Events in Champaign today

Enjoy a guided goat hike on the farm, starting at 1:30 PM. You’ll walk along the pasture, past Saline Creek, through the wooded area, and around the pond for about a mile and a half, with plenty of stops to take photos and spend time with the goats. The fun includes an opportunity for the goats to run, and the hike ends with a farmstead cheese sample. The hike is outdoors, typically lasts around 45 to 60 minutes, and is for ages 8 and up. Check in at the Farm Store before your hike, and wear sturdy shoes that can get a bit dirty.

Spend about 50 minutes relaxing in the cat lounges with 20+ adoptable cats. This reservation helps cover the cats' care and gives them time for socialization, even if you are not there to adopt. All the cats come from local non-profit rescues, and their adoption fees support the originating rescue. The cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, and tested for common pathogens. Advance reservations are the only way to guarantee lounge time, and walk-ins are welcome when space is available.

Enjoy traditional Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco music with the Occasional Cajun Band. The event runs from mid-afternoon into early evening at Rose Bowl Tavern.

At OLLI at Illinois, a trio of trivia gatherings offers changing themes and categories. Participants may come with friends or on their own, and solo attendees can be paired with OLLI members to form teams of four to six. Light refreshments are provided. Registration is not needed, and the series is open to everyone.

Enjoy a free family swim under the stars at Sholem Aquatic Center, sponsored by Christie Clinic with involvement from chambanamoms. Lifeguards will be on duty and concessions will be available for snack purchases. No pool pass is required for entry. Children younger than 13 must be accompanied by an adult, and teens must follow the Sholem Teen ID rules. This event is very popular and admission will close once the pool reaches capacity, so arriving a little early is recommended. A rain date will be announced.

Have a casual chat with Stephanie Smith, the new director of Krannert Art Museum, during relaxed drop-in conversations at Mad Goat Coffee in Champaign. Share your thoughts about the museum, ask questions, or simply say hello. Conversations are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and no appointment is needed.

Champaign Farmers Market offers a family friendly atmosphere with free live entertainment, activities for kids, and a welcoming sense of community. This market focuses on local foods and artisanal goods for the CU community, featuring vendors with meat, vegetables, fruits, microgreens, baked goods, breads, herbal products, handmade items, and more. A vendor map is updated regularly to highlight who will be there. To make fresh, locally produced food more accessible, the market provides Link Match for SNAP/EBT shoppers and accepts WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits. Kids Kits offer a free recipe and ingredients kit each month while supplies last. The Buy One, Give One initiative invites shoppers to purchase extra portions for donation to a local food bank, supporting farmers while helping families experiencing food insecurity.

These studio sessions with Champaign Urbana Puppet People create a welcoming space to build puppets alongside a supportive group. Help is available for anyone new to puppet making, with PPs offering tips and encouragement. Attendees can also ask about goals, membership, and available classes.

Join the Tuesday Happy Hour Goat Hike for a fun, guided walk around the Eastern part of the farm, featuring plenty of scenic photo stops and time for the goats to run. Check in at the farm store, and the hike starts at the apple tree in front of the store. The hike lasts about 30 to 45 minutes and includes a beverage of your choice (up to $12) from the bar at the conclusion of the hike. The hike is outdoors, ages 8 and up, and it may be canceled if temperatures and the “feels like” conditions go over 90 degrees, with a refund or reschedule offered.

Continuing through the summer, Tuesday Music Bingo at Brothers offers a simple twist on classic bingo built around music. Enjoy Tuesday night burger and drink specials. Winners can take home fun prizes, and there is a raffle drawing each week. General trivia also takes place on Wednesdays.

Hang out in the cat lounges for 50 minutes with 20+ adoptable cats. This reservation helps support their care and also gives the cats chances to socialize, even if you are not looking to adopt. All cats come from local non-profit rescues, and adoption fees go to the originating rescue. The cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, and tested for common pathogens. Advance reservations are the only way to guarantee lounge time, with walk-ins welcome if space is available.

At The Axe Bar, Twin City Trivia takes over with a free, team-based quiz night featuring seven rounds that test knowledge and keep the laughs coming. There is no entry fee and no app required, so both first-time players and seasoned quizzers can dive right in. Prizes go to the top teams, and bragging rights are on the line across all seven rounds. Gather friends, pick a table, and see if your crew can rise to the top during a relaxed night out.

VFW Post 5520 hosts a free trivia night featuring Twin City Trivia, built around seven rounds that test knowledge and spark plenty of laughs. Teams compete for bragging rights, with prizes awarded to the top scorers. There is no entry fee and no app is needed. Bring friends to form a team, settle in, and find out whether your table can come out on top.

Join the Music Bingo series at Pour Bros Craft Taproom for a fun, music-themed twist on classic bingo. It runs as a lively evening event, hosted by Whaddayaknow?. Come ready for a relaxed night of music and prizes while you play along.

Join for the Summer Edition of Wednesday Night Trivia at Brothers Bar & Grill. Trivia runs from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and you can also catch 50 cent wings starting at 9:00 PM.

Spend 50 minutes in the cat lounges with 20+ adoptable cats. This reservation helps cover the cats’ care and also gives them social time, even if you are not looking to adopt. The cats come from local non-profit rescues, and their adoption fees support the originating rescue. All cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, and tested. Advance reservations are the only way to guarantee lounge time, though walk-ins are welcome if space is available.

Settle into the patio at Baxters for an evening of live tunes, along with food, drinks, and a relaxed summer vibe. Enjoy the outdoor setting with a favorite beverage, weather permitting.

TyJon Charlie offers an intimate performance, threading stories of life’s peaks and valleys through heartfelt original songs. Blending indie folk with indie rock, the set shifts from luminous ballads to anthems that fill the room. The flow is seamless and invites listeners to settle in, tap along, or let loose. It centers on raw, soulful expression.

Enjoy an evening with author Maggie Su as she discusses her novel Blob: A Love Story, published by Harper in 2025. The book was named one of the best of 2025 by Debutiful, Electric Literature, and The New Yorker, and it was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award. Su serves as a fiction editor at New England Review and holds a PhD in fiction from the University of Cincinnati. She lives in South Bend, Indiana, with her partner, daughter, cat, and turtle. After her presentation, books will be available to purchase and a signing will follow. Presented with support from the Library Friends and the Library Foundation, this event is part of the Great Authors at the Library series. Admission is free.

Pour Bros. Craft Taproom Champaign hosts a weekly, award winning trivia night where teams put their knowledge to the test. To secure a spot, contact the taproom by email or direct message each week. Teams can include up to six people, and walk-ins may join a waiting list if a spot opens due to no-shows. When the weather is warm, the action can move to the patio, conditions permitting. Expect drink specials, gift cards for top finishers, and swag giveaways. The taproom offers a pour your own experience and is food friendly, so bringing in food or arranging delivery is welcome. For updates and chances at bonus points, follow Whaddayaknow? Free Pub Trivia - Champaign on Facebook and @champaigntrivia on Instagram.

Spend 50 minutes in the cat lounges with 20+ adoptable cats. This reservation helps cover their care costs and also supports socializing the cats, even if you are not looking to adopt. The cats come from local non-profit rescues, and all adoption fees go to the rescue they came from. They are spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, and tested for common pathogens. Reservations are required to guarantee lounge time, though walk-ins may be available if there is space.

The second edition of this playful twist on a duck race sends flamingos coursing down a curving water course toward a finish in the pool, supporting CU Special Recreation’s Flamazing programs. The flock bobs, glides, slides, and spins as they vie for first place. Registration allows entrants to choose how many flamingos to enter, priced at $5 each or $40 for a Zazzle, which is 10. Before race morning, numbers for each entered flamingo are shared so entrants know which ones to root for. A rain date is planned.

Take a 30-minute guided farm tour at Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery, with a walkthrough of the pastures and barns as part of a working farmstead creamery. The tour covers their regenerative farming practices and includes a chance to meet their Nubian and LaMancha goats. After the walk, the experience wraps up back at the Farm Store with a seasonal cheese tasting of current favorites.

Start the new school year with a playful celebration. Children can jump, slide, and enjoy a variety of inflatable attractions, and all activities are free. Bring friends and plenty of energy for a family-friendly burst of bouncing fun.

Friday Night Lights launches in 2026 as a free gathering for the automotive community, welcoming enthusiasts to display their vehicles and connect with fellow car lovers. Taking place on the second Friday of each month, it continues a tradition tied to the Champaign-Urbana car scene since 2008. Photographers are encouraged to capture the excitement and share on Instagram with #itsawrapauto for potential features. To keep the experience enjoyable for everyone, burnouts, loud music, and reckless driving are strictly prohibited.

This is a lighthearted trivia night at the library for individuals or groups. Attendees can mingle, form a team, and pick up a snack before the questions begin, and the themes change each month. It is part of the Unbooked summer series, which also rotates in bingo, puzzles, card games, and a concert. There is no cost to attend.

For the Culture is hosting a Comedy Night and Open Mic at The Literary, celebrating Black humor, storytelling, and how laughter helps build community. Expect a mix of comedy, storytelling, spoken word, and music, along with open mic performances where community members can share jokes, life stories, poems, songs, or perspectives. If you’re not performing, you’re welcome to relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the night with neighbors.

Enjoy a live guided tour of the night sky, paired with legendary stories passed down since ancient times. Learn which constellations and planets you can spot from your own backyard tonight. The program is refreshed each season and welcomes all ages. Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for Parkland students, seniors 65 and older, and children 12 and under. Passes are available for purchase in the lobby starting a half hour before the first show.