Festivals and Special Events

Downtown Champaign plays host to a number of large and successful community events. Find a few highlights of our events here!

Downtown Parade of Lights

The December holiday season can’t begin until Santa has arrived in Downtown Champaign. The Downtown Parade of Lights is made possible through a joint partnership with the Champaign Park District, News-Gazette and Champaign Downtown Association. This annual parade and tree lighting takes place in early December. The parade features over 50 entries including local marching bands and service organizations.

For more information visit the Champaign Park District

Roger Ebert Film Festival

There is no hotter ticket in town every April than the Roger Ebert Film Festival. Once a year native son Roger Ebert comes home and brings with him a three day film festival chalked full of celebrities. This event is sponsored by the University of Illinois College of Media and held at the Virginia Theatre.

For tickets and more information, visit Ebertfest.com

Boneyard Arts Festival

Each April hundreds of artist decent on Champaign-Urbana for the annual Boneyard Arts Festival. Sponsored by 40 North, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, and The News-Gazette, this event transforms stores and restaurants into art galleries for an incredibly diverse range of performing, spoken and visual art throughout the weekend.

For more information, visit 40 North Boneyard Arts Festival.

Artists Against Aids

This April fundraiser brings awareness and smiles as artist descend on Downtown to display and sell art for a good cause. The event recently moved to the auditorium space of the vacant Orpheum Theater. This gorgeous space offers a glimpse into the art of historic theaters while offering a venue the whole family can enjoy. This event is sponsored by the Greater Community Aids Project (GCAP).

For more information, visit 40 North and www.gcapnow.com

Taste of Champaign-Urbana

The summer can’t officially begin until Champaign-Urbana comes together in West Side Park and fills their appetite with all their local favorites. This annual June event sponsored by the Champaign Park District features over 60 local restaurants and vendors along with live entertainment and games. The event is held the second weekend of June each year.

For more information visit the Champaign Park District.

Downtown Streetfest

There is no better way to beat the heat every summer than by enjoying a night with thousands of your closest friends on the streets of Downtown. Sponsored by the Champaign Park District, City of Champaign, and Champaign Downtown Association, this event holds a “music crawl” through downtown businesses on a Friday in July, then three stages highlight different music acts for friends and family to enjoy on the following Saturday. Inflatables and other activities make this an event for the whole family!