Champaign Center Buzzfeed

5 Fun (and FREE!) Activities in Downtown Champaign This Summer

Looking for some fun ways to pass the time in Downtown Champaign without touching your wallet? We’ve got you covered! Check out these 5 activities available for the whole family!

 

1. Where’s Waldo? at Jane Addams Book Shop

#FindWaldo in an epic scavenger hunt through Downtown and Midtown to find the beloved children’s book character at local businesses, organized by Jane Addams Book Shop. Find Waldo for a chance to win prizes and attend a party in early August. Learn more about how to get your official passport and see participating businesses at Jane Addams’s website.

  

2. The Art Theater’s Smart Kid Movie Series

Get ready for The Art Theater’s 4th Annual Smart Kids Film Series! Bring all the kids in your life to enjoy a variety of (free!) film screenings like Paddington 2 or Liyana on weekends throughout the month of July and August.

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3. Orpheum Children’s Science Museum Downtown Solar System

Looking for something “out of this world” to do? Head over to Orpheum Children’s Science Museum and check out their Downtown solar system public exhibit at participating businesses (Orpheum, Pekara Bakery, and more)! The scale model positions 25 feet between “planets” as roughly 150 million kilometers, or 1 astronomical unit.

 

4. Free Exhibits at the Champaign County History Museum

Immerse yourself in some awesome local history this summer at the Champaign County History Museum! Even the museum building, named the Cattle Bank, is Champaign County’s oldest documented commercial structure, having been constructed in 1857. Learn more and plan your visit today!

 

5. Kids Activities at Friday Night Live

Listen to some awesome live music and enjoy food and drink from a variety of local Downtown favorites! Every Friday, check out 4 stages scattered throughout Downtown. Looking for something for the kids? This Friday from 6-8 p.m., check out the weekly kids activity! The Kids Sidewalk Chalk Contest will be on Friday, August 2nd!

 

By Melinda Sevilla, Contributing Writer

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Melinda Sevilla