Save the Dates for these wonderful Monument Square District annual events in 2020!

• Friday, September 11, 2020, Rock the Monument 4-Miler (RESCHEDULED DUE TO COVID-19)
• Art Affair on the Square (CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19.)
• Simon Kenton Chili Cook-off (CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19)
• November 27, 2020, Holiday Horse Parade
• December 2, 2020, Holiday Gala & Auction

Awards will be given out at 8:00 p.m. to the top ten runners in both the female and male overall, the top runner in the female and male overall will receive a special recognition award.  ​

The Christmas light displays on Scioto Street were beautiful this year. Thank you to all of the homeowners who helped light up downtown Urbana and make the Christmas season a little brighter #OnTheSquare!

Relive the Christmas season all year long in the slideshow below. Plans are already underway to make next year's Holiday Open Houses and Horse Parade the best one yet!

Join us (and Santa!) for breakfast at Frisch's Big Boy on Saturday, December 7th from 9-11 am. Kids 12 & under eat free and there will be treats and surprises, including a free ornament for the first 50 children.

Luminaries will light the way on the evening of December 1st, as many of the downtown merchants open their doors for the first Downtown Urbana Candlelight Walk.  Due to the cancellation of the Cancer Association of Champaign County’s (CACC) Candlelight Tour of Homes, retailers discussed how they could help the association raise additional funds.  
 
On Saturday December 1st, the stores will be lit with luminaries, and during the hours of 4 - 7 P.M. each will have a promotion to encourage customers to donate to the Cancer Association.  In addition, merchants will donate a portion of their sales. Tina Knotts, owner of Let’s Eat Cake stated “We are grateful for the support we receive from the community and this is our way of giving back.” 

​Several of the merchants have also volunteered to sell CACC calendars during the month of December. The group has been in contact with Brett Evilsizor, president of the CACC who is supportive of their efforts.  Pat and Patsy Thackery, owners of Cafe Paradiso have also agreed to participate, and are asking other downtown restaurants to get involved.
 
As of press time, Oxner’s, Community Thrift, Lily’s Garden, Fruit Salad, Let’s Eat Cake, PB&J on Main, The Bull, Cafe Paradiso, Fusion, Coppertop and Kaleidoscope are participating restaurants and retailers. Each shop will have at least 6 luminaries to make the downtown area festive and light the way for customers.
 
According to their website, the Cancer Association helps people dealing with the effects of cancer on their daily lives, and provides financial assistance with medicines and treatment.   The funds stay in Champaign County, and the organization is totally funded by donations.

Full schedule of events for Friday November, 23rd's Holiday Horse Parade and Santa Land.

Santa Land officially opens on Friday, November 23rd at 6:30pm after the Holiday Horse Parade in downtown Urbana. Santa Land remains open the following dates and hours at its new 2018 location inside Oxner' General Store.