Summer, we love you, but fall fairs and festivals in Champaign-Urbana are awesome in their own special, pumpkin-filled ways
The weather may be getting (a little) cooler but the fall festivals in Central Illinois are heating up! The fall festival season includes events starting mid-August and running through early November.
There are so many to choose from in our area and each one offers some serious family fun. Feel like watching a parade? Carving a pumpkin? Watching a lumberjack competition? Taking in some folk and roots music? How about taking a train ride? There’s something for everyone at a festival near you this fall.
Here’s our list of fall festivals in the Champaign-Urbana area; we will continue to add to this list. (Click here for a sampling of fall festivals a little further away.)
Did we miss your favorite fall festival? Let us know so we can add it (email us – editor@chambanamoms.com.)
FALL FESTIVALS HAPPENING IN THE CHAMPAIGN-URBANA AREA
Hoopeston National Sweet Corn Festival
Where: Hoopeston
Date(s): 08/31/2023 – 09/04/2023
Highlights: The Hoopeston Sweetcorn Festival is unique in that, besides the normal carnival, demolition derby, Grand Parade and other events, they cook approximately 50 tons of sweetcorn with an antique steam engine and distribute the corn FREE. All events take place at the McFerren Park.
Westville Labor Day Celebration
Where: Westville
Date(s): 09/01/2023 – 09/04/2023
Highlights: The 112th Westville Labor Day Celebration is jam-packed with excitement for the entire family. A giant carnival with rides and games for all ages. They will once again bring you many vendors and great food options as well as their gigantic fireworks display in the park on Sunday evening. This year's Saturday night concert is Tracy Lawrence, with Murphy 500 opening. Tickets on sale now. Head to Westville for a weekend of fun and excitement. Monday will be host to the longest-running Labor Day Parade in downstate Illinois!
Arthur Amish Country Cheese Festival
Where: Arthur
Date(s): 09/02/2023 – 09/04/2023
Highlights: This Amish Country cheese festival is full of family fun with a parade, tractor pull, music, inflatables, pony rides, face-painting and more!
ARCOLA BROOMCORN FESTIVAL
Friday, September 8 – Sunday, September 10
Free admission and entertainment. Saturday features Pompeyo Family Dog Show performances, carnival opens at noon, HUGE broomcorn parade and live music to end the night.
09/08/2023 – Friday features Pompeyo Family Dog Show performances, the carnival opens, the National Broom Sweeping contest and live music to end the night. read more…
09/09/2023 – Saturday features Pompeyo Family Dog Show performances, carnival opens at noon, HUGE broomcorn parade and live music to end the night. read more…
09/10/2023 – Sunday features a Kiddie Tractor pull, Dog Show Performances and live outdoor music. read more…
Gibson City Harvest Fest
Where: Gibson City
Date(s): 09/08/2023 – 09/09/2023
Highlights: Gibson City Harvest Fest is a celebration of the local harvest season. Music, food, vendors, contests, kids activities - something to do for all ages.
Mum Fest
Where: Clinton
Date(s): 09/09/2023 – 09/10/2023
Highlights: There will be a lineup of concessions, craft vendors, bakers, artisans, and more. Sunday is Family Fun Day featuring all kinds of activities.
White Heath Homecoming
Where: White Heath
Date(s): 09/09/2023 – 09/09/2023
Highlights: Come out to celebrate the special small town of White Heath with some good old-fashioned fun! A parade through town will kick things off at 10:30am! Then, enjoy live music, a car show, food trucks, bingo, kids games, rides from the Monticello Railway Museum, barrel cars, Sally the Clown, a cake walk, and more throughout the day!
Riggs Oktoberfest
Where: Urbana
Date(s): 09/14/2023 – 09/17/2023
Highlights: Riggs Oktoberfest is a true “Festbier” style, which is crafted to emulate the beers that are served at the Oktoberfest in Munich. Check the schedule for music, food trucks and more Oktoberfest fun.
Swine 'N Dine Festival and BBQ Contest
Where: Paxton
Date(s): 09/16/2023 –
Highlights: Swine N' Dine features live music, kids’ activities, vendors, a bags tournament, a cruise-in, and of course – Great BBQ competition!
Country Fest
Where: Seymour
Date(s): 09/16/2023 – 09/17/2023
Highlights: A family fun event with pumpkins, mums, apples, craft & food vendors, free bounce houses and more!
Made Fest
Where: Urbana
Date(s): 09/22/2023 – 09/23/2023
Highlights: What All-ages, FREE, outdoor shopping market with art + goods created by regional artists. When Friday, September 22, 5 - 9 p.m. Saturday, September 23, 1 - 8 p.m. Where Rose Bowl Tavern Patio
Apple 'n Pork Festival
Where: Clinton
Date(s): 09/23/2023 – 09/24/2023
Highlights: Food stands featuring old-fashioned food items, antique displays, 19th century-inspired demonstrations and so much more at this large fall festival.
Broadlands Homecoming Festival
Where: Broadlands
Date(s): 09/23/2023 – 09/23/2023
Highlights: Lots of fun events for all ages are planned including a parade, bags tournament, live music, kids games and inflatables.
Homecoming Streetfest 2023
Where: Monticello
Date(s): 09/29/2023 – 09/30/2023
Highlights: Fieldhouse 219 and Grace & Mae Boutique are excited to be hosting another Streetfest! They have activities planned for everyone on Friday evening and Saturday!
CU PRIDE FEST
Saturday, September 30
Join The UP Center for their 14th Annual CU Pride Fest! With great events all week leading up to CU Pride Fest Parade & Vendor Fair in Downtown Urbana, you won’t want to miss this event!
09/30/2023 – Join thousands of LGBTQ+ folx and allies in celebrating all things PRIDE and check out all of the incredible artisans, resources, local businesses, and other INCREDIBLE vendors throughout the afternoon. Be sure to be front row for when the parade steps off at 2:30pm and help celebrate all things LOVE and PRIDE! read more…
Crop Sciences Harvest Open House
Where: Urbana
Date(s): 09/30/2023 –
Highlights: Crop Sciences is excited to share the scientific advances in agriculture production with those of all ages through fun, hands-on activities. Help them welcome the fall season with pumpkins, popcorn, science, and family fun!
Soul Food Family Festival
Where: Urbana
Date(s): 09/30/2023 –
Highlights: Come out for a soulful, fun celebration of family, food, and culture! Enjoy delicious food from vendors, cultural and health activities, and be entertained by amazing local gospel artists.
Harvest to Home
Where: Arthur
Date(s): 10/06/2023 – 10/07/2023
Highlights: Harvest to Home returns to broaden activities and demonstrations, teaching show attendees how crops were grown and harvested during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Amish continue using many of these methods in their farming operations today. Wood and lumber demonstrations are a big attraction. This year, you will see sawmilling powered by gas and steam power, plus a buzz saw. Field demonstrations will feature horse and tractor plowing, corn stalk chopping and disking.
Muncie Fall Festival
Where: Muncie
Date(s): 10/06/2023 – 10/08/2023
Highlights: Don't miss the Muncie Fall Festival! It will be a weekend full of vendors, food trucks, and live music
Lake Shelbyville Balloonfest
Where: Shelbyville
Date(s): 10/06/2023 – 10/08/2023
Highlights: Enjoy balloons over Lake Shelbyville!
VILLAGE OF CAMARGO WOOLLY WORM FESTIVAL
Saturday, October 7
The Village of Camargo is so excited to bring back the Woolly Worm Festival this fall!
10/07/2023 – The Village of Camargo is so excited to bring back the Woolly Worm Festival this fall! Inflatables, Aikman Wildlife show, pony rides, touch-a-truck, inflatables and more. read more…
Urbana Fall Fusion Festival
Where: Urbana
Date(s): 10/07/2023 –
Highlights: 40 North and Urbana Arts & Culture Program are taking over downtown Urbana on Saturday, October 7th from 4-8pm for the first ever Urbana Fall Fusion Festival! Enjoy live music, art, performances, professional pumpkin carving demo, kids' activities, photo ops and more!
CU Folk and Roots Festival
Where: Urbana
Date(s): 10/12/2023 – 10/14/2023
Highlights: The Champaign-Urbana Folk and Roots Festival is an all-volunteer-run, grassroots festival that brings together national, regional and local artists and folk organizations for over 80 high-quality folk performances and participatory activities throughout downtown Urbana. The festival includes performances, dances, instructional sessions, jams, song-circles, family activities, storytelling, instrument-making and much, much more!
Paxton's Fall Gathering
Where: Paxton
Date(s): 10/14/2023 –
Highlights: Paxton's Fall Gathering will be a family-friendly day for all ages! They will have a vendor show to wander and shop from 9AM-4PM, along with the debut of our pop-up pumpkin patch, Paxton's Market Street Pumpkins. The pumpkin patch will have a variety of pumpkins in a range of sizes, gourds, mums, corn and all the items to get your Fall decor looking sharp. Children can take part in free activities at the patch. Paxton Main Street will also host a Pancake Day from 9am-1pm to start your day right. Live music throughout the day and food trucks on hand as well. No admission fee and FREE parking throughout Paxton.
Fall Family Festival at the Stephens Family YMCA
Where: Champaign
Date(s): 10/14/2023 –
Highlights: Join the Stephens Family YMCA for a day filled with fun family activities! Lots of family-friendly activities! Lunch will be available for the first 1,000 people!
Flannel Fest
Where: Champaign
Date(s): 10/14/2023 – 10/15/2023
Highlights: Watch the Lumberjack Show perform demonstrations throughout the two-day event, along with beer, live music, games, food and more.
Scarecrow Festival in AMBUCS Park
Where: Urbana
Date(s): 10/21/2023 –
Highlights: Barrel train rides, hay rack rides, food, and lots of fun!
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