In Champaign-Urbana, fall family fun doesn’t have to drain the budget
It’s time to start planning some fun-filled family outings for the fall. And don’t worry — there’s a lot to do in the Champaign-Urbana area that won’t cost too much
We have the best of the best when it comes to fall fun in Champaign-Urbana and surrounding communities. And just like any other time of year, activities can quickly ring up a hefty price tag. So when you’re looking for something that is full of fall fun (that costs a bit less), we have a long list of ideas to fit the budget.
Chambanamoms thanks United Way of Champaign County for presenting this guide.
FREE developmental screenings are available for children from birth to age five in Champaign County, offering families helpful insights into how their child is growing and developing. These screenings look at areas like communication, social skills, and motor skills and are a simple way to check in on your child’s progress and connect with support if needed.
Offered through a partnership between Birth to Five Illinois, United Way of Champaign County, the Champaign County Home Visiting Consortium, and local schools, screenings are accessible and family-friendly.
Learn more and find out how to schedule a screening that works for you now.
For more information: Website
Load up on squash, pumpkins, fall greens and more at area farmers markets. Many continue well into October and offer great produce while supporting local farmers. Check out our tips for shopping Urbana’s Market at the Square with kids.
2. Flannel Fest
Head out to West Side Park to watch the lumberjack show — kids will love it! — and enjoy music, art, food trucks, crafts, games and more. This annual event is Oct. 24 this year.
3. Illini Football – Grange Grove
Join in the fun at football games without even walking into Gies Memorial Stadium. Head to Grange Grove before the game for free inflatables, face painting, a performance from the band, and more. Check out our Family Friendly Guide to Illini Sports to learn all about taking in Illini sports as a family.
4. Museum of the Grand Prairie
This museum located at Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve in Mahomet offers a variety of great educational programs for kids during fall, many of which are free or very cheap. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday (closed Thanksgiving) and subject to change at any time.
Opens in September with activities like a 10-acre corn maze, hay rides, pedal race carts, country gift shop, and a paintball shooting gallery as well as concessions on the weekends. Admission is free but check the website for individual activity pricing. Check out our top 10 things to do at the Rantoul ranch before you go.
Once again this year, we’re finding outdoor movies continuing into fall (we’re looking at you, Prairie Farm). And they can happen anywhere: projected on the sides of buildings, on giant inflatable screens and many other creative options.
It’s so much fun to head out to the apple orchard with an empty bag and fill it up! Find other fall-related fun at these locations while there. Curtis Orchard is a local fave, with others nearby.
Take advantage of the fall sporting events (aside from football) that the University of Illinois offers. There are tons of fun to watch and tickets are usually free or reasonably priced. Soccer (free) and volleyball (not free) are two family friendly favorites. Check out all the Illini sporting events coming up here.
Happening each fall, the CU Pride Festival and Parade is a great day of free family fun. It is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, with events happening all week long. Gather the details here. If the past is any indication, you’ll have a smile on your face the entire time.
Considered a Best Kept Secret by many local residents, Negangard’s offers a huge variety of pumpkins and gourds at affordable prices. It opens for the season in late September. Pack up the kids for an afternoon of fall fun but make sure to leave plenty of room for pumpkins — you’re going to need it. Editor’s tip: Swing by the Sidney Dairy Barn on the way home before it closes for the season.
We’ve got several famous Chambanamoms food posts to check out, in search of the “best” around. For fall, check out the best barbecue, pizza, pretzels, and burgers. Ice cream is great into fall, too!
12. Look Up At The Sky
Fall skies make great conditions for stargazing. Visit the state of Illinois’ only international “dark sky park” at Middle Fork River Forest Preserve. Another option: Visit the Parkland Planetarium for one of its shows.
13. Play at the Park
Exploring new parks is so much fun, especially when admiring the beautiful leaves changing colors. Check our park round-up and, remember, you can go to more than one!
14. BOO! Halloween Fun For All
It’s no secret Champaign-Urbana loves all things Halloween. We will have a fun post that has all our calendar’s Halloween events in one place, so prepare those costumes now and check back soon.
15. Roast hot dogs — and marshmallows too
Hot dogs over the fire are a fall tradition, that’s for sure. If a fire pit isn’t available, roast them over the range on a (gas) stove — really! So get out the forks and let the kids cook their own hot dogs in some fashion. Don’t forget to have some s’mores supplies on hand.
16. Go Outside — right in Champaign-Urbana
For great spots to view the fall colors, check out Anita Purves Nature Center and Busey Woods. It’s a great place to take a hike this fall. While there, explore the nature playscape, Busey Friendship Grove.
We’re lucky enough to have Monticello’s Allerton Park — named the most underrated tourist destination in Illinois by the Huffington Post — in our backyard. And it is stunning in the fall. Entry is free; go hiking, check out the formal gardens, hunt for the sculptures, have a picnic. Don’t want to bring food? Grab a bite at the Greenhouse Cafe.
18. Homer Lake Natural Playscape
Since it stays warm in the Champaign-Urbana area into October, it’s easy to get a Homer Lake visit in during the fall. Bonus: The leaves will be changing colors and looking beautiful. Always free and always fun — and dirty, too. The spider web makes a fun Halloween-themed photo. The water will be shut off, though.
It’s prime look-at-the-leaves season and we’re here for it — all of it. Check out our fall foliage map and pick some of the best spots to see fall colors.
20. Pumpkin Lights
Yes, it’s a thing. No need to wait for Christmas lights; find a pumpkin lights display near Champaign-Urbana. Visit Mahomet for the Crowley family’s glowing pumpkin display (dates TBA). Or head out to White Heath to drive through Pumpkin Hollow.
21. Visit a fall festival nearby
If you’re willing to drive just an hour or two beyond our wonderful community, there are many great fall festivals with free things to do. Eighty-five percent of the world’s pumpkin is processed in Morton (near Peoria), so there’s a fest for that of course, and the largest Halloween parade around can be found in Centralia. Check out fall festivals in the Champaign-Urbana area as well as those a little farther away. And it’s a great time of year to watch a parade.
Find everything related to fall in Champaign-Urbana:
- Fall Fun in Chicago: Free Days at the Best Museums
- Where to Take Fall Family Photos in Champaign-Urbana
- Champaign-Urbana Area Halloween Events and Activities
- Fall in Champaign-Urbana: Apple Picking, Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes
- Fall Parades in Champaign-Urbana
- 21 Things to Do During Fall (on a Budget) in Champaign-Urbana
- Champaign-Urbana Area Fall Fairs and Festivals
- Fall Fun for Families in Champaign-Urbana
- Apple Picking Near Champaign-Urbana
- Outdoor Concerts in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond
