Summer, we love you, but fall fairs and festivals in Champaign-Urbana are awesome in their own special, pumpkin-filled ways
The weather may be getting (a little) cooler but the fall festivals in Central Illinois are heating up! The fall festival season includes events starting mid-August and running through early November.
There are so many to choose from in our area and each one offers some serious family fun. Feel like carving a pumpkin? Watching a lumberjack competition? Taking in some folk and roots music? How about taking a train ride? There’s something for everyone at a festival near you this fall.
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Here’s our list of fall festivals in the Champaign-Urbana area; we will continue to add to this list. We also hope you enjoy our sampling of fall festivals a little farther away.
Did we miss your favorite fall festival? Let us know so we can add it (email us – editor@chambanamoms.com.)
FALL FESTIVALS HAPPENING IN THE CHAMPAIGN-URBANA AREA
Mansfield Homecoming
Where: Mansfield
Date(s): 08/16/2024 – 08/18/2024
Highlights: The 2024 Mansfield Homecoming will be held August 16-18, 2024. Visit Mansfield Homecoming on Facebook for up-to-date information on this event.
Apple Dumpling Festival
Where: Atwood
Date(s): 08/16/2024 – 08/17/2024
Highlights: Atwood's Apple Dumpling Festival honoring 150 years of Atwood will be held August 16 and 17.
Le Roy Fall Festival
Where: LeRoy
Date(s): 08/20/2024 –
Highlights: The 2024 Le Roy Fall Festival August 20-24, 2024. An annual festival with food, games and carnival rides with local vendors, nightly ice cream socials on the gazebo, and free entertainment nightly! Follow Le Roy Fall Festival on Facebook for all the latest news and ticket details.
Mahomet Music Festival
Where: Mahomet
Date(s): 08/23/2024 – 08/24/2024
Highlights: Enjoy FREE live music, parade, carnival rides, street vendors, crafters, bags tournament, and more up and down Main Street. Admission to the fest is FREE; some activities and carnival rides have a cost.
Ogden Street Fest
Where: Ogden
Date(s): 08/24/2024 –
Highlights: Head out to Ogden to beat the (probable) heat with cold drinks, classic vehicles, kids activities and more! There will be fun for all ages. Activities include a carnival, car show, laser tag, face painting and much more.
Hoopeston National Sweet Corn Festival
Where: Hoopeston
Date(s): 08/29/2024 – 09/02/2024
Highlights: The Hoopeston Sweetcorn Festival is unique in that, besides the normal carnival, demolition derby, Grand Parade and other events, they cook approximately 50 tons of sweetcorn with an antique steam engine and distribute the corn FREE. All events take place at the McFerren Park, located at west Penn Street and IL Route 1.
Westville Labor Day Celebration
Where: Westville
Date(s): 08/30/2024 – 09/02/2024
Highlights: The 113th Westville Labor Day Celebration is jam-packed with excitement for the entire family. A giant carnival with rides and games for all ages. They will once again bring you many vendors and great food options as well as their gigantic fireworks display in the park on Sunday evening. Head to Westville for a weekend of fun and excitement. Monday will be host to the longest-running Labor Day Parade in downstate Illinois!
Arthur Amish Country Cheese Festival
Where: Arthur
Date(s): 08/31/2024 – 09/02/2024
Highlights: More Cheese - More Fun! Family fun for the whole weekend. Enjoy the festival atmosphere throughout Arthur. Eat a corn dog, sample the Free Cheese, take in a tractor pull, watch a parade, listen to some music, visit an Amish farm shop, shop the sales in town... just enjoy yourself. That's what a visit to Amish Country is about!
ARCOLA BROOMCORN FESTIVAL
Friday, Sept. 6 – Sunday, Sept. 8
Arcola celebrates its rich heritage each year with the Broomcorn Festival. The “Broomcorn Capital of the World” hosts this three-day festival in historic downtown Arcola. While in town, check out all the craft and food vendors, Broom Tent with live broom-making demonstrations, 5k/10k annual race, and a huge parade featuring their own, world famous “Lawn Rangers”!
Arcola Broomcorn Festival, 09/06/2024 – Rides open at 12 p.m. and the National Broom Sweeping Contest is held at 4 p.m.
Arcola Broomcorn Festival, 09/07/2024 – 5K/10K in the morning, rides open at 10 a.m. and the HUGE parade is at 3 p.m.
Arcola Broomcorn Festival, 09/08/2024 – Kiddie tractor pull. rides open at 12 p.m. and the final hours of the festival.
Country Arbors Fall Harvest Party
Saturday, Sept. 7 – Sunday, Sept. 8
Visit Country Arbors Nursery for their Harvest Party, kicking off the fall season in style! The event will take place on Saturday, September 7 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, Septemver 8 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. They’ll have their giant mums for sale along with a variety of activities and entertainment.
On Saturday, enjoy delicious eats from Pastamania and La Paloma food trucks, while Sunday will feature La Paloma again. Both days will have live music with performances by Fuego Latino, The Young and the Fretless, and Tom Faux Duo on Saturday, and Kittens Incorporated and The Merry Travelers on Sunday.
Vendors include Lucky Moon Pies selling baked goods, Delight Flower Farm offering fresh and dried flowers, Old Tyme Kettle Corn serving up their famous kettle corn, and bee keeper Maggie selling local honey. They’ll also have face painting by Libby and customers can see and feed the adorable goats.
Country Arbors Nursery Harvest Party, 09/07/2024 – Head out to Country Arbors Nursery in Urbana for their Harvest Party, kicking off the fall season in style! Enjoy live music, face painting, food trucks, along with a variety of activities and entertainment.
Country Arbors Nursery Harvest Party, 09/08/2024 – Head out to Country Arbors Nursery in Urbana for their Harvest Party, kicking off the fall season in style! Enjoy live music, face painting, food trucks, along with a variety of activities and entertainment.
Mum Fest
Where: Clinton
Date(s): 09/07/2024 – 09/08/2024
Highlights: There will be a lineup of concessions, craft vendors, bakers, artisans, and more. Sunday is Family Fun Day featuring all kinds of activities.
White Heath Homecoming
Where: White Heath
Date(s): 09/07/2024 –
Highlights: Come out to celebrate the special small town of White Heath with some good old-fashioned fun! A parade through town will kick things off at 10:30am! Then, enjoy live music, a car show, food trucks, bingo, kids games, rides from the Monticello Railway Museum, barrel cars, Sally the Clown, a cake walk, and more throughout the day!
COUNTRY FEST
Saturday, Sept. 14 – Sunday, Sept. 15
Country Fest, 09/14/2024 – A family fun event with pumpkins, mums, apples, craft & food vendors, fun for the kids and more!
Country Fest, 09/15/2024 – Enjoy the second day of the festival for more mums, food, live music and fun.
Gibson City Harvest Fest
Where: Gibson City
Date(s): 09/14/2024 – 9/14/2024
Highlights: Gibson City Harvest Fest is a celebration of the local harvest season. Music, food, vendors, contests, kids activities - something to do for all ages.
West Side Arts
Where: Champaign
Date(s): 09/15/2024 – 9/15/2024
Highlights: Enjoy this art festival celebrating local and regional talent. Artists will showcase their masterpieces which are available for purchase.
Riggs Oktoberfest
Where: Urbana
Date(s): 09/19/2024 – 09/22/2024
Highlights: Riggs Oktoberfest is a true “Festbier” style, which is crafted to emulate the beers that are served at the Oktoberfest in Munich. Check the schedule for music, food trucks and more Oktoberfest fun.
C-U Black & African Arts Festival
Where: Urbana
Date(s): 09/20/2024 – 09/21/2024
Highlights: A celebration of culture and creativity.
CU PRIDE FEST
Saturday, Sept. 21
Join The UP Center for its 14th Annual CU Pride Fest. With great events all week leading up to CU Pride Fest Parade & Vendor Fair in Downtown Urbana, you won’t want to miss this event!
CU Pride Fest, 09/21/2024 – Join thousands of LGBTQ+ folx and allies in celebrating all things PRIDE and check out all of the incredible artisans, resources, local businesses, and other INCREDIBLE vendors in downtown Urbana. Be sure to be front row for when the parade steps off at 1pm and help celebrate all things LOVE and PRIDE!
Broadlands Homecoming Festival
Where: Broadlands
Date(s): 09/21/2024 –
Highlights: Lots of fun events for all ages are planned including a parade, bags tournament, live music, kids games and inflatables.
Swine 'N Dine Festival and BBQ Contest
Where: Paxton
Date(s): 09/21/2024 –
Highlights: Swine N' Dine features live music, kids’ activities, vendors, a bags tournament, a cruise-in, and of course – Great BBQ competition!
Muncie Fall Festival
Where: Muncie
Date(s): 09/28/2024 – 09/29/2024
Highlights: Don't miss the Muncie Fall Festival! It will be a weekend full of vendors, food trucks, and live music
Apple 'n Pork Festival
Where: Clinton
Date(s): 09/28/2024 – 09/29/2024
Highlights: Food stands featuring old-fashioned food items, antique displays, 19th century-inspired demonstrations and so much more at this large fall festival.
Honeycrisp Hootenanny Apple Festival
Where: Sullival
Date(s): 09/28/2024 –
Highlights: “Celebrate everything Apples & Fall” and have fun at the first Honeycrisp Hootenanny, on Saturday, September 28th from 9 am to 7 pm. Treehive Hard Cider & Mead TastingsWarren James Winery - Wine TastingsBattlecreek Duo! 11 am - 2 pmApple Chunkin’Oh Snap Photography Mini Sessions 10am - 1pm (FCFS)Kid’s Crafts - 9am - 3pm FREEAmish Buggy Rides - 10am - 2pm (Cash ONLY please)Face PaintingSecond Nature Honey - local honey and educational bee activities.Afternoon Baking Contest 2:30 pm - Kids & AdultsThe Orchard Grill 11 am - 6:30 pmStampede Dance Hall - 5 -7 pm - Instructional line dancing for beginners! Kick up your heels and have some fun!Fire Pit - roast your own hotdog or smores Live Music featuring Battlecreek Duo and Stampede Dance Hall MORE announcements to come! All the yummy fall goodies!!Apple Nacho Bar w/homemade caramel and your choice of toppingsHot Apple DumplingsHot Spiced Apple CiderSlushies, Floats, Caramel Apple FreezeDonut Sundaes They are working hard to make it an enjoyable and relaxing day with:Extra parkingGolf carts and drivers to help get you from your vehicle to the festivitiesExtra walk-up window to get slushies, goodies & more from the front of the storeApple Nacho Bar & Hot Cider under a separate tentPagers for The Orchard GrillExtra seating areas or bring your own lawn chair
Crop Sciences Harvest Open House
Where: Urbana
Date(s): 09/28/2024 –
Highlights: Crop Sciences is excited to share the scientific advances in agriculture production with those of all ages through fun, hands-on activities. Help them welcome the fall season with pumpkins, popcorn, science, and family fun!
CU Folk and Roots Festival
Where: Urbana
Date(s): 10/03/2024 – 10/05/2024
Highlights: The Champaign-Urbana Folk and Roots Festival is an all-volunteer-run, grassroots festival that brings together national, regional and local artists and folk organizations for over 80 high-quality folk performances and participatory activities throughout downtown Urbana. The festival includes performances, dances, instructional sessions, jams, song-circles, family activities, storytelling, instrument-making and much, much more!
VILLAGE OF CAMARGO WOOLLY WORM FESTIVAL
Friday, October 4 – Saturday, October 5
The Village of Camargo is so excited for their Woolly Worm Festival this fall! Glow cart parade, Aikman Wildlife shows, inflatables, touch-a-truck and more!
Village of Camargo Woolly Worm Festival, 10/04/2024 – Enjoy the Woolly Worm Festival again this fall! The Golf cart parade is Friday night and there is so much Family Fun planned for Saturday including inflatables, touch-a-truck, kids activities, food and craft vendors and more!
Village of Camargo Woolly Worm Festival, 10/05/2024 – Enjoy the Woolly Worm Festival again this fall! The Golf cart parade is Friday night and there is so much Family Fun planned for Saturday including inflatables, touch-a-truck, kids activities, food and craft vendors and more!
Sugar Creek Arts Festival
Where: Normal
Date(s): 10/05/2024 –
Highlights: Arts and crafts vendors from across the country display their talents and products at one of the most popular juried art and craft festivals in the Midwest. The event takes place on the streets of Uptown Normal and highlights 128 of the most talented artists around.
Urbana Fall Fusion Festival
Where: Urbana
Date(s): 10/05/2024 –
Highlights: 40 North and Urbana Arts & Culture Program are taking over downtown Urbana on Saturday, October 5th from 3-7pm for the second annual Urbana Fall Fusion Festival! Enjoy live music, art, performances, professional pumpkin carving demo, kids' activities, photo ops and more!
Octoberfest at the Mercantile
Where: Monticello
Date(s): 10/06/2024 –
Highlights: Kick off the full fall feeling with pumpkins, mums, and more! Coming back to their annual fall festival are Smith Burger Co., Country Bumpkin Pumpkins and We Produce LLC! Boneyard Creek Boutique and Lickskillet Soap Co. will be joining the mix, and Jimm Wood will be keeping the tunes rolling from the porch
Lake Shelbyville Balloonfest
Where: Shelbyville
Date(s): 10/11/2024 – 10/13/2024
Highlights: Enjoy balloons over Lake Shelbyville!
Paxton's Fall Gathering
Where: Paxton
Date(s): 10/12/2024 – 10/12/2024
Highlights: Celebrate the season at Paxton's Fall Gathering! Enjoy small town charm at this Fall festival with fun things for all ages.
Scarecrow Festival in AMBUCS Park
Where: Urbana
Date(s): 10/12/2024 –
Highlights: Barrel train rides, hay rack rides, food, and lots of fun!
Flannel Fest
Where: Champaign
Date(s): 10/12/2024 – 10/12/2024
Highlights: Watch the Lumberjack Show perform demonstrations throughout this FREE event, along with beer, live music, games, food and more.
Saints Fall Fest 2024
Where: Champaign
Date(s): 10/19/2024 –
Highlights: A new festival on Market and Taylor streets. Enjoy a variety of food vendors and local artisans. Free kids' activities from 2-6 p.m.
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