10+ Things To Do With Your Family on Monday, Oct. 14 in Champaign-Urbana
The second Monday of October is just around the corner, and some parents might be thinking: the kids are out of school again?
A state and federal “holiday,” the second Monday of October remains legally known as Columbus Day. In Champaign-Urbana, the two largest school districts and some preschools now call this it Fall Holiday. In other municipalities and even some states, the day is now called Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which honors and celebrate Native Americans (learn more about that here).
In the Champaign-Urbana area, the second Monday of October means that most public schools are closed – and sometimes day cares and preschools, too. Looking for something to do with your family in the Champaign-Urbana area on Oct. 14? There are plenty of options for family fun, and many are low-cost or even free.
Of course, be sure to check what is open and closed before you go out. But we know the following things are open :-).
Five free ideas for fun on Oct. 14 in Champaign-Urbana:
- Head to Market Place Shopping Center for the Champaign Fire Department’s celebration of Fire Prevention Week. Touch a Truck and indoor activities, too! From 10 am to 2 pm.
- Visit a free museum space. Museum of the Grand Prairie, Krannert Art Museum, and Anita Purves Nature Center are all open – and free.
- Get outside! Check out natural play areas, such as Friendship Grove in Urbana or the Homer Lake Playscape. Take a hike at Lake of the Woods or climb and swing at any one of our local parks. See the fall color starting to emerge and be sure to bring a camera to get some good fall fun captured. Visit some of our favorite places to see beautiful foliage.
- Visit a new-to-you – or not-so-new – library. Your kids will love exploring a different children’s area. See our recent articles on Urbana Free Library, Mahomet Public Library and Champaign Public Library.
- Take the FREE behind-the-scenes tour at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Especially for school-age kids and up, this tour happens at 3 pm daily (when the University is in session, which it is on Columbus Day). Tip: there are meters where you can park in the underground lot, if you drive. Bonus: take your time and explore campus, which is getting ready for Homecoming.
Five not free, but relatively cheap ideas:
- This is a great day to visit a pumpkin patch, pick apples, or do a corn maze! Oh – we have a list for that! Hopefully, the weather will cooperate.
- Go ice skating at the Ice Arena. Lunchtime skate is scheduled from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Regular admission fees apply and skate rentals too.
- Head to the Staerkel Planetarium for a double or single feature. There are showings in the morning and afternoon on Oct. 14 of Cosmic Colors and Experience the Aurora.
- Get ready for Halloween. Check out our Halloween on a budget story.
- Go swimming. There’s a special school’s day out swim event at Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center.
For more things to do, check out our events calendar.