The Champaign Park District has offered up an early holiday present for fans of Prairie Farm.
CPD announced it is extending the season for the farm, which has traditionally closed in mid-August, around the time students return to school. Not this year, however. The park district will keep the popular attraction open through Oct. 26, on Fridays through Sundays. Hours are 1-7 p.m. The petting zoo is open 3-5 p.m.
“We are workshopping additional ways to utilize the farm throughout the season and this fall were able to make extended hours work,” said Chelsea Norton, CPD’s director of marketing and development. “We are in the middle of an assessment of the farm for programming and amenities and look forward to the results of that later in the year that will help continue to guide these decisions and help us create a new Master Plan for the farm as well.”
Prairie Farm will have a bevy of programming options as well:
- Story time
- Bunny Play Area
- Moo-vie Night on Sept. 12
- Prairie Farm Barn Bash on Sept. 27
- Friday Night at Prairie Farm on Oct. 18
Prairie Farm has been a popular summer feature for years. People of all ages enjoy the animals, but kids are particularly enthralled by the interaction with the farm’s inhabitants.