09/26/2025
October Events!!
At the time this magazine went to print, all event times and locations were accurate, but please check event websites for the most current information. Some events may have been postponed or canceled. Utilize your search engine of choice, website or social media platform to learn more about and/or confirm these and other local events.
Ongoing
The last Sunday of every month
Knit at Nite
Literary Books and Bar, 122 N. Neil St., Champaign
If you love to knit, head to The Literary on the last Sunday of every month to meet other knitters and work in the same space.
5 pm to 8 pm
Cost: Free
https://literarybookbar.com/ and scroll to Events
Every Monday
The Urbana Hootenany
Bowl Tavern, 106 N. Race St., # 1, Urbana
Bring your favorite instrument and join other local musicians onstage for a jam session!
8 pm
Cost: Free to participate
https://rosebowltavern.com/ and click on Calendar
Tuesdays through October
Champaign Farmers Market
Champaign in the parking lot at Neil and Washington Streets
Support local farmers and small businesses by buying your fresh produce, meat, poultry, baked goods, flowers and more at this weekly event.
3 pm to 6 pm
Cost: Free to enter market
https://www.thelandconnection.org/champaign-farmers-market/
Wednesdays
Paint @ Your Pace
Studios, 1207 S. Mattis Ave., #3, Champaign
Bring your art materials or purchase some from the studio in this open studio time that allows you to work on your latest projects in a community environment.
6 pm to 11 pm
Cost: Contact studio
https://www.prismstudiospaint.com/classes
Every Wednesday at Rose Bowl Tavern
Trivia Night
Bowl Tavern, 106 N. Race St., # 1, Urbana
Bring your team of six players to compete in five rounds of trivia based on pop culture and heckling skills; prizes are given for first and second place.
7:15 pm sign up; 7:30 pm to 10 pm play
Cost: Free to sign up
https://rosebowltavern.com/ and click on Calendar
Every Friday
Flour & Fire Pizza Co. Food Truck at Triptych Brewing
Brewing, 1703 Woodfield Dr., Savoy
If you love Flour & Fire Pizza Co., here’s your chance to enjoy it in another part of town.
4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Cost: Prices vary based on individual menu items
https://flourandfirepizza.com/where-were-kneaded
Every Saturday
Morrissey Park parkrun
Park, 1209 Harrington Dr., Champaign
Join other running—or walking!—enthusiasts on this 5K trip that lets you set your own pace and ends with a fun trip to Pandamonium Doughnuts.
9 am
Cost: Free but registration required
https://www.parkrun.us/morrisseypark/
Saturdays at The Literary
Children’s Story Time
Literary, 122 N. Neil St., Champaign
Come to the newest, coolest bookstore in town twice a week for children’s story time where staff share stories and songs by the fireplace.
3:30 pm to 4:10 pm
Cost: Free
https://literarybookbar.com/
Throughout October
Champaign Jewelers honors the Charity of the Month: CASA
Jewelers, 2437 Village Green Pl., Champaign
Every month Champaign Jewelers highlights a charity and offers customers free watch battery replacements and link adjustments with a cash contribution of any size to the Charity of the Month.
During store hours
Cost: Free
https://www.casa4kids.org/
Happening this month
September 28
Live Again: Marching Illini in Concert
State Farm Center, 1800 S. First St., Champaign
Celebrate the music behind the Fighting Illini in this special performance that’s all about the band and how they groove.
3 pm
Cost: Tickets start at $17.50
https://www.statefarmcenter.com/events/detail/mi
October 1
Craft Happy Hour!
Lewis Auditorium, The Urbana Free Library, 210 W. Green St., Urbana
For all the adults who still love crafting, this drop-in program allows you to meet other craft lovers while making something fun to take home.
6:30 pm to 8 pm
Cost: Free
https://urbanafreelibrary.libnet.info/event/14381886
October 2 to 4
17th Annual CU Folk and Roots Festival
Urbana
Performances, workshops and jams will fill this entire weekend that includes celebrated acts like The Sullivan Sisters, Bowdacious String Band and Cole Bridges.
Time vary depending on day
Cost: $50 plus processing fees for festival wristband
https://folkandroots.org/
October 3
The Power of Storytelling Women’s Conference
Creek Church, 2202 Curtis Rd., Champaign
Brought to you by The She Said Project, this 3rd annual gathering for women empowers them to share their truth by teaching them how to shape their stories for the world.
8 am to 7 pm
Cost: $75
https://conference2025.shesaidproject.com/conference
October 4
Barnes and Noble Champaign Local Author Event
and Noble Champaign, 65 E. Marketview Dr., Champaign
Come meet authors from in and around the CU area, and talk to them about their books as well as favorite reads.
11 am to 3 pm
Cost: Free to enter
https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2714
October 4
First Annual Fall for Mahomet Festival
Mahomet
The Mahomet Chamber of Commerce is launching this brand new festival to celebrate local businesses and communities with food, live music, kids’ activities and more.
11 am to 6 pm
Cost: Free to attend
https://www.visitmahomet.com/new/index.php/events/fall-for-mahomet-festival
October 5
Sunday Wine Down at Alto Vineyards presents Lexi Tieffel
Vineyards, 4210 N. Duncan Rd., Champaign
Mahomet’s own Lexi Tieffel competed on American Idol Season 23 and has come home to share her country vibes with the CU community.
2 pm to 4 pm
Cost: Free to attend
https://altovineyards.net/events-champaign
October 8
Musicology 101 with Street College
Lewis Auditorium, The Urbana Free Library, 210 W. Green St., Urbana
For middle and high schoolers who love music and STEM, this drop-in lab allows students to explore both where there are workshops on beat-making, music production, DJing, RC car builds and more.
3 pm to 5 pm
Cost: Free
https://urbanafreelibrary.libnet.info/event/14248596
October 10 to 11
Harvest to Home: A Fall Harvest Experience
Amish Heritage Center, 284 E. Illinois St., Cadwell
Celebrate fall with time-honored traditions like corn picking, cider pressing, broom corn broom-making and other events sure to be a treasured family day.
9 am to 6 pm on October 10; 7 am to 3 pm on October 11
Cost: $10 for 13+; 12 and under free
https://www.illinoisamish.org/special-events
October 12
MasterChef All Stars Live!
Virginia Theatre, 203 W. Park Ave., Champaign
The popular show comes to life on the stage with winners from TV cooking for audiences, telling stories and asking people to join in the fun.
7 pm
Cost: Tickets start at $29.50 plus processing fees
https://thevirginia.showare.com
October 14
Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert: 20th Anniversary
State Farm Center, 1800 S. First St., Champaign
Enjoy Avatar: The Last Airbender as never before in a viewing of the film that includes a live orchestra performance of the background score.
7 pm
Cost: Tickets start at $15 plus processing fees
https://www.statefarmcenter.com/events/detail/avatar
October 15
Beginners Pickleball Drop-in Class
Park District Pickleball Complex, 2203 W. John St., Champaign
If you’re curious about this sports craze that swept the nation during the pandemic, come check it out in this session that introduces you to game basics.
6 pm to 7:30 pm
Cost: Starts at $15 for residents; drop-ins welcome
https://champaignparks.org/pickleball/
October 16
Makerspace Urbana Repair Café
Urbana, 202 S. Broadway Ave., Urbana
Instead of junking your broken item, bring it to the Repair Café to get help in fixing it for free to save a potentially repairable item from the landfill.
7 pm to 9 pm
Cost: Free
https://www.ucimc.org/makerspace_repair_cafe_october
October 17
Yellow and Co. Events presents April Macie
and Co. Events, 1830 Patton Dr., Suite C, Mahomet
With major specials on Netflix and Comedy Central, April Macie brings her sharp observations about life to the CU area.
7 pm
Cost: $25 in advance; $30 day of show
https://yellowandcoevents.com/buy-tickets
October 18
Disability Resource Expo
Mall, 2000 N. Neil St., Champaign
This expo connects families living with disabilities and various resources in Champaign County and East Central Illinois.
11 am to 4 pm
Cost: Free to attend
https://www.disabilityresourceexpo.org/2025-expo/
October 18
Mania: The ABBA Tribute
Virginia Theatre, 203 W. Park Ave., Champaign
Relive the energy and excitement of the iconic band from the 1970s with this tribute tour where performers take the stage and sing some of the most memorable numbers of pop culture.
7:30 pm
Cost: Ticket start at $27.50 plus processing fees
https://thevirginia.showare.com
October 19
Christie Clinic and United Way present: Annual Halloween Costume Parade
Square Mall, 300 S. Broadway Ave., Urbana
This family-friendly Halloween event is a fun way to show off your costumes for this year, join in activities and start on your candy collection early.
3 pm to 4:30 pm
Cost: Free to attend
https://www.facebook.com/events/1705350210144348
October 21
Tina—The Tina Turner Musical
State Farm Center, 1800 S. First St., Champaign
Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall, this show charts the struggles and triumphs of one of rock and roll’s most recognized performers.
7:30 pm
Cost: Tickets start at $39 plus processing fees
https://www.statefarmcenter.com/events/detail/tina
October 23
First Annual Salt & Light Masquerade Ball
to be revealed on October 22
Join Salt & Light in this special fundraising event that promises incredible entertainment and food while you learn more about this amazing organization.
5:30 pm doors open
Cost: $150 per person
https://saltandlightministry.org/masqueradeball2025/
October 23 to November 2
The Station Theatre presents FADE
Station Theatre, 223 N Broadway Ave., Urbana
This show about a Latina woman who lands a job in Hollywood and uses her interactions there in the TV shows she writes tackles the idea of community as it affects class, race and more.
Times vary based on day
Cost: TBD
https://stationtheatre.com/
October 25
Story Time at Prairie Farm
Farm, 2202 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
Learn about a featured animal every week through a fun, interactive storytelling event, and then meet the featured animal right on the farm.
2:30 pm to 3:15 pm
Cost: Free
https://champaignparks.org/series/story-time-at-the-farm-2/
October 29 to November 1
The Play that Goes Wrong
Playhouse, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana
Krannert proudly hosts the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society from the United Kingdom in this murder mystery about a play within a play where everything—including the set—starts to fall apart.
7:30 pm every day; 2 pm matinee on Nov. 1
Cost: $10 for U of I students/youth; $15 for students; $35 for standard; $70 for advocate tickets
https://krannertcenter.com/events/play-goes-wrong
