Jenna Floyd
How well do you know C-U? |
Before it became Champaign, what was the town originally called? Keep your guess in mind. The answer is at the bottom. |
 National Weather Service Champaign point forecast for October 5–11, 2026. Issued October 5 at 12:26 p.m. CDT. Forecasts may change. |
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CU Folk & Roots Festival returns October 8–10, 2026, with performances, workshops, and jams across downtown Urbana.
The festival moved from its earlier October 1–3 dates to avoid a university homecoming conflict.
Expect folk, bluegrass, world, and traditional music at venues including the Rose Bowl Tavern, Community Center for the Arts, Urbana Free Library, and Independent Media Center.
Saturday activities before 5 p.m. are free and open to the public; check separate evening ticket requirements.
Use the current festival schedule to choose sessions and confirm venue times before going. Read More... |
Turnberry Ridge Park’s second redesign meeting is October 29, 2026, from 5–6 p.m.
The free session at 910 Cobblefield Road in Champaign will review concept plan options and proposed amenities.
Feedback will inform a final design master plan scheduled for presentation at the December 9 Park District Board meeting.
The rain location is Bresnan Meeting Center, 706 Kenwood Road.
This is a chance to comment on plans, rather than an announcement of approved construction or a finalized amenity list. Read More... |
An archived 2025 conversation about Nature’s Table, the Iron Post, and the Rose Bowl offers background on Urbana’s music venues.
Jeff Machota, Shelley Masar, and Marten Stromberg discuss how the venues began and how owners and musicians shaped their identities.
The interview was recorded August 7, 2025, in front of the exhibit Spaces Speak: Sounds of Champaign-Urbana’s Music Venues and shared by the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music.
This is a local history feature, not a new 2026 event or confirmation of current operating hours.
Watch the recording for context, then check current listings for live performances. Read More... |
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Thursday, October 8 through Saturday, October 10, 2026 Multiple venues in downtown Urbana; performance times vary by venue. Make room for live folk, bluegrass, world, and traditional music, plus workshops and activities. Saturday events before 5 p.m. are free and open to the public. Evening admission varies; check the organizer’s schedule and tickets. See the festival schedule and visitor details |
October 8, 2026, 5–7 p.m. CDT Douglass Community Center, 512 E. Grove Street, Champaign A candy-themed evening with carnival games, playful challenges, and family activities. Admission is free, and the Park District says no registration is required. Stop in for a low-cost start to the Halloween season. Read the organizer’s event details |
October 10, 2026, 12:30–3 p.m. CDT John Street Pickleball Courts, 2301–2315 W. John Street, Champaign Try pickleball during a free family afternoon. The organizer lists Kona Ice, starter packs while supplies last, and a kids’ skills competition at 2 p.m. The optional child-adult doubles tournament runs 12:30–1:30 p.m. and requires free registration. See activities and tournament registration |
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A downtown option when you want to turn a meal into an outing. Maize at the Station serves Mexican food in the former Champaign train station. Its official site lists weekend brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; check the current menu and hours before going. |
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When lunch calls for a sandwich with a little more personality, keep Baldarotta’s on your list. The menu includes porketta and Sicilian sausage sandwiches, with dine-in, takeout, and delivery options listed on the official site. Check the current menu and ordering hours before going. |
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💡 Answer to Trivia Question: West Urbana. The town was renamed Champaign when it acquired a city charter in 1860. Source: City of Champaign, Our City's History. |