Friday, November 22nd
Celebrate 6 years with JT Walker’s, Mahomet, 4 to 10 p.m., free, plus the price of your beer
JT Walker’s is turning six, and to celebrate is tapping several speciality kegs and a seasonal beer. There will be a whole bunch of iterations of the Daniel T. Porter, including a peanut butter cup variation. Additional details are available on Facebook. (JH)
Brave the elements for a downtown Champaign art walk, 5 to 8 p.m.
Add some art to your downtown Champaign happy hour by hitting all the stops on the 4th Friday Art Walk.You’ll see art in pubs, floral design shops, and in real life artist studios. Find out the details here. (DD) Image from Facebook event page
Buy local art and support homeless pets, Art Coop, Lincoln Square Mall, 7 to 9 p.m.
Now celebrating its 10th year, Art Coop’s annual $50 Art Show is the purrfect way to get local art at a great price while putting your money to work supporting the Champaign County Humane Society. There’ll be snacks, adult beverages, and lots of local artists and art lovers to mingle with. Can you think of a better way to start your weekend? (DD)
Sinfonia da Camera’s H.M.S. Pinafore, Krannert Center, 7:30 p.m., price varies
Sinfonia da Camera is the chamber orchestra at the University of Illinois directed by Ian Hobson, and they are staging their next performance tonight at KCPA. This is a one-night-only performance as a part of SDC’s upcoming season, which you can read about at their website linked above. (PS) Photo from Sinfonia da Camera Facebook page
Enjoy a nice hike while you can, the great outdoors, all weekend, free
Despite a rough transition into November after experiencing weather more appropriate for the middle of January, it appears that we can enjoy autumn for just a bit longer. By the time November rolls around, nearly all the leaves have changed color and many carpet the ground in a colorful array or reds, oranges, and yellows. Before it all becomes covered in snow and we are facing subzero temperatues, try to take some time this weekend to enjoy this last stretch of fall. Whether for a long hike on a trail or simply a walk through the neighborhood, now is the time to enjoy the outdoors before we all hibernate inside! Some of my favorite trails are right here in Champaign county. (SP) Top photo by Steven Pratten
Take a trip to Tolono for a night that’s sure to slap, Loose Cobra, 9 p.m., $7-$10 donations suggested
Tolono’s Loose Cobra is having a solid weekend for shows. Friday night, Covington, KY-native, Cincinnati-based Frontier Folk Nebraska (the “Nebraska” refers to the album by Springsteen) are headlining the night with their brand of southern-inspired rock. Other acts of the night include Ant Hattie and Pikas. The glowing orange bucket will be floating around to catch your donations. (BH) Image from Facebook event page
Saturday, November 23rd
Eat a doughnut, Ye Olde Donuts, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., about $3
I know you love doughnuts. Go ahead, give yourself an excuse to get one. But get there early otherwise they’ll be sold out. (JH) Photo by Jessica Hammie
Check out Acme Elfworks garage sale, Lincoln Building, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., prices vary
If you missed Friday’s downtown Champaign art walk, here’s a second chance to visit the Acme Elfworks studio space. Enjoy great prices on original art, vintage collectibles, and architectural features. Shop local, give art. (DD) Image from Facebook event page
See Christmas trees of all colors, shapes, and themes, Hilton Garden Inn, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., $3-5
The Junior League of Champaign-Urbana will be kicking off its annual Festival of Trees fundraiser this weekend with a family winter ball on Friday. The large display of themed Christmas trees and wreaths will be open to the public beginning Saturday at 11 a.m. after a Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus at 8:30 a.m. Funds raised by the event will support the organization’s mission to educate and enhance the lives of women and children in the community. Entry is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, and children 3-and-under enter for free. Full information and tickets for the ball can be found here. (SP)
Throw on some heels and dance it out, Springer Cultural Center, 4 to 5 p.m., $11 residents/16.50 non-residents
Champaign Park District is offering some unique workshops the next three Saturdays called Heals & Heelz. They are all about empowerment and unleashing your confident self, all while learning how to dance it out in heels. Check out the event page for a full description and to register. You can do any or all of them, and they are open to all who want to rock some heels. (JM) Image from Champaign Park District website
Enjoy a live show at the Rose Bowl Tavern, 8 p.m., donations suggested
Saturday night at the Rose Bowl Tavern is going to be an awesome night for live music. LLYN, a new indie band made up of Champaign-scene veterans, will be playing as the only full band of the night. Three solo acts, Zzo, the solo indie project of Zoe Willott, will be playing, along with Tessa Turner, and Richie Dagger’s Crime, the solo project of Seattle’s Richie Nelson. (BH) Photo from the Facebook event.
Sunday, November 24th
Celebrate 60 years with Monical’s, 102 W Vine St, Tolono, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., but refreshments and door prizes 1-4 p.m., prices vary
Monical’s is turning 60, and is celebrating with a customer appreciation day. There will be refreshments and a raffle from 1 to 4 p.m., and 12-inch, one-topping pizzas are only $6 (dine in and carryout). Additional details are available on Facebook. (JH)
Gather some friends and summon your Friends knowledge, Barrelhouse 34, 7 p.m., $10
Barrelhouse is having a Friends trivia night, but with a deep dive. All of the questions will be about the Thanksgiving episodes. Time to settle in and pull up those episodes on the Netflix to make sure you’re ready. It’s $10 for a table of four; email [email protected] to reserve a spot ahead of time. (JM) Photo from friends.fandom.com
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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.