While you prepare your Thanksgiving menu, you can start to shift into overall holiday spirit (however you choose) this weekend

Families can choose from many events and activities happening this weekend in Champaign-Urbana

Well, C-U families… it is holiday time. Many of us are making plans for Thanksgiving already, others are ready to start driving through the earliest days of Christmas lights (we’re not naming any names). Whatever you choose to do, there are holiday-themed events and activities to fit your desires this weekend in Champaign-Urbana.

Everything Holiday Season In and Around Champaign-Urbana

• Chanukah in Champaign-Urbana: What, When and Where to Shop
• What You Need to Know About Chanukah
• Where to Eat Dinner on Thanksgiving in Champaign-Urbana
• Where To Buy Toys in Champaign-Urbana
• 10+ Things to Do in Chicago this Holiday Season
• 10+ Things to Do in Indianapolis this Holiday Season
• Holiday Parades and Tree Lightings in the Champaign-Urbana Area
• Zoo Lights: Find them in Bloomington, Chicago, Indianapolis and Saint Louis
• 35+ Ways to have Holiday Season Fun on a Budget in Champaign-Urbana
• Where to Find Santa Claus in the Champaign-Urbana Area
• Where to Buy a Live Christmas Tree Near Champaign-Urbana
• Champaign-Urbana Area Christmas Shows, Concerts, Performances and More
• 10 Great Places to See Holiday Lights in Central Illinois 
• Night Lights Return to Lake of the Woods Botanical Garden
• Where to Order a Thanksgiving Turkey in Champaign-Urbana
• Lights to Illuminate Prairie Farm Again this Holiday Season
• Holiday Glow Returning to Allerton Park in 2026

Chambanamoms thanks Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts for presenting this weekend’s planner. 

Elmo’s Got the Moves

Make unforgettable memories with your little ones at Elmo’s Got the Moves, the all-new Sesame Street Live experience coming to the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, December 9!

Join Elmo and his Sesame Street friends for a high-energy, interactive show filled with singing, dancing and plenty of fun. Families can move along to fan-favorite songs like “Sunny Days,” “Elmo’s Got the Moves” and “Letter of the Day” while discovering playful ways to stay active through yoga, jumping rope and silly dance moves.

Designed for the whole family, this joyful experience brings the magic of Sesame Street from the screen to the stage, encouraging kids and parents to get moving, laugh together and make lasting memories.

For more information: Website

A few events to check out this weekend

Looking for something to do with your family? You’ve come to the right place! Our events calendar aggregates family-friendly events happening in the Champaign-Urbana metro area. We know you’re busy and looking for a bang for your buck, so we put an emphasis on including free and low-cost events that you can plan to attend on the fly. Please note that events are subject to change without notice.

Find the complete chambanamoms.com event calendar by clicking here now.

Remember, many sporting events and outdoor activities are subject to change without notice or at the last minute. Check with event organizers when in doubt before heading out to an event. 

Featured Event – Christie Clinic Presents: Toddler Time at The Treehouse

Enjoy a morning of FREE fun at The Treehouse on Tuesday, November 17, from 10-11:30 a.m.

This event is free, but capacity is limited! Come right at the beginning for the best chance of getting in to play.

This event is perfect for littles ages 0-5 and their caregivers.

Thanks to Christie Clinic, our presenting sponsor for our Toddler Time events.

For more information: Facebook

I-Power Gymnastics and Ninja

Looking for a date night? Register your kiddos for I-Power’s next parents’ night out event! November 21, 6-9 p.m. The theme this month is Nerf Wars! Be ready for lots of nerf action fun as well as playtime & games in the gym, pizza, juice & dessert.

$40 for the first child, $25 for each additional sibling. Advance registration required.

Register now: Website

Champaign Park District

Want to bask in the summer sun, or hide from winter winds? The Champaign Park District has outdoor park spaces, pool side tables, indoor playgrounds and more parties to suit your mood, and the weather. Parties for all ages are available at Leonhard Recreation Center, Douglass Community Center, Martens Center, and in the summer, Sholem Aquatic Center and Prairie Farm.

For more information: Website or call (217) 819-3901 for rentals.

United Way of Champaign County

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