Well, in case you’ve been living under a rock, you know that this weekend is the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival. We adore this festival so much that we wrote up a family fun guide to help you plan your visit. But that’s not all that’s going on this weekend — it’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Here are some picks:
Like to see things in the air? This is the weekend to do it! Air show in Coles County, hot air balloons in Lincoln, and large remote control airplanes in Champaign.
More Festivals: Head out to Mahomet for the Sangamon River Festival, Friday night and Saturday. There will be carnival rides ($17 armbands available Friday and Saturday for unlimited rides); a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday; and lots of free music. Over in Danville, there’s the Illinois Renaissance Festival, featuring swordfights, jousting, bellydancing, combat demonstrations, comedy troupes, music and more. (From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; free parking; general admission is $6, kids 0-5 are free.) In Royal, another small Champaign County town, there will be “The Royal Day;” inflatables from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a golf cart parade at 2:30 p.m.
Up in the Air: Check out the large radio-controlled aircraft during the Champaign County Radio Control Club Big Bird Fly-In, both Saturday and Sunday (9 a.m. to dark; Sunday, the show is more in the morning). Free admission and parking; food will be available on site. Or go see some full-size planes and other vehicles at the Coles County Airport Authority Air Show at the Coles County Airport; also free admission. Helicopter and monster truck rides will be available for a fee. Show starts at noon Saturday. If you’re willing to go a little further, head up to the Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival, Friday -Sunday; there’s even tethered hot air balloon rides for kids (for a fee). Morning and evening launches, as well as family entertainment, rides, kite making and more.
High school sports: The Illinois high school football season kicks off the season Friday night; head out and root root root for the home team (Central, Mahomet-Seymour, and Unity will host Friday, to name a few). Most have 7 p.m. kickoffs. Boys soccer and girls volleyball are also getting into full swing.
For more great ideas this weekend, visit our Events Calendar.
