Downtown Throwdown

GOOD FOOD.
GOOD MOOD.

Street Fest is returning to downtown with a jam-packed evening of music and entertainment, and a new mouth-watering food festival, the Downtown Throwdown! The event is FREE to the public and open to all ages! BYO chair!
Street Fest is presented by City of Champaign and powered by Champaign Center Partnership with support from community sponsors.

COUNTDOWN TO STREET FEST!
July 15, 2023, 5 - 11 pm
in front of Esquire Lounge (106 N Walnut Street, Champaign, IL)!

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK.

Thank you for participating in the Downtown Champaign Street Fest! We hope you had as much fun attending as we did organizing it. We want to hear your feedback so we can improve this event and other events in the future. Please complete this quick survey and let us know your thoughts.

NAVIGATION
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

    ENTERTAINMENT

    Music

    We have a jam-packed line-up of musical talent happening all evening from Street Fest stage sponsored by Champaign Park District and The Music Shoppe. Stage will be located at the corner of Walnut and Chester by Esquire Lounge and the city building. Musicians will be announced at the end of June.

    Rabbit in Red

    5:00 - 6:00 pm
    Hailing from Effingham IL, Rabbit In Red brings a high energy mix of alternative rock, funk, and hip hop viewed through a tie-dyed jam band kaleidoscope.

    Afro D & Global Soundwaves

    6:30 - 7:30 pm
    A socially-conscious hip hop/jazz/funk band based in Champaign, IL.

    Jeremy Todd

    8:00 - 9:00 pm
    Midwestern Singer/Songwriter inspired by traditional artists adding a modern indie/folk appeal.

    Candy Foster & Shades of Blue

    9:30 - 10:30 pm
    Candy Foster has been performing classic rhythm and blues throughout the Midwest for 40 years. With his full band, Candy is the undisputed king of Street Fest

    Family and Community Zones

    Explore the NEW family zone with FREE caricatures, giant bubbles, crazy balloons, and face-painting from 5 – 9 pm, sponsored by WMI Automotive. Plus, browse our community zone featuring over 20 vendors including local artists, non-profits, and small businesses, sponsored by Clanin Marketing.

    Downtown Festival District

    The Downtown Festival District is back for this event. That means that event attendees can purchase and take open containers of alcohol from participating licensed premises for consumption in the public right-of-way located within a designated festival are and during the event. Customers will receive a wristband, and drinks will be served in plastic cups. To purchase alcohol, you must be 21 years or older with a valid photo ID. Please consume responsibly.

    Participating restaurants and bars:

    • Hamilton Walker’s, 201 N Neil St.
    • Esquire Lounge, 106 N Walnut St.
    • The Space, 1 E Main St, #107
    • Barrelhouse 34, 34 E Main St.
    • Guido’s, 2 E Main St.
    • Cowboy Monkey, 6 Taylor St.
    • Watson’s Shack and Rail, 211 N Neil St.
    • Big Grove Tavern, 1 E Main St.
    • Nando Milano Trattoria, 204 N Neil St.
    • Blind Pig Brewery, 120 N Neil St.
    • The Blind Pig, 120 N Walnut St.
    • Farren’s Pub, 117 N Walnut St.

    DOWNTOWN THROWDOWN

    Pork & Mac-n-Cheese Competition

    Community members can vote on their favorite pork and mac-n-cheese dishes and to pick winners of People’s Choice award! Enjoy $5 food samplers at participating businesses during this mouth-water competition! Paper ballots and ballot boxes can be found at all of the participating businesses and at the event information booth on Walnut Street.

    EVENT SPONSORS

    TITLE SPONSOR

    City of Champaign

    STAGE SPONSORS

    Champaign Park District
    The Music Shoppe

    COMMUNITY AND FAMILY ZONE SPONSORS

    Clanin Marketing
    WMI Automotive

    PORKER SPONSORS

    Rantoul Foods
    Experience Champaign Urbana
    DIxon Graphics
    Corson Music

    MAC-N-CHEEZ SPONSORS

    Logo for Greater Community AIDS Project.
    Greater Community AIDS Project
    The Venue CU Logo
    The Venue CU
    Logo for Martinelli's Market, Bakery and Deli
    Martinelli's Market Bakery & Deli

    EVENT CHAMPIONS

    WEFT logo 2019 Black
    WEFT 90.1 FM
    Elliot Counseling Group logo
    Elliott Counseling Group