Champaign-Urbana Area Baby Shower Guide

Whether you’re looking for a simple event to eat cake and sprinkle mom-to-be with diapers or a full-out baby shower for a larger group, we have the scoop on where people have baby showers in Champaign-Urbana

Your best friend/sister/neighbor has announced she’s having a baby and you want to take a role in showering her with gifts before baby arrives. Time to find a venue for that baby shower in Champaign-Urbana. Or perhaps you are the mom-to-be and you’re doing a little research on what is available in our community to help you plan for a gathering.

First babies tend to draw more of a traditional shower with larger groups of attendees and big-ticket items for the parents-to-be on the registry. No matter if it is someone’s first or fifth baby, there is always the opportunity to love on an expecting mama and shower her with tokens of well wishes for the roller coaster she’s about to embark on once baby arrives. More commonly known as a “sprinkle,” the basic tenets are still the same: eat food and have some laughs together.

So whether you go to tremendous lengths to book the perfect venue, decorating and catering for the event, or keep it relatively simple (and not-so-costly), you can throw a shower fit to make any already emotional pregnant woman weep the happy tears.

The Most Popular Venues to Host a Baby Shower in Champaign-Urbana

Now, you can always host a baby shower in someone’s home. And that will probably be the most budget-friendly option on the table, not to mention an intimate setting for a small group of friends or family. Additional popular options are places of worship, civic center and park district buildings.

For the purposes of this list, we will be referring to places outside of someone’s home. We also list the most costly venues first, with the least expensive options further down the list.

Pear Tree Estate

An elegant spot for weddings, Pear Tree Estate has options for more casual gatherings, too. Perhaps you just want a quiet space outdoors to gather and enjoy some small bites with your group while showering the mom-to-be with gifts. Plan ahead, as this place books up quickly.

Willow Creek Farm

You can have a gathering of any size at Willow Creek Farm, also a popular wedding spot. Inquire directly once you have an idea as to the size of group you will have.

Allerton Park and Retreat Center

We are huge fans of Allerton and it seems like you are, too! Any mom-to-be would be thrilled to don her prettiest maternity dress to be the guest of honor at this stunning venue. If you want to throw your party in the mansion, it will set you back at least $250. But the food (and the clean-up) is included. In fact, the only outside food you are allowed to bring is the cake. The grounds are public property, so if you bring all of your own, well, everything — and risk the bad weather — you can plan to host your event outdoors to enjoy the splendid views.

CityView

Located on the fourth floor of the Illinois Terminal overlooking downtown Champaign, this central location with easy parking makes a great baby shower location. You can rent the entire fourth floor or just one end of the floor for your event. Food and beverage must be coordinated with the in-house caterer, DISH.

Where to have a baby shower in Champaign-Urbana — Baby shower cupcakes for a girl and boy.

Big Grove

Big Grove has rooms perfect for baby showers. With three rooms to use individually or combined, the special event space at Big Grove can accommodate groups large and small. As it says on the website, “Here at Big Grove we pride ourselves on a thoughtful space that encourages guests to enjoy themselves and feel at home.” Having attended events here, we can attest to that vibe.

Hamilton Walker’s

You can fill out a form here to get a conversation going with the restaurant related to your event. Hamilton Walker’s can host very small groups to much larger ones.

Silvercreek

The greenhouse at Silvercreek is the most notable spot at the restaurant to host a shower — or rehearsal dinner or any occasion. A minimum food order is required, so make sure to chat with them as you plan to make sure your shower will be one that meets the requirements. A truly beautiful space for a shower, indeed!

Sun Singer

Sun Singer has a great room for gatherings. Call to get specifics on what will be required to reserve the room.

Jupiter’s at the Crossing

If pizza, nachos and wings are what the mom-to-be is craving, somewhere like Jupiter’s at the Crossing might be the best option for your shower. The bottom floor is the most family-friendly (kids along for the ride?) while the upstairs is a popular spot for showers. Order by the platter to make hosting a group even easier.

The Lake House at Crystal Lake Park

The Lake House at Crystal Lake Park in Urbana is available for showers, and can be a bargain for what you get. The upper/outdoor terrace spaces cost approximately twice as much but come with scenic views.

Anita Purves Nature Center

A baby shower at a nature center? Yes! The cost for renting a room at Anita Purves begins at just $25/hour, with a two-hour minimum. And thanks to some thoughtful layout of this building, you can easily avoid the snakes and reptiles for the entire length of your visit, if you desire. You need to reserve at least two weeks in advance of your shower.

Urbana Park District also has more rooms throughout the community that you can rent.

Harvest Market

The upstairs space at Harvest Market makes a good spot to gather with a small group. You won’t be able to bring food in, but you can order from them ahead of time so your group has something to enjoy while you shower or sprinkle.

Schnucks, Urbana

We hear Schnucks has a good-sized room you can rent for no room fee — you just need to order your food and/or cake from the store for the gathering.

There’s a list of places in Champaign-Urbana you can rent a space, if you want more ideas.

More On Hosting a Baby Shower

If you’re shopping for party decor, one of our go-to places is Dollar Tree (located all over Champaign-Urbana). Party City has an even greater selection of decorations, if you have a specific theme in mind.

Don’t forget about The I.D.E.A. Store, which is a great resource if you are looking for second-hand decorations at a great price, while being mindful of the environment and utilizing something gently used. They may not have exactly what you’re looking for, but you can get some great ideas.

Thrift stores such as Goodwill, Restore, or one of our two local Salvation Army locations are also good places to check for unique, gently used party decorations. Used toys and children’s books could make cute centerpieces. At the very least, they’ve got you covered for vases.

When it comes to cake and other unique desserts, you have a number of different options available. Our grocery stores deliver terrific cakes, along with Costco and Sam’s Club. And then there are our locally owned bakeries:

For “All Things Baby” in the Champaign-Urbana area, check out this resource we’ve put together. From fertility through pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, we have compiled everything you want to read about when it comes to having a baby.