PLEASE NOTE: This event has already occurred.
Date/Time
Date(s) - 11/01/2025
8:00 am - 11:00 am
Location
Memorial Stadium
Categories
Cheer on the Orange and Blue as the Fighting Illini Football team prepares for game day! The Illini welcome Rutgers State this week.
Dad’s Day
Foundation Weekend
Grange Grove and Fighting Illini Walk
Illini vs Rutgers
Saturday, November 1, 11am kickoff
*times are approximate and subject to change
7am – Grange Grove Opens for tailgating
7am – Game Day run club with Josh Whitman
8am – Kids Zone Opens (inflatables, face painting, balloon artist)
8:30am – Drumline Performance
8:45am – Illini Walk
10:20am – Marching Illini March to Stadium
11am – Kickoff
Entertainment and Amenities
Kid’s Club Kid’s Zone
When bags and hot dogs can’t keep your little one calm, come visit the Kid’s Zone presented by Kid’s Club. Located in the main promenade of Grange Grove, the Kid’s Zone always features an equipment try-on station, a bounce house, and a giant 20′ slide inflatable, as well as a rotation of some amazing vendors like face-painting, balloon animals and caricatures.
Live Music
There is just something that hits different about enjoying some live music over bumping tunes through speakers. Following the Illini Walk roughly two hours before kickoff, enjoy live performances in the southwest corner of Grange Grove!
Food Trucks
Grill too heavy to drag across Grange Grove? Forgot the box of burgers at home? Hot day getting to you? Grange Grove has you covered with a star-studded cast of Food Trucks located along the south fence!
Fighting Illini Merchandise
Save yourself a trip to GameDay Spirit before the game and visit their in-venue location, only available on gamedays! With the latest Nike apparel and some gameday exclusive items, you don’t have to plan ahead to be the best dressed on gameday!
Radio Show
Brian Barnhart and Scott Beatty’s voices have filled Illini homes, cars, and hearts for years. In Grange Grove, you can watch these two legends create magic during their live radio show that starts after the Illini Walk roughly two hours before kickoff.
Read our Mom Review of Grange Grove here.
Want more advice and taking your little ones to U of I sporting events? Check out Family-Friendly Guide to Illini Sports here.
Please remember that events may be canceled or rescheduled last minute due to unpredictable weather or other factors. We encourage you to reach out to event organizers before heading out to an event to verify it is still happening.
