Downtown Festival of the Arts This Weekend!

The Downtown Festival of the Arts will be filling the streets of Champaign on Neil Street and at the intersection of Main and Neil. Live entertainment will be going on from a wide selection of genres from Hathaways, an Acoustic/Folk group, to Desafinado, playing Samba/Brazilian music. The other two stage feature performance art and family entertainment. Booths will be lining the streets with artists from all over the region while also having an entire section for the little artists in downtown to show their talents. Historic downtown tours will also be available at 1 and 3 pm leaving from One Main Plaza. Come enjoy Champaign, experience art, and create memories.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

10AM – 7PM

Neil Street, Main Street, and Church Street in Downtown Champaign

Fun for All Ages

Event Map and Line Up

Champaign Park District

Champaign Champagne Festival This Saturday!

THE CHAMPAIGN-CHAMPAGNE FESTIVAL
AUGUST 22nd IN DOWNTOWN CHAMPAIGN
(located behind The News Gazette)

9am – Gates Open to the Public (Admission is FREE though we will be asking for a $3.00 suggested donation at the gates). All donations will help support the festival, CDA and other not-for-profits involved in the event.

“THE ORANGE AND BLUE BRUNCH” TO BENEFIT COACHES VS CANCER. BROUGHT TO YOU BY JIM GOULDS AND BELTONE.
10am – Our Orange and Blue Brunch will benefit Coaches vs Cancer so come join theUniversity of Illinois Coaches and help support the American Cancer Society. Jim Goulds will be providing the brunch and will feature Mimosa’s, Blueberry waffles, freshly carved ham, a build your own omelet station, quiche, fresh pastries and other orange and Blue theme brunch creations. (All you can eat brunch buffet provided by Jim Goulds, $20.00 per person includes beverages and 1 Mimosa or champagne drink of your choice) **MUST BE 21 TO DRINK CHAMPAGNE**

“LUNCH IS ON”
12 noon – Lunch starts around noon so.. join our local restaurants and many others as they create exciting new dishes and give us all an opportunity to taste them. Come on over and see what creative culinary dishes our downtown restaurants have to offer.

“FRIENDS AND FAMILY”
12 noon – The official opening of the kids and family area… Bring the family out join the fun. There will be plenty of contests, games, inflated rides, carnival games and much more.

“THE BUBBLE BATTLE”
3pm – Bring your favorite bubble making equipment out and get involved. We will provide all the bubble juice and you bring your wands, bubble guns, bubble blowers or whatever you need to make the biggest, best or most bubbles.

“THE BUBBLEGUM BUBBLE BATTLE “
4:30pm Be the one to hold the annual title of the Biggest Bubblegum Bubble Blower in the city of Champaign . Bring your favorite bubblegum, and bring a lot of it to blow the biggest bubble in Champaign. Judges will congratulate you, children will “oooh!” and “aahh!” at your feats of grandeur, and mothers will cringe when the bubblegum bubble bursts and gum goes everywhere!

PICCADILLY BEVERAGE SHOPS
“CHAMPAGNE SEMINARS”
3pm – TBA
5pm – TBA
7pm – TBA
Learn a little about what makes a good Champagne, where it comes from, how to saber a bottle and much more. Ask the experts at Piccadilly Beverage Shops any questions you may have about champagne or any other beverage.

“A TOAST TO THE TOWN”
3:15 – W/ TBA
5:15 – W/ TBA
7:15 – W/ Champaign Mayor Jerry Schweighart
9:15 – W/ TBA
Join in the excitement that is downtown! We will be having a few special “TOAST TO THE TOWN” sessions given by some of our very own local celebs (TBA). Just a way to say thanks for being part of the event and supporting all that downtown Champaign has to offer. This is going to be a record setting event so lets see how people we can pack downtown and get to raise a glass! CHEERS!!

“THE CONCERT SERIES”
1:30 – 3pm – TBA
3:30 – 5pm – The Kilborn Alley Blues Band
5:30 – 7pm – The Tons O’ Fun Band
7:30 – 9pm – Yo Mama’s Big fat Booty Band http://www.bootyband.com/

“LATE NIGHT FOAM PARTY”
9:30 – 12am – It is THE largest foam party this town has ever seen, live local DJ’s – Mertz, Belly and others will be spinning records and pumping out the beats as we roll the foam. Tons of soapy foam and the areas greatest light show will make this a party to remember!

** Andrae’s Harley Davidson will be unleashing the 2010 line of bikes at our event. Come on down and visit with them and see the new line-up!!

**Christopher’s Fine Jewelers is giving away one huge diamond. To win you must purchase a Limited Edition Champaign-Champagne Flute. Inside each flute will be a stone, and there is a 1 in 400 chance that you will walk away with something special.

**The Point fencing club and school will be performing fencing demo’s, contests and much more. Stop by and say hi to Michael Vitoux club president and see what the club has to offer.