Good morning, Champaign.

Farmers markets in Champaign and Urbana offer fresh local produce, meats, baked goods, and handmade items from May through October—Market at the Square in Urbana runs Saturdays from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm while the Champaign Farmers Market operates downtown on Tuesdays from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Shoppers using SNAP or LINK benefits can triple their purchase tokens for eligible items at both markets.

On Sunday, local organizations led by the Mark Waldhoff Team and Myers & Sons held a tree giveaway at Riggs Beer Company in Urbana to celebrate Arbor Day—community members received free trees and had food trucks and drinks available.

The event offered 600 trees, with 300 Red Oak and 300 Bald Cypress trees standing between 4 and 5 feet tall.

Champaign man Harsha Gurujal—an ALS advocate whose mother passed away from the disease—said the ice bucket challenge has returned on social media to support mental health awareness.

The University of South Carolina group MIND has raised over $370,000 and is working toward a $500,000 goal while linking ALS research with mental health support.

A guide of Champaign-Urbana restaurants now lists special Mother’s Day menus for May 11 to help families plan their celebrations—restaurants like Baxters American Grille and Hamilton Walker’s recommend booking early due to high demand.

The list also features out-of-town options and notes that additional specials may be added as reservations continue to open.

The 16th Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend took place April 24-26 with nearly 11,000 runners competing and local Jaime Marcos winning the men’s marathon and Tera Moody winning the women’s race.

Organizers celebrated diversity through a Welcome Wave (with nearly 20 family-friendly participants) and continued partnerships with Deaf athletes and youth charities.

Illinois Football challenges student season ticket holders to make a 35-yard field goal—if successful, their ticket becomes free and all participants receive free Chick-fil-A.

The contest takes place at Memorial Stadium on May 8 from 4-7 p.m. and requires students to already have a ticket.

Cinderella Concert

7:30-11:30 p.m. — Virginia Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Rock out to the iconic sounds of hard rock band Cinderella, known for their hits from the '80s.

Champaign Cinco De Mayo Bar Crawl

4-11 p.m. — City of Champaign — Tickets available — Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with exclusive access to top bars and festive vibes.

Star Wars Trivia at Pour Bros

2-4 p.m. — Pour Bros. Craft Taproom — Free to play — Test your knowledge of the galaxy far, far away with exciting trivia and great prizes.

Cinco De Mayo Celebration

11 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. — Esquire Lounge — Order a Modelo pint and keep the souvenir glass while enjoying food and drink specials.

Touch-A-Truck Day

9 AM – 1 PM — Centennial Park — Free entry — Experience the thrill of climbing and honking real trucks and vehicles.

2025 Springtime Showdown #2

5 PM - 5 PM — Rantoul Family Sports Complex — $30 Adult Weekend Pass — Compete for a chance to enter the USSSA Great Lakes National Championships with exciting fastpitch action.

Illinois PTA SPOTLIGHT 2025

11 AM – 5 PM — Centennial High School — Registration required — Celebrate young artists' achievements with engaging workshops and an inspiring showcase of creativity.

The Space CU x Morning Jay’s Brunch Pop Up

10 AM – 3 PM — The Space — RSVP required — Experience a creatively delicious scratch-made brunch during UIUC Graduation weekend.

May Game Night: Theme TBA — CUDO Plays

6:30-9 p.m. — Hyatt Place Champaign/Urbana — Free entry — Connect with fellow game lovers and enjoy an evening of fun games and camaraderie.

Wiz Khalifa Concert

8-11 p.m. — The Canopy Club — $85/ealistmap — Get ready for a night of live music with Wiz Khalifa at the Canopy Club in Urbana.