City Of Champaign | City Of Champaign website
City Of Champaign | City Of Champaign website
The City of Champaign is inviting residents and visitors to experience Downtown Champaign's expanded summer entertainment offerings. The new campaign, "The Beat Downtown Champaign," aims to bring more music, entertainment, and culture to the area. It seeks to attract a diverse audience, provide a safe and inclusive space for entertainment, showcase unique shops and businesses, and enhance the social atmosphere downtown.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Market Street Entertainment District will take place at 4:30 pm on Friday, May 31, 2024. The event will be held at the city's new performance stage near 114 N Market St. in Downtown Champaign.
This summer also marks the return of Friday Night Live with three stages spread throughout downtown. This year's series includes an extra hour of music in partnership with 40 North. Performances will run every Friday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm all summer long.
Following Friday Night Live, Market Street will host late-night entertainment every week on both Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 pm to 1:00 am. The street will become a pedestrian-only venue featuring DJs and musicians.
The schedule for this week's late-night entertainment includes:
Friday, May 31:
- DJ Carlos Wesjile (11 pm – midnight) – Open Format
- DJ Silkee (Midnight – 1 am) – Hip Hop/R&B
Saturday, June 1:
- Haki N Dem (10:00 -11:30 pm) – American R&B and Neo Soul
- DJ BJ Clark (11:30 pm – 1 am) – Old School Hip Hop/R&B/Pop
Additionally, Downtown Festival Districts will be held on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the summer. These districts allow patrons of participating restaurants and bars to enjoy alcoholic beverages in public while enjoying music and socializing.
For more information about these events or maps of the Downtown Festival Districts, visit champaignil.gov/DowntownFestivals. For updates on activities in Downtown Champaign this summer, follow The Beat on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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