mushrooms to pasture-raised meat to cupcakes to plant starts for your garden, Urbana’s Market at the Square has it all. This Saturday is the first one of the season, so check it out before noon. (AB)
Explore the University of Illinois School of Art & Design BFA Exhibition, Krannert Art Museum, museum opens at 10 a.m. + reception begins at 4 p.m., free
I can’t wait to see what the U of I’s undergrad artists produced this year. Student exhibits, whether it’s K-12, Parkland, or the U of I, always give me hope that, when it comes to creativity, there’s hope. Young creators are often the most free with discovery and design. The exhibition runs from May 4-11. (AP)
Partake in Tango festivities, Urbana Dance Company, begins at 11 a.m. and continues Sunday, most events are free, but some require tickets
The C-U Tango Festival is happening Saturday and Sunday, with many free events and a few ticketed ones. If this is your scene, or if you are eager to learn more, check out the schedule and make plans to attend. (JH)
Take in some live music, Parkland College, noon to 6 p.m., free
The Perimeter Road Music Festival returns Saturday afternoon with an impressive lineup of local bands: Modern Drugs, Hakki N Dem, Tessa Turner, Sweetmelk, Manifest West, and Union Avenue. Organized by Parkland College’s Perimeter Road Sound Recordings, this event is free and family friendly. Find all the details here. (JH)
Let the fourth guide you, Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, 1 to 4 p.m., free
May the fourth be with you! To celebrate all things Star Wars, The Spurlock Museum of World Cultures is hosting a Star Wars Day celebration this year. There will be light saber building, Jedi meditating, “choose your path” Jedi versus. Sith tours, a self guided exploration, and more. Cosplay is encouraged and all ages are welcome to attend. (LKG)
Bask in the spectacle of a fashion show, Siebel Center for Design, 6:30 p.m., free
ReFashioned is the runway fashion show put on by the U of I School of Art + Design Fashion students. Students from the fashion classes will present their work, and the work is WORKING. These students are incredibly creative — classes are asked to use found and recycled materials — and the looks are gorgeous. As we’ve noted, it’s among the best public-facing student art exhibitions in all of C-U. Get there early, it will be packed. (JH)
Buy some gifts, sip some drinks, hear some music, Yellow & Company, 7 p.m., free (reservations)
Join the celebration at Yellow & Co.’s grand opening of their brand new store/entertainment venue at 1830 Patton Drive in Mahomet, featuring a live performance by the esteemed singer-songwriter Dan Hubbard. This free event starts at 7 p.m., offering general seating with a full bar available for drink purchases. The event is free, but assure your entry by registering for the event. (DP)
Sunday, May 5th
Enjoy the outdoors before the cicadas arrive, Champaign County Forest Preserves, 7 a.m. to dusk or so, free
It’s a particularly beautiful time of year, and bird migrations through this area are very high. Enjoy this moment while you can, before we are inundated with cicadas. We are so lucky we will be getting two different broods of cicadas, which means big bugs everywhere and a lot of noise. Enjoy the peace and quiet while we have it. (JH)
Buy cool art and support Champaign-Urbana’s Theatre Company, 25 O’Clock Brewing Company, 5:55-8:55 p.m., $5.55 cover plus money to buy things
Support CUTC by coming out to a fun art auction. Fifty-five local artists have created original 5 x 5 canvas works of art to auction off in support of local theatre. Bids start at — you guessed it — $25.55. (AP)
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.