The Boneyard Arts Festival is returning to Champaign-Urbana this spring and we have a list of family-friendly events
The Boneyard Arts Festival is a unique festival in that related events are spread out across a multitude of venues throughout Champaign County. Finding related arts events throughout this fun spring weekend is even easier with the list we have put together rounding up all of the ones that have been submitted to us. Have a Boneyard Arts Festival event you’d like included here? Submit it to our event calendar now.

Some background on the Boneyard Arts Festival, according to its website: Presented every spring by 40 North | 88 West, the Boneyard Arts Festival is a three-day event showcasing the broad range of creative activity flourishing in our community. Its goal is to bring together local artists, businesses and organizations for a special event showcasing the art of Champaign County. You can learn all about the Boneyard Arts Festival on the website here, or visit the festival Facebook page.
The vast majority of Boneyard Festival Events are family-friendly. But as we all know, some are more family-friendly than others; some you will find on the chambanamoms.com events calendar, and others you won’t.
These venues listed below have live performances or interactive events to keep your kiddos occupied.
A few exceptions: venues displaying local children’s artwork, because who doesn’t want to see their friends’ artwork? Best of all, they are ALL FREE (of course artwork will be available for purchase everywhere, so be prepared).
So, for your viewing pleasure, family-friendly 2023 Boneyard Festival Events:
Friday, April 14, 2023
Boneyard at KAM
Krannert Art Museum, Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Join Krannert Art Museum to view the latest exhibitions on display. Visitors of all ages can pick up the Faces of KAM scavenger hunt at the front desk.
BÄM! Boneyard Arts Market 2023
Lincoln Square Mall, Time: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
BÄM! - Boneyard Arts Market 2023 is featuring a range of art and artful goods from 40+ different local artists and artisans. Larger than before, this unique event brings artists and artisans together to offer artful goods and gifts and will be one of the biggest draws during the Boneyard…read more…
Bad Mule Rag Live! by Mark Roberts
Surface 51, Time: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Bad Mule, Inc. and Surface 51 present a live reading of "Bad Mule Rag" by Mark Roberts, creator of the CBS sitcom "Mike & Molly," for three special performances. "Bad Mule Rag" is a collection of comedic, heartwarming, and thought-provoking poems and stories, for kids and adults alike, written and…read more…
Saturday, April 15, 2023
BÄM! Boneyard Arts Market 2023
Lincoln Square, Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
BÄM! - Boneyard Arts Market 2023 is featuring a range of art and artful goods from 40+ different local artists and artisans. Larger than before, this unique event brings artists and artisans together to offer artful goods and gifts and will be one of the biggest draws during the Boneyard…read more…
Boneyard at KAM
Krannert Art Museum, Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Join Krannert Art Museum to view the latest exhibitions on display. Visitors of all ages can pick up the Faces of KAM scavenger hunt at the front desk.
55th Annual Art and Design Juried Student Exhibition
Parkland College, Time: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
The Giertz Gallery at Parkland College proudly announces the 55th Annual Juried Student Art & Design Exhibition. The exhibition comprises over 200 student works produced within the last year in Parkland Art and Design classes including Photography, Painting, Drawing, Metals, Three-Dimensional Design, Two-Dimensional Design, Color Theory, Graphic Design, Figure Drawing, and Ceramics.
Boneyard Arts Festival Art Show at the MIC
Meadowbrook Park Interpretive Center, Time: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
FREE! Boneyard Arts Festival Art Show at the MIC Saturday, April 15, 12pm-3pm | Meadowbrook Interpretive Center This year’s featured artist at the Meadowbrook Interpretive Center is Tim Summerville, a local artist from St. Joseph, IL. “I am a maker,” Tim says. “I have always had a strong drive to…read more…
LGBTQIA+ Family Fun Fest
Urbana Middle School, Time: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
The District's LGBTQIA+ Action Committee invites you to Family Fun Fest on April 15 at Urbana Middle School. There will be activities, food trucks, vendors, music and more. All are welcome to join this event as part of the Boneyard Arts Festival celebration. Vendors include: The Urbana Park District Teen…read more…
Bad Mule Rag Live! by Mark Roberts
Surface 51, Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Bad Mule, Inc. and Surface 51 present a live reading of "Bad Mule Rag" by Mark Roberts, creator of the CBS sitcom "Mike & Molly," for three special performances. "Bad Mule Rag" is a collection of comedic, heartwarming, and thought-provoking poems and stories, for kids and adults alike, written and…read more…
EU Day of Art 2023: Flamenco Workshop and Performance
Lincoln Square Mall, Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Please join the European Union Center, Illinois Flamenco-Jazz Collective, La Fuerza Flamenca, and special guest artist David Chiriboga for a one-hour flamenco dance workshop at 2pm on Saturday, April 15, followed by a flamenco-jazz music and dance performance at 3pm. The workshop and performance will be held in the south…read more…
Spring 2023 Showcase
Urbana/Champaign Independent Media Center, Time: 2:30 pm - 8:30 pm
2:30-5pm Crate and Chill with DJ Kamau and more! 4-5pm - Face Painting and Costume Play 5-6pm IMC Showcase Youth Stage 6-6:30pm Pizza Dinner 6:30-8:30pm IMC Showcase Adult Stage' This event is happening as part of the Boneyard Arts Festival.
Bad Mule Rag Live! by Mark Roberts
Surface 51, Time: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Bad Mule, Inc. and Surface 51 present a live reading of "Bad Mule Rag" by Mark Roberts, creator of the CBS sitcom "Mike & Molly," for three special performances. "Bad Mule Rag" is a collection of comedic, heartwarming, and thought-provoking poems and stories, for kids and adults alike, written and…read more…