Chambana Proud

Terri & Carly are back with ideas ways to get out in 2026, starting with this weekend! From a new exhibit at the Urbana Free Library to celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, you’ll be sure to find brilliant ways to stay active this holiday weekend.   Tune in at chambanaproud.com or wherever you podcast.   This episode is sponsored by Krannert Center for the Performing Arts...

It’s time for Carly & Terri’s annual Ask Us Anything episode. Find out what their favorite trip together was this year, where their go-to international food destinations are, what drives them crazy about each other’s work style, their favorite moments of the year, and much more.   They wrap up some weekend events in the Champaign-Urbana area, so tune in to plan your end-of-year markets, light...

Winter celebrations and holiday happenings can be found throughout the Champaign-Urbana region this weekend. Terri & Carly round up some of the weekend’s top events, with local theatre, a Santa 5K, a winter lights display, and much more.   Tune in to plan your weekend at chambanaproud.com or wherever you podcast.   This episode is sponsored by Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and suppor...

When you want reviews on where to eat and drink in the C-U area, there’s no better resource than Alyssa Buckley, Food & Drink Editor at Smile Politely. Terri & Carly chat with this delightful food connoisseur who had some journalistic dreams come true in 2025. Here about this incredible experience and what she loves about dining out in our brilliant culinary scene.   Don’t miss out on the...

Happy Thanksgiving! Terri & Carly have several ways for you to enjoy this festive weekend. Whether you start it off early this morning with the Urbana Park District’s Turkey Trot so you can feel good about filling your plate later, or you head out later this weekend to enjoy shopping local, holiday markets, festive parades, and lighted walks, we have the rundown for you!   Tune in at chambanap...

Adding to the charm of Monticello’s Courthouse Square, Monticello Mercantile is your quintessential boutique featuring a variety of locally-made goods alongside must-have fashion items, and adorable baby items (even if you don’t have a baby!) Owner, Callie Jo, also with the City of Monticello, shares why shopping local is not only important during the holiday season, but all year long.   Plan your...

Beyond football and basketball, there’s a lot happening around the area to fill your weekend. Terri & Carly run down a few events to check out, including the inaugural Midwest Yiddish Festival, theatrical performances, comedy, a Black Authors Book Fair, and a must-shop vintage market.   Tune in at chambanaproud.com or wherever you podcast.   This episode is sponsored by Krannert Center for the...

A 5th generation, certified organic farm in Paxton, is shaping our palates to taste the difference in their homegrown spirits. Silver Tree Beer & Spirits, a sibling-owned distillery, is keeping it entirely local, down to the barrels that age their whiskey. Listen as Terri talks to Dallas Glazik to learn about the beginning of the business, the distillation process, and how we can experience th...

From the University of Illinois Dad’s Weekend to spooky and cultural celebrations, there’s a lot happening this Halloween Weekend. Tune in as Carly and Terri do a run down of some of this weekend’s to-do activities, and hear Carly’s opinion on whether Terri should go through a haunted house. (Hint: the answer is absolutely not.)   Check out these events and more at experiencecu.org.   This episode...

The Illinois Arboretum, a campus and community favorite, has a new visionary. Terri & Carly sit down with Derek Peterson, who, alongside an incredible team, made Allerton Park & Retreat Center a must-visit destination. Derek, leading the same team, will bring a brilliant vision to the Arboretum to create a cohesive space filled with experiences as diverse as the ecosystems found within. Tu...

Another fall weekend is here, filled with events to spread across the area to enjoy. Terri & Jordan share some of this week’s top picks: 1: CU Jazz Festival 2: Odd Market & Tattoo Fest 3: 16th Annual DisAbility Resource Expo 4: Sinfonia da Camera: Love Triangle 5: Fighting Illini Men’s Basketball (yes! They’re back!)   Check out these events and more at experiencecu.org .   This episode is...

What started as a feminist bookstore has become a three-story building, filled to the brim with used books and local history gems. Jane Addams Book Shop in downtown Champaign is a beloved stop for readers young and old, who find treasures among the inventory of over 70,000 books! Tune in to hear about the story of this shop and some of Judy’s favorite picks. Stay tuned to plan your weekend out and...

While the Illini are away this weekend, the community is bursting with activities. Terri & Carly run down just a few of the many ways to get out and enjoy all fall has to offer. Urbana will be hopping with live music at the CU Folk & Roots Festival, joining up with more fall fun at the Urbana Fall Fusion Festival. Mahomet breaks out the pumpkins for their inaugural Fall for Mahomet Festiva...

Known for Friday Night Live and the Boneyard Arts Festival, 40 North, the Champaign County Arts Council, never stops with programming and collaborations. Kelly and Elsie share upcoming events with this weekend's Saturday Night Live: Homecoming Edition, followed by the Urbana Fall Fusion Festival next weekend. Learn about the community partnerships that help this dynamic duo keep our cities vibrant...

While it may not feel autumnal outside, fall festival season remains in full swing! Terri & Jordan share a few of the many ways to spend your weekend in the Champaign-Urbana area. From live music at Pygmalion, German celebrations at Riggs Beer Company, a streetfest in Paxton, a comic book & toy fair, and a look back at the first Farm Aid, this weekend is bursting with opportunities to get...

Champaign-Urbana is bursting with artisans, but the craftsmanship on display at Roberts: The Fine Art of Jewelry is a new level of brilliance. Carly and Terri talk with Cindy Westfall, who leads the custom design work, about her process in creating just the right piece. Pro tip: if you’re shopping for jewelry for the holidays, get started now. Stay tuned in for a full weekend of events, including...

The season of fall festival officially starts this weekend! Terri and Carly run down highlights from Krannert Center’s much-anticipated ELLNORA Guitar Festival to Arcola’s Broomcorn Festival. Whether you’re into gaming, interested in bats (the flying kind!), want an outdoor concert with The Brat Pack, or want to hear the iconic Phantom of the Opera music on the pipe organ, your weekend will be fil...

Head to the farmers market every week and your eyes will feast on the colorful bouquets on display at the Delight Flower Farm tent. Diving deeper on this farm, Terri and Jordan talk with Maggie Taylor about how it started, its steady growth, and the sustainable efforts that continue to feed our rich land.   Stay tuned in to find ways to celebrate this Labor Day weekend, from Fighting Illini Footba...

School is back in session, and with it, events are popping up all over #chambana! Celebrate the history of agriculture in Rantoul, enjoy the final Friday Night Live of the season, head to Mahomet for their annual music festival, check out a new sweetcorn festival at Riggs Beer Company, and get more music under the summer sky at The ILLIAC at Hessel Park!   This episode is sponsored by Krannert Cen...

Moving to a new community is hard. Making friends, connecting with resources, finding local events and businesses, and ways to volunteer—it can all be overwhelming. Zelda Gardner, a member of the Chambana Welcome Crew, talks to Carly & Terri about her experience in helping newcomers settle into the area. She shares how her passion for the community has not only helped her roll out the red carp...

As summer starts to wind down, Carly and Terri run down a full weekend of events to hold on to the spirit of the season. From the Champaign Park District’s CU Days to a movie on the Quad with Chambana Moms. Don’t miss Piatt County’s Quilt Festival, Prairie Crossroads Blues Fest, and the return of Fighting Illini Women’s Soccer.   This episode is sponsored by Krannert Center for the Performing Arts...

Podcast Description: Champaign-Urbana is home to one of the finest performing arts centers on a university campus in the country. Terri & Carly sit down with the Director, Mike Ross, to learn why the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is so unique in its space, and why this drives excellence in education and performance. Learn about the upcoming season and the importance of supporting the...

Summer is really heating up in Chambana! Keep it cool this weekend with a Summer Splash at Lake of the Woods, followed by live music, movie night at Sholem Aquatic Center, Yin Yoga at Prairie Farm, RC Fest in Tuscola, and Shakespeare in Crystal Lake Park.   This episode is sponsored by Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and supported by Busey Bank.   Show links: Krannert Center for Performing...

Whether you’re getting to school, to work, or getting out of the rain, you can always depend on the C-U MTD. Terri & Carly sit down with this critical community service to get the full scope of what they provide—and no surprise, it’s more than you know! The organization has built a foundation of trust with its ridership and is a key component of our often-touted short commute time. You don’t w...

From a large agricultural show to a scavenger hunt of theatre costumes and props, this weekend in the Champaign-Urbana area is full of fun and surprises. Tune in to this week’s episode of Chambana Proud as Terri & Carly run down a few ways you can spend your summer weekend!   This episode is sponsored by Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and supported by Busey Bank.   Show links: Kranner...