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Champaign’s Favorite Newsletter

Champaign news, events, and recommendations delivered free every morning.

Champaign, IL
9Events this week
4Free things to do
91New spots
91New stories

● Checked this morning, before the 6 AM send.

This week in Champaign

Five picks from this week's calendar. See all 9 events, day by day →

Barnyard Bash

Friday 6pm · Prairie Farm

Board Game Demo Day

Saturday 2pm · The Scratching Post

Champaign Farmers Market

Tuesday 3pm · Neil & Washington Lot · Free

C.U.P.P Work Nights Open Studio

Tuesday 5pm · The Fiber Phoenix Rises

Jadie and Doc Shredd

Thursday 6pm · Baxters American Grille

New in Champaign

Places that opened, reopened, or earned a mention this month — the ones we'd go back to.

Mid Summer Lounge

Restaurants

Handmade noodle fix: Mid Summer Lounge has that cozy, no-fuss vibe where the focus is on chewy handmade noodles, rich broths, and the kind of dumplings and wontons you start craving at 3 p.m.

midsummerlounge.com ↗

Prairie Gardens Boutique

Shopping

Closet update, anyone? Prairie Gardens Boutique keeps the racks fresh with daily new arrivals in women’s clothing, handbags, jewelry, and giftable finds.

prairiegardens.com ↗

Sun Singer

Nightlife

Sip, slurp, repeat: Sun Singer nails the sweet spot between wine bar and hangout, with Saturday tastings, a creative lunch to weekend brunch lineup, and a gourmet deli for take-home treats.

sunsingerwines.com ↗

Champaign’s best businesses

Every spot worth knowing, in one place.

The restaurants, shops, and services the newsletter recommends, all in one place — every listing checked, and paid pins marked every time.

Browse Champaign’s best →

Most read in Champaign

The five stories Champaign readers clicked most this month, from the daily editions.

  1. Oktoberfest 2026 is October 23 at The Orpheum - SPlog

    Oktoberfest 2026 is set to take place at The Orpheum on October 23 at 5 to 10 p.m.

    Full story at smilepolitely.com ↗

  2. This weekend is for art - SPlog

    This weekend is the perfect weekend for art in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.

    Full story at smilepolitely.com ↗

  3. Champaign-Urbana Grocery Stores

    The article discusses the various grocery stores available in Champaign-Urbana, which range from national chains to the definition of “local” where no more than half a dozen shoppers can fit in at one time.

    Full story at chambanamoms.com ↗

  4. ‘Start somewhere. End somewhere better’: New film festival crawl coming to CU

    The inaugural CU Cinema Crawl is set to take place in 2027 at more than a dozen venues throughout Champaign-Urbana.

    Full story at wcia.com ↗

  5. 'Blinding in the most amazing way': Fans awed by debut of giant Gies Memorial Stadium videoboard

    Fans were awed by the debut of a giant videoboard at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, during the Illini football season-opener against the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers.

    Full story at news-gazette.com ↗

Explore Champaign

The rest of what BaseLocal keeps current for the city.

Champaign eventsAll 9 events this week, day by dayThis weekend in ChampaignThe 1 things worth your weekendFree things to do4 free events happening this weekRead the latest editionSee exactly what lands in your inboxDanville32 miles away — nearby on BaseLocalDecatur42 miles away — nearby on BaseLocalCharleston43 miles away — nearby on BaseLocalMattoon44 miles away — nearby on BaseLocal