Summer Parades in the Champaign-Urbana Area

Parades at festivals, parades on the Fourth of July, parades with candy, parades with bands — there is so much to love about Champaign-Urbana area parades during the summer

True confessions: WE LOVE PARADES.

We love parades so much, we decided to write an article about our favorite parades in Champaign-Urbana. We do this with the caveat that EVERY PARADE IS A GREAT PARADE.

High parade season in Champaign-Urbana and surrounding communities typically takes place between June through September, and then a dip up until the Christmas parades start up again in November.

This article will focus on summer parades, in other words, parades between Memorial Day and Labor Day. We will do another article about fall parades and winter-holiday parades later this year.

Here’s a list of three of our favorites, listed in chronological order. Below that is a listing of all summer parades on our calendar (and we keep adding more, so check in again.)

Tolono Fun Days Parade
DATE: June 25, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Tolono (about 15 minutes south of Champaign, if you’re not familiar. Take Route 45 South.)
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: Tolono Fun Days parade is the first of the Fourth of July parades. We love it because it always involves a lot of kids on floats, tons of fire trucks, and loads of candy. It’s authentic to its community, and that’s always the hallmark of a great parade.

Seymour 4th of July Parade
DATE: July 4, 10 a.m.
WHERE: Seymour (about 10 minutes south of Mahomet. Take I-72 west toward Monticello and get off at the Mahomet exit and head south, not north toward Mahomet.)
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: If you’re looking for a nostalgic small-town parade near Champaign-Urbana, this one is a winning option. This year, the parade returns to the morning of July 4th. Tons of tractors and fire engines in this parade, along with local marching bands and more.

Labor Day Parade (aka The Candy Parade)
TIME OF YEAR: Labor Day. No really, this is actually ON Labor Day. Typically in the morning. (Editor’s Note: this is usually confirmed much later in the summer)
WHERE: Rumor has it this Urbana parade is being moved to Champaign this year. We are watching this info closely for an official announcement.
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: This is called the Candy Parade for a reason: because your child will get tons of candy. Typically this parade gets really hot weather, so much so that people enjoy the floats with the kid supersoakers.

All Area Parades Coming Up This Summer

Sunday, July 3, 2022

Bellflower Sesquicentennial

Don Harden Field, Time: 9:30 am - 8:00 pm
Parade at 9:30 a.m., activities all day, fireworks at dusk.

Monday, July 4, 2022

Champaign County Freedom Celebration

Memorial Stadium, Time: All Day
Youth run and 5K first thing in the morning with parade beginning at 11:05 a.m. Watch the parade along Kirby/Florida or Lincoln Avenue. Fireworks at dusk.

Sibley Area 4th of July

Lake Park, Time: 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
Parade at 11:30 a.m. The day wraps up with fireworks over Lake Sibley.

Rantoul Freedom Celebration- Parade

Parade ends at Wabash Park, Time: 9:30 am - 11:00 am
The Rantoul Freedom Celebration Parade kicks off at 9:30am.

Homer Freedom & Music Festival

Homer Village Hall, Time: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Near Village Hall. 10am parade, food trucks, live music and family-friendly fun.

LeRoy Fourth of July Parade

American Legion Ruel Neal Post 79, Time: 10:00 am
Parade steps off at 10 a.m.

Oakwood Fourth of July Parade

Oakwood Park, Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Parade at 11 a.m.

Seymour Parade

Seymour, Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
The Fourth of July parade will march through Seymour on July 4 at 10 a.m. Fireworks will be that night at dusk.

Tuscola Parade

Downtown Tuscola, Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Parade kicks off a celebration for the Fourth of July.

Bement Fourth of July

Bement City Park, Time: 2:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Parade at 2 p.m.

Bellflower Sesquicentennial

Don Harden Field, Time: 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Parade at 9:30 a.m., activities all day, fireworks at dusk.

Saturday, July 30, 2022

Sidney Fun Daze

Sidney, Time: All Day
Sidney Fun Daze features a kiddie tractor pull, inflatables, a parade and live music!

Friday, August 5, 2022

Annual Steam Threshing Show

Illinois Amish Heritage Center, Time: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Don't miss the "Parade of Power", held each day.

Saturday, August 6, 2022

Annual Steam Threshing Show

Illinois Amish Heritage Center, Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Don't miss the "Parade of Power", held each day.

Saturday, September 3, 2022

Arthur Amish Country Cheese Festival

Downtown Arthur, Time: All Day
This Amish Country cheese festival is full of family fun with a parade, tractor pull, music, inflatables, pony rides, face-painting and more!

Friday, September 9, 2022

Arcola Broom Corn Festival

Downtown Arcola, Time: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Free admission and entertainment; food and crafts for sale. Visitors can see broom activities, arts/crafts, free entertainment, great food, and more.

Saturday, October 1, 2022

CU Pride Parade

Downtown Urbana, Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Parade Info Parade – The parade will begin Saturday, October 1st at 3:00 PM in Urbana, IL. More info will be added here as it becomes available.

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Farmer City Christmas Parade

Downtown Farmer City, Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
One of the largest Christmas parades in central Illinois with marching bands, holiday floats, Shriners, antique cars and tractors, and much more!