Champaign-Urbana invites groups to experience where food, farming and innovation come together

Champaign-Urbana is home to some of the richest soil in the world, which supports a thriving ag economy and a brilliant array of farm experiences, food destinations, and cutting-edge innovations. From traditional farming to groundbreaking AgTech, it has something for everyone to explore.

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Is This Itinerary Right For Your Group?

Ideal Demographic: Foodie / Culinary Groups, Active Adult Travelers, Cultural & Heritage Travelers
Mobility: Mostly accessible
Peak window: Fall foliage season, Year-round, Summer (June-August)
Booking Lead Time: Varies by venue

Planner's Hotline: Your Local Advocate

Gina Scarpetta
VP of Sales
Experience Champaign-Urbana
(217) 351-4133
ginas@experiencecu.org
experiencecu.org/planners/groups

Click Here to Connect with Experience Champaign

Day 1: Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery

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Midday:

Arrive in Champaign-Urbana and make a trip to Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery. This goat farmstead is a top destination for local flavors. Groups can visit with the goats, wander the prairie trails, learn about the cheesemaking process, and taste their national award-winning cheeses. The farm is dedicated to sustainable farming practices, educating groups on the importance of local foods to our ecosystem.

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Evening:

Enjoy a meal at Caprae Restaurant at Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery. Using the freshest produce, meats, and dairy from their own fields and neighbors’ farms, Caprae serves dinner and weekend brunch year-round. This is a great way to wrap up your farm tour.

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Day 1 Alternative:

Pay a visit to Riggs Beer Company, where you can learn from brothers and veterans Matt and Darin Riggs about how they created a sustainable brewery, using grain from their family’s Centennial farm to brew their beer. Using only four ingredients in traditional German style, Riggs Beer Company prides itself on setting environmentally friendly standards, with over 90% of the brewery being solar-powered. Take a tour and try a flight of their current beers.

Day 2 Award-winning pumpkin patch

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Morning:

Named “The World’s Greatest Pumpkin Patch” by Bloomberg TV, The Great Pumpkin Patch is a seasonal spot that grows over 300 varieties of squash and gourds from around the world. Walk the beautiful grounds, where each produce display is a true work of art, and stop in their bakery for fresh, homemade Amish goods. Owner Mac Condill has been featured by Martha Stewart and has decorated the White House lawn.

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Afternoon:

At Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch, you can come face to face with over a dozen Alaskan reindeer at this popular farm retreat featured on Good Morning America. Groups will experience reindeer kisses and a Wild West-themed BBQ lunch at their Southern-style banquet facility, along with a variety of holiday gifts in their quaint gift shop.
Another option is to tour the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You can take a driving tour of this Big Ten institution, which still fits into the agriculture theme. The state’s premier university started as an agriculture program. Today, groups can see the Morrow Plots, the first experimental cornfield in the US, as well as sightsee on the beautiful campus.

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Evening:

At Flesor’s Candy Kitchen, groups can learn from Flesor’s confectionery artist, who creates small-batch sugary confections and hand-dipped candies. As they don’t use preservatives, their candy is made daily, with thousands of pounds produced annually. Enjoy lunch on site, along with homemade ice cream and old-fashioned soda.

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Day 2 Alternative:

Enjoy an Amish buggy ride. The Amish buggy is a common sight in theArthur area (home to The Great Pumpkin Patch). Visit a local Amish buggy maker and experience an in-depth tour of his shop. See the ins and outs of creating the undercarriage and learn about the old art of wheelmaking. Finish up with a buggy ride, completing the true Amish experience.

Day 3: A Georgian Manor House

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Morning:

Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch is a seasonal destination that hosts a variety of groups. Along with the opportunity to pick seasonal apples and a variety of pumpkins and gourds, groups can enjoy warm apple cider or fresh apple donuts and shop local and regional flavors, including their award-winning honey. Group tours include behind-the-scenes looks into the cider press and other farm operations.

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Mid-day:

Visit the famed Allerton Park & Retreat Center. Surrounding this Georgian manor house at this expansive park are 14 formal gardens with over 100 ornaments and sculptures. Immaculately designed, these gardens take you on a journey through hedges and perennials. Have lunch at the on-site Greenhouse Café and schedule a visit around classes at their Folk School, one of just a few in the US.

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Evening:

Maize Mexican Grill works with local farmers to access grains to make their mouthwatering tortillas. This go-to Mexican restaurant is a beloved community favorite, with plenty of room for group dining. Open for lunch and dinner.

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Day 3 Alternative:

Stop at Japan House and discover the way of tea, the art of Ikebana, or the meaningful Japanese gardens at this University of Illinois spot. Learn about Japanese culture through tea ceremonies, classes, performances, and events. The serene gardens surrounding the center can be enjoyed year-round.

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Are there any events groups will want to check out?

AgTech Week, held every March, celebrates the area’s robust agtech ecosystem, including the University of Illinois, Parkland College, corporate innovation partners, startups, state-of-the-art facilities, student organizations, local ag companies, the Illinois AgTech Accelerator, and iFAB Tech Hub.
Urbana’s Market at the Square (one of the state’s largest farmers markets) runs every Saturday, May–October.
Friday Night Live, held every Friday evening June through August, features free live music in downtown Champaign, with four locations and eight bands.
Fighting Illini football runs August through November

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How much advance planning is needed for this itinerary?

Because several of the experiences are seasonal or require arrangements for groups, planners should build in some flexibility when scheduling this itinerary. The Great Pumpkin Patch, Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch, and Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch are tied to specific seasons, while experiences such as Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery tours, the Amish buggy experience, Allerton Park programs, and University of Illinois tours may require advance coordination.