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Events & Activities

The Urbana Free Library Winter Reading Program

Submitted by admin on December 14, 2017 - 9:22am
Date: 
February 28, 2018 - 5:00pm

Children through grade 5 are invited to sign up for Let Us Read! and receive free books – just for reading!

  • Each time you read 15 minutes, color an empty snowflake.
  • You can read anything---books, graphic novels, magazines, listen to audiobooks, TumbleBooks, or have someone read to you. 
  • When you have colored all of the empty snowflakes, return your reading log to the children's question desk by February 28 to receive a free book!
  • Pick up a reading log at the children’s question desk or print a copy from home (no registration necessary).

Why let children have all the fun? Teens and Adults can sign up for Winter Reading Resolution Bingo!

U-Cycle Holiday Schedules

Submitted by CourtneyR on December 12, 2017 - 12:04pm
Date: 
January 6, 2018 - 5:00pm

Due to the Christmas holiday on Monday, December 25, 2017, U-Cycle collections will be delayed for one day for the remainder of the week.  Monday's U-Cycle collection will be made on Tuesday, December 26, and so forth.  As a reminder, please set recycling curbside by 7 a.m. to ensure collection.

Due to the New Year's holiday on Monday, January 1, 2018, U-Cycle collections will be delayed for one day for the remainder of the week.  Monday's U-Cycle collection will be made on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, and so forth.  As a reminder, please set recycling curbside by 7 a.m. to ensure collection. 

Questions may be directed to U-Cycle at (217) 384-2302 

Happy Holidays!

UFLive! Presents Carl Johnson and the New Orleans Jazz Machine

Submitted by admin on December 11, 2017 - 11:12am
Date: 
December 17, 2017 - 2:00pm to 3:00pm

Escape the winter blues with our annual holiday concert with the amazing local Dixieland sextet, the New Orleans Jazz Machine, led by Carl Johnson on clarinet. Your spirits will be lifted and your toes will be tapping as you listen to NOJM's swinging New Orleans-style jazz.

The Urbana Free Library
Sunday, December 17
2:00 - 3:00 PM
Busey-Mills Reading Room

UFLive concerts are scheduled on the third Sunday of most months. This month's concert is generously sponsored by Bob and Bonnie Switzer.

For more information contact Carol Inskeep at cinskeep@urbanafree.org or 217-367-4405.

Information provided by the Urbana Free Library.

2018 Champaign Countywide Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on December 4, 2017 - 2:42pm
Date: 
January 12, 2018 - 4:00pm

The cities of Champaign and Urbana along with Champaign County, Parkland College, and the University of Illinois invite the public to join them in 2018 Champaign Countywide Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Friday, January 12, 2018 at Vineyard Church, located at 1500 North Lincoln Avenue in Urbana.

The event organizers gather annually as a community to remember and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme of this free 17th annual event is Fifty years past, fifty years forward…our future dreamers.

According to the MLK Planning Committee, “Dr. King believed in the power of the word DREAM. He expressed a vision of a better world – a vision that was compelling enough to withstand challenges, discouragements, and obstacles.”

The 2018 event will honor outstanding youth from Champaign County including Champaign, Urbana, and Rantoul middle and high school students. Award categories include the following: 

Christmas Tree Collection Schedule

Submitted by CourtneyR on December 4, 2017 - 9:13am
Date: 
January 9, 2018 - 6:00am to January 13, 2018 - 5:00pm

UPDATE: Due to unforeseen weather conditions, the City of Urbana 2018 Christmas tree collection previously scheduled for January 8 – 12, 2018, will be delayed one day and collection will take place beginning Tuesday, January 9 – January 13, 2018.

Residents must follow these requirements:

  1. Place tree along curb (on the parkway) by 6:00 a.m. on your regular U-Cycle collection day
  2. No flocked trees, trees in plastic bags, trees with tinsel, artificial trees, or trees adorned with decorations, ornaments or lights are accepted

Trees may also be taken to the Landscape Recycling Center located at 1210 E. University Ave, Urbana, for FREE recycling.  The Landscape Recycling Center may be contacted at (217) 344-5323. 

Questions?  Please call (217) 384-2416

Illinois Bicentennial Flag Raising Ceremony

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on November 28, 2017 - 10:11am
Date: 
December 4, 2017 - 12:00pm

State of Illinois Flag

The City of Urbana will join other Illinois communities on Monday, December 4th by hosting an Illinois Bicentennial Flag Raising Ceremony. Urbana's event will take place at 12 p.m. at the City of Urbana building located at 400 South Vine Street. The event will include the Urbana Fire Department and Urbana Police Department color guard raising the flag and Mayor Marlin reading a resolution passed by Urbana City Council.

The Flag Raising Ceremony will help kickoff a yearlong celebration that pays tribute to the people, places, and things that are being BORN, BUILT & GROWN here every single day. The Illinois Bicentennial will showcase Illinois' influence on American history and culture, achievement and invention, business and art. 

Happy 200th Birthday, Illinois!

Candlestick Lane Lights Up Urbana for 54th Year

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on November 27, 2017 - 1:42pm
Date: 
December 9, 2017 - 6:00pm

The 54th year of Candlestick Lane in Urbana will light up on Saturday, December 9 at 6 p.m.!

The official lighting ceremony for Candlestick Lane will take place on Saturday, December 13th the north end of Grant Place (the corner of Grant Place and Eastern Drive). To prepare for the ceremony, streets will close to cars at 5 p.m. and will re-open after all homes are lit and the foot traffic has cleared.

Streets include:

  • Eastern Drive from Cottage Grove Avenue to Cole Place
  • Fairlawn Drive from Cottage Grove Avenue to Patton Place
  • Grant Place from Fairlawn Drive to Eastern Avenue

After December 9, Candlestick Lane will light up every evening from 5 - 10 p.m. through Christmas (December 25). This is a free annual tradition put on by the residents of Grant Place and Eastern Drive in Urbana.

2017 Market IN the Square Kicks off November 11th

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on November 8, 2017 - 1:02pm
Date: 
December 30, 2017 - 5:00pm

The Urbana Business Association's Market IN the Square will start kick-off its eight-week season this Saturday, November 11th at Lincoln Square in Downtown Urbana. The Market runs from now through the Christmas Holiday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday. The market offers farm-fresh produce, honey, flowers, arts and crafts, and more. Support local growers, makers, and businesses this holiday season. For more information visit the UBA website or Facebook page.

Market in the Square Flyer

9th Annual C-U Folk & Roots Festival

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on November 1, 2017 - 1:06pm
Date: 
November 2, 2017 - 12:00am to November 4, 2017 - 11:59pm

The 9th Annual Champaign-Urbana Folk and Roots Festival takes place November 2-4, 2017 and brings together national, regional, and local artists and folk organizations for over 80 performances and activities throughout downtown Urbana. The festival includes performances, dances, instructional sessions, jams, song-circles, family activities, storytelling, instrument-making, and more. Learn more here.