FRIDAY, August 21st
See some dinosaurs, Fluid Events Center, 3-8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., ranging from $13-$22 (VIP tickets available)
Your kids are going to flip. This group is bringing life size, animatronic (roboticdevices that emmulate animal movement). There are going to be 50 exhibits including a T-Rex and Triceratops! There will be a “bone dig” too. Honestly it looks really neat. Click here to read more and watch videos. (SL)
Third Friday Pop Up, Prairie Fruits Farm, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., about $15 per person
This month’s theme is Italy, and the featured protein is porchetta. This will be amazing, I promise. Here’s the rest of the menu, per PFF: Farmer’s salad with lemon balsamic vinaigrette and grated Spanish-style goat cheese; Grilled Bruschetta with chevre, cherry tomatoes and herb pesto; Seared and marinated zucchini with red chili; Roasted PFF Potatoes with Garlic Aioli; Garlic knots; Gelato by the scoop. Oh yes. Photo by Jessica Hammie (JH)
Taste of Champaign, 5-11 p.m. and all day on Saturday, West Side Park, Champaign
Keep it classy this weekend and stop by the Taste of Champaign, which includes vendors, entertainers, and, of course, tons of FOOD. The Gin Blossoms headline on Saturday night, and many local bands will grace the stage on Friday and Saturday. Plus, the weather is amazing, so you really can’t lose. (RP)
SATURDAY, August 22nd
University YMCA Dump & Run, The Stock Pavillion, 1402 W Pennsylvania Ave, Champaign, Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Dump & Run is a YMCA fundraising tradition and the best place to find gently used last-minute apartment or dorm furnishings. Pay an entry fee of $2 Saturday morning and get the first pickings on couches, dressers, appliances, books, dishes and more. International students get in for free. See the Facebook event for more details and photos of the goods. (MR)
Legopalooza Lego Contest, Urbana Free Library, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., free
Who doesn’t love legos? Urbana certainly does. Urbana Free Library is holding a lego contest. Come to the Urbana Free Library between 11-3 to vote for your favorite lego creation in each age category. (AH)
Shady Dogs, The Inaugural Champaign Craft Beer Festival (probably near Quality Beer), 12-9 p.m., maybe $10-ish?
Shady Dogs is the newest mobile food entity to hit the streets, and its debut is this weekend’s Craft Beer Festival. Keep your eye out for the cart somewhere near Quality Beer (location subject to change). This is the only place in town you’ll be able to get an authentic Chicago style dog. Photo from Shady Dogs Kickstarter page. (JH)
Inaugural Champaign Craft Beer Festival, Blind Pig Brewery, 120 N. Neil St., 12 p.m.-9 p.m., free to attend
Three bars (Quality Beer, The Blind Pig Brewery, and Cowboy Monkey) will be featuring a local brewery each and also highlighting some notable, potable beers from Marketplace Selections Beer. There will also be a triad of cask-conditioned beer and a number of infused beers. There will be food at Cowboy and food trucks. Sounds like worth your while to wander on down that little alley way this weekend. (SL)
Our Lady and Looming, Error Records, 7 p.m., $7
Two of Springfield’s most popular punk/indie acts are playing a show together at Error Records. One or more other bands are TBA at the moment, but these two should be enough to encourage you to check out some of the best tunes our central Illinois neigbors have to offer. (MR)
Urbanalove Summer Movie Night, 129 S. Race St. (aka Downtown) Urbana, Sunset, Free.
Heeyy youuu guyyyyyyyyyyys! Truffle-shuffle your way downtown to see the Goonies for free. Come early and grab some eats (Baby Ruth?), hear some free tunes, and congratulate anyone who’s never seen it before for having the good sense to change that. Because…this is our time…and you know how it should be spent. (RK)
SUNDAY, August 23rd
Design Demonstration with Jade Williams, Figure One 116 N. Walnut St., Champaign, 5-7 p.m., Free
The last of the Summer Artist-in-Residence demonstrations, join Jade WIlliams as she integrates digital design and traditional fiber manipulation techniques. Read about Carly’s experience, and see how Jade puts her own spin on it. (RK)
Catch Your Breath Before the Semester Begins, anytime, some natural space, free
Regardless of whether or not you are affiliated with the university, the semester starting back up marks a big shift in our community. The students return, cardboard boxes are everywhere all of a sudden, and it’s impossible to drive down Green Street again. To prepare for the baccanalian dance that is the semester, take an hour or so to yourself. Take some deep breaths, spend some time in nature, and get ready to take the whirlwind in. (RP)
Pitch Perfect 2, 9 p.m., main quad, free
Come on out to the University of Illinois main quad to watch Pitch Perfect 2. It’s the last night of summer before classes start. Spend some time with new and returning students alike on a warm late August night. (AH)
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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.