Our Favorite Fall Parades in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond

Our Favorite Fall Parades in Champaign-Urbana

Parades happen in Champaign-Urbana (and neighboring towns) practically all the time — really! The only “dry spell” is between the final Christmas parades and the summer parades. Still, more than half the year you can find a parade near you.

This article will focus on fall parades; in other words, parades beginning at Labor Day through mid-November, when winter holiday parades start. We will do another article about those holiday parades later this year; stay tuned.

Sure, summer is prime parade season, but with fall comes tons of homecoming parades, including the University of Illinois homecoming (the time for this parade is still TBA), festival parades, and so much more.

No matter how you look at it, there are plenty of parades to satisfy our appetites.

We’ve picked our favorite fall parades, which will be followed by a list of all parades we know of after Labor Day and before holiday parades. As always, our calendar has more info, and we will keep adding to this list. Want to add your parade to this article? Submit it to our events calendar now.

Our favorite fall parade picks near Champaign-Urbana

1. Champaign County Labor Day Parade aka “The Candy Parade”
TIME OF YEAR: Annually on Labor Day
WHERE: New this year, the parade has moved to downtown Champaign!
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: Candy, need we say more? At least that’s all your kids need to hear to be interested in going. This is a great countywide celebration of our neighbors in labor and that is all the reason to come out to the parade. There will be a picnic at West Side Park at the conclusion with free food and games courtesy of event organizers. All are welcome.

2. Arcola Broomcorn Festival Parade
TIME OF YEAR: September (typically the weekend following Labor Day weekend), on Saturday in the afternoon
WHERE: Arcola (about 30 minutes southwest of Champaign-Urbana). Take I-57 South. If you get to Mattoon, you’ve gone too far.
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: Because this is truly a sight to see. It’s kind of hard to explain the famous Lawn Rangers, who march with old lawnmowers, unless you have seen it. This is a fairly lengthy parade, with lots of entries. Bring your bags! And don’t forget to stay for the festival.

broomcorn festival arcola — The famous Lawn Rangers at the Broomcorn Festival parade.

3. The Champaign-Urbana Pride Festival Parade
TIME OF YEAR: In 2022, it is scheduled for Oct. 1 at 3 p.m.
WHERE: Downtown Urbana
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: Yes, everyone will be decked out in rainbow colors. But remember what this is all about: respecting others, celebrating love, and building a supportive community where all are welcome and more importantly — all are VALUED. And yes, it is family-friendly. This parade gets longer every year as more and more groups join in to show their support.

4. The University of Illinois Homecoming Parade
TIME OF YEAR: Homecoming 2022 is on Saturday, Oct. 15
WHERE: Campustown; goes from Champaign into Urbana.
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: Get into the spirit by wearing orange and blue. We love seeing the Marching Illini! We don’t yet have the official announcement for when the parade will be in 2022. It used to be held on Friday evening, but last year it was held on Saturday morning before the Homecoming football game. Stay tuned.

All Champaign-Urbana area parades this fall

Friday, November 11, 2022

Veterans Day Parade

Tuscola Ervin Park, Time: 11:00 am
The Tuscola VFW will host their annual Veterans Day Parade.

Piatt County Veteran's Day Parade

Downtown Monticello, Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The American Legion Piatt County Council will be hosting the annual Veteran's Day Parade. It will start from the VFW building and head up to the square. There will be a ceremony on the square near the Veteran's Memorial. Speakers will include our County American Legion Commander and the Auxillary…read more…