Smile Politely

Weekender: October 2-4

While we encourage you to check out what’s happening around C-U this weekend, please use precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you are out and about, please wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands, and most importantly, respect the people around you, especially the employees that work at these establishments.

Friday, October 2nd

Join the Crochet-a-thon for the Urbana-Champaign Crochet Coral Reef Satellite, 2204 S Lynn Street, Urbana, 4 to 6 p.m., free

Get ready to help multiply our Satelittle Crochet Coral Reef by stopping by Blacklight Box to get what you’ll need then join in on some socially-distant crochet company in the park. If you’re interest but can’t make this date, there will be a second meeting the following week. (DD)

Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons, State Representative Carol Ammons, and other Champaign County elected officials pose for a photo around a vote by mail ballot return box. The box is anchored to the ground, bright yellow with blue text that says “Vote Here.†Photo from the Champaign County Clerk’s Facebook page.

Photo from the Champaign County Clerk’s Facebook page.

Get your voting plan in order, your home, all weekend, free

Do you know how you will vote? Are you registered? Did you double check? Now is the time to do so. Earlier this week we answered a bunch of your voting questions, so double check that before you give up. This election is more important than ever. (JH)

Do a little science learnin’, online, 7 p.m., free

Tune into Zoom for this month’s James B. Kaler Science Lecture, a Staerkel Planetarium event. This one is all about astronomy and AI. If you want more, hop over to the Zoom link for Prairie Skies and learn what to look at in this autumn sky. (JM)

Saturday, October 3rd

Four pastor tacos on corn tortillas from Los Hidalguense taco truck are covered in diced white onion and cilantro. Photo by Alyssa Buckley.

Photo by Alyssa Buckley.

Get a taco, Los Hilaguense taco truck, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., $2.50

This Saturday, October 3rd is my favorite holiday: National Taco Day. Be sure you indulge yourself in tacos as the holiday mandates. Get some pastor tacos, steak tacos, chicken tacos, ground beef tacos, chorizo tacos, whatever taco your heart desires from Los Hidalguense taco truck. If you can’t make it out to Bloomington Road, check out Jesus’ al pastor taco tour of C-U for other great taco options in town. Whatever you do this Saturday, make sure you get yourself some tacos. (AB)

Drink at home in a commemorative stein, C-U’s Virtual Oktoberfest, 4 to 8 p.m., $5

This year, the 8th Annual C-U Oktoberfest will be virtual, so you can enjoy a fall celebration of music, beer, and food at home. In past years, the event has been held in Downtown Champaign. You can order your stein here, and you can order schnitzel, Hefeweizen bread, and more from Blue Dragonfly Catering. The food and beer partners this year include The Bling Pig Brewery, Triptych Brewing, JT Walker’s Restaurant and Brewery, Blue Dragonfly Catering, and Riggs Beer Company. There will be music from Die Musikmeister Band, Bolzen Beer Band, and The Polkaholics®. You can learn more here. (AB)

A man in sunglasses and a mask is kneeling next to an evergreen tree, pointing at a rock with a Harry Potter pumpkin painted on it. Photo from Champaign Park District Virtual Fun Facebook page.

Photo from Champaign Park District Virtual Fun Facebook page.

Go on a pumpkin hunt, Champaign and Urbana parks, anytime, free

The two park districts have teamed up to bring a little Halloween fun to their parks. While you’re out and about enjoying the nice weather while we have it, see if you can find pumpkins hidden throughout the parks. These aren’t real pumpkins, just rocks and other things that are painted. I spotted one on a walk around the path at Heritage Park today. You can find clue about what to look for on the Champaign Park District Virtual Fun Facebook page. (JM)

Sunday, October 4th

Crop of the Great ARTdoors banner featuring thumbnails of several installations. Photo from 40 North Facebook.

Photo from 40 North Facebook page

Get outside and stroll through The Great ARTdoors, see the ten locations here, anytime, free

Ten locations. Ten artists. Ten opportunities to encounter site-specific, community-centered 3D art. Choose your favorite artists or locations and create your own socially-distant outdoor art crawl. Get more information here. (DD)

Attend Vet Med’s virtual open house, your couch, 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., free

The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Open House is a much-anticipated and beloved event. This year it’s all virtual. There’s a Q&A at 2 p.m. You’ll learn about different animals, including how to approach a dog that doesn’t know you, how to collect spit from pigs, and you’ll be able to download coloring sheets, games, and other activities. More info and the event is available here. (JH) 

Top photo from Blacklight Box’s Instagram.

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All event information is accurate to the best of our abilities, but sometimes we make mistakes and sometimes event information, times, prices, etc., change after we look them up. Whenever possible, we’ve provided a link to the original event page; you should always double-check the source before you make any firm plans. Thanks for your understanding.

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