50+ Things To Do Over Fall Break in Champaign-Urbana

Did fall break sneak up on you? Keep the family busy with 50+ things to do while Unit 4 and District 116 are on break

Fall break in Champaign-Urbana is right around the corner and you’re already thinking: what are we going to do?

Well, we have some info to help you put the pieces together. We’ve got 50+ ideas for things to do over fall break around Champaign-Urbana for your family.

The Champaign Unit 4 school district and Urbana District 116 are both holding a fall break in 2024 during the week of Oct. 14-18. (Champaign students are also out of school on Oct. 10-11 due to parent-teacher conferences.)

Here are our ideas to help you navigate fall break. We have included a variety of activities but always make sure to check our events calendar, which gets updated daily.

(This list is intended to help you discover some options when it comes to fall break in Champaign-Urbana. The status of these events can change at any time, so check with your destination before venturing out to be sure it’s open and to find out if reservations are needed.)

Visit a Champaign-Urbana area museum or nature center

Head over to Museum of the Grand Prairie at Lake of the Woods. Step back in time with a variety of exhibits and activities. FREE.

Visit the Anita Purves Nature Center. FREE. Go play on the playscape outside the nature center afterwards or stroll through Busey Woods.

On the University of Illinois campus, the Spurlock Museum takes you around the world with artifacts from every corner of the globe. (While the museum is normally closed on Mondays, on October 14 Spurlock is hosting a special lecture series in the Knight Auditorium devoted to Indigenous People’s Day.) Krannert Art Museum is open too. It has everything from masters to modern. Both are FREE.

Pack a picnic on a nice day and drive out to Homer Lake, making the Interpretive Center part of your visit.

Venture a little further for museums like the Children’s Discovery Museum in Normal or the Children’s Museum of Illinois in Decatur.

Be active — the kids, the family, whoever needs it!

We have a whole list of ways to be active together with your family. Need to get started? Fall break is a great time to start new habits. The weather is cooling off and there’s lots to try.

Head to the bowling center. Bowling is open at Old Orchard Lanes, as well as dining (pizza for the win). Arrowhead Lanes also has indoor putt-putt golf.

If you’re not already a member, snag guest passes for the Stephens Family YMCA. You can enjoy family swim time or family gym time. We also have the Martens Center in Champaign with all kinds of great options at an affordable day pass price. The Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center often holds extra public swim times during school breaks.

Skating at Skateland and jumping at Elevate are options as well. Want to venture further? Drive to Iron Coyote in Bloomington-Normal.

Get outside and explore

Go to a new park or a park you haven’t been to lately — we have a whole list of favorite parks and playgrounds you can try. The Hessel Park playground is always a great place to start. You could also visit Morrissey Park or Noel Park, which feature recently renovated playgrounds.

It’s always a good time to go to Meadowbrook Park (playground not open yet, trails most definitely open) or Carle Park, both in Urbana.

Make a day of it in Monticello: head to Allerton Park and check out Nick’s Park playground.

Curtis Orchard is a favorite outdoor destination this time of year. Pick some apples or pumpkins, or just have lunch and cuddle kittens on your visit.

Turkey Run State Park over the border in Indiana makes a great place for an outdoor day trip this time of year. The colors are stunning!

Go to the library

So kids might want to take a break from learning, but libraries make learning FUN. Go check out some books at the library. Get some books, movies and maybe even some other fun things, like games or puzzles, depending on the library.

Try some new food

We LOVE the food we can find here in Champaign-Urbana. Find all of our Favorite Champaign-Urbana Food for quick reference. The pizza trail, barbecue trail, ice cream trail are just a few of note.

Learn about outer space

If your kids love space, check out some of the unique space activities we have in Central Illinois.

Get crafty

Go to the I.D.E.A. Store and find some unique crafting supplies and ideas for an eco-friendly craft — on the cheap.

Go to campus

School is still in session there but it is always a good time to visit the University of Illinois campus, whether just for a new place for a scenic walk, to shop, or to enjoy some of the unique dining opportunities. Go bowling, play billiards and arcade games at the Rec Room inside the Illini Union.

Trek to the zoo

We have lots of zoos within a short drive (let’s say three hours or less) that we think your family will love —  Miller Park Zoo and Peoria Zoo being the closer options and Lincoln Park Zoo, Brookfield Zoo, Indianapolis Zoo and Saint Louis Zoo being some others. (Scovill Zoo in Decatur has closed for the season except for special events.)

Get ready for Halloween

Halloween is right around the corner. Find some Halloween activities the whole family will enjoy, or check out some of our favorite houses/yards decorated for Halloween.

Go out to eat on a budget

Several restaurants in town offer specials for kids on certain nights of the week. Check out our list of places where kids eat free (or cheaply).

Take a day trip

We LOVE day trips, and have a whole list for you. See the big things in Casey, where the attractions are mainly outside. Go to Peoria and see Peoria Riverfront Museum. Make a date to head out to the museums and Lincoln sites in Springfield.

Find an event

We have so many events happening over spring break on our event calendar! Here are just a few we are highlighting. Please be sure to review registration for any event you plan to attend as many have limited spots.

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Date/Time	Event
10/10/2024 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm	CU Jazz Festival | Opening Night Party at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts,
10/10/2024 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Cornbelt Fire District Open House at Cornbelt Fire District, Mahomet IL
10/10/2024 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Urbana's Night Market at the Square at Lincoln Square, Urbana IL
10/10/2024 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm	CU Broad Comedy at Harvest Market at Harvest Market, Champaign IL
10/10/2024 7:00 pm	Illini Women's Soccer vs. USC at Demirjian Park, Champaign IL

Friday, October 11, 2024

Date/Time	Event
10/11/2024 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm	The Green Ball | A Sustainability-Focused Festival at Lincoln Square Mall, Urbana IL
10/11/2024 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Lake Shelbyville Balloonfest at Lake Shelbyville, Shelbyville IL

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Date/Time	Event
FEATURED EVENT 10/12/2024 11:00 am - 5:00 pm	Flannel Fest at West Side Park, Champaign IL Watch the Lumberjack Show perform demonstrations throughout this FREE event, along with beer, live music, games, food and more.

Monday, October 14, 2024

Date/Time	Event
10/14/2024 9:30 am - 12:00 pm	Indigenous Peoples' Day Seed Collection Event at Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet IL
10/14/2024 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm	Fall Break Skate at Skateland Savoy, Savoy IL
10/14/2024 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm	Movie Matinee at Rantoul Public Library at Rantoul Public Library, Rantoul IL
10/14/2024 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Family Workout Night at Campus Recreation, Outdoor Fitness Court, Champaign IL

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Date/Time	Event
10/16/2024 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm	Fall Break Skate at Skateland Savoy, Savoy IL
10/16/2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm	School's Out | Spooky Crafternoon at Champaign Public Library, Champaign IL
10/16/2024 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Public Skate at UI Ice Arena, Champaign IL

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Date/Time	Event
10/17/2024 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm	Fall Break Skate at Skateland Savoy, Savoy IL
10/17/2024 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Community Paint at Independent Media Center, Urbana IL
10/17/2024 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm	Boo at the Zoo | Reservations Required at Scovill Zoo, Decatur IL
10/17/2024 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm	Family Fun Night at Champaign Public Library at Champaign Public Library, Champaign IL

Are you at home for fall break? What are you doing with your family? We’d love to know! Tell us if we’ve missed your choices for fall break fun. Email editor@chambanamoms.com