Good Day
Champaign
Friday, March 27th, 2026
Good morning, Champaign. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 27th of March.
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Youth performers (mainly high schoolers) are staging spring musicals in Champaign-Urbana; Dreamland is on today at St. Joseph-Ogden High School at 7:00 p.m., and Shrek the Musical will play at Central High School from April 23 to April 26. ChambanaMoms
- ➤ The 2026 Mahomet Music Festival will take place Aug. 28 and 29 along Main Street in downtown Mahomet and will feature free concerts by national, regional and local acts. Country artist Craig Morgan will headline Saturday while VIP packages with meals and drinks will be available. WICS
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Local farmers face rising fertilizer costs as Middle East tensions push ammonia prices up by $500 from last year — this extra expense may add about $50 per acre and raise concerns for next season's crop planning. WAND
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Parkland College marks 60 years of serving local students and community members. The institution will host a gala in November (highlighting alumni and faculty stories) as it continues to expand programs that prepare students for future career paths. WAND
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ A&A Concrete will patch pavement on Fox Drive from 1902 Fox Drive to just north of Devonshire Drive as part of a concrete patching project. The road will be closed temporarily from Monday, March 30 at 7 a.m. until Friday, April 3, weather permitting. City of Champaign
- ➤ The City of Champaign is selling a 2010 Ford F-250 SD XL 2WD via an online auction on GovDeals, with bids accepted until Thursday, April 2 at 2 p.m. CDT (bidding details are posted online). City of Champaign
- ➤ Illinois passed the Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act — a law that makes companies pay to fund battery recycling — shifting costs from Champaign’s Public Works drop-off program. Starting Jan. 1, it will be illegal to toss covered batteries in the trash. City of Champaign
- ➤ Illinois House committee approved an evidence-based funding formula for public universities with a vote of 12—4; the bill now moves to the House floor for further debate, aiming to ease tuition pressure by matching funds to each university's needs. WAND
- ➤ A&A Concrete will close Salem Road at its intersection with Foothill Drive from 7 a.m. today until Monday, March 30 (weather permitting) as part of the 2026 Concrete Patching Project. Access to adjacent properties will remain open. City of Champaign
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ A new VA clinic will open this summer at 1702 S. Mattis Ave. (Suite #101), located next to the Champaign Endoscopy Center and Carle Neuroscience Institute Sleep Medicine as Carle Health partners with the VA Illiana Health Care System to extend veteran care. WAND
- ➤ Healthy Champaign County hosted its annual food summit in Champaign where community organizations & local health leaders discussed food insecurity and efforts to improve access to food. OSF Healthcare program manager Camille Birt emphasized that better collaboration among local groups may help address issues worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic. WAND
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Registration for the first C-U Triathlon is open for Champaign residents and others. The race begins on July 19 at 8:00 a.m. with a 400 yard swim, 10 mile bike ride, and 5 kilometer run; the event features games, music and food at the Stephens Family YMCA outdoor pavilion. The Daily Illini
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Good for the Soul Comedy Showcase
11 p.m. – 2 a.m. — Neil St. Blues — Tickets required — Enjoy a night of laughter with top-notch comedic talent in a unique VIP setting.
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Comedy Open Mic Night with Kristen Unakis
8-10 p.m. — The Space — Menu prices vary — Enjoy a night of laughter with local comedians and delicious food in downtown Champaign.
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Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt
10 AM – 12 PM — West Side Park — Free entry — Hop on down for one of the largest egg hunts in C-U and bring your basket!
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KPOP Universe Tribute Show
6:30-8 p.m. — I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center — Check event for pricing — Experience a dynamic live K-POP tribute show featuring professional dancers and authentic performances.
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Rug Event in Champaign, IL
April 9-12 — Ten Thousand Villages — Free entry — Discover exquisite hand-knotted rugs crafted under fair trade standards featuring styles from Tribal to Persian.
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Dueling Pianos Event
7-10 p.m. — Yellow & Co. Events — Full bar available — Experience an interactive night of music with Twilight Tunes as two pianists battle it out with your favorite songs.
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Beatles Night 2026
3-7 p.m. — The City Center — Free entry — Experience an afternoon of classic Beatles tunes while supporting a great cause for kids.
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Comedy Open Mic Night
8-10 p.m. — The Space — Free entry — Enjoy a night of laughter led by local comedic talent Kristen Unakis.
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Spring Explosion 2026
10 AM – 12 PM — Champaign County Fair Association — Admission details not specified — Enjoy the thrilling demolition derby action brought back by Derby Icons.
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The Table of Showbread Bible Study
6:30 AM – 9:00 PM — Come & See Event Center — Free registration — Delve into the significance of the Table of Showbread and its representation of God's provision.
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No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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Reveal the authorAbout Good Day Champaign
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