Opening Night Party: Celebrate Community!

Opening Night. Those words represent months of hard work and preparation. They generate anticipation and excitement as both audience and performers gather for the first time.

The stage is set, the curtain is drawn, and the music starts.

Krannert Center’s Opening Night reflects the diversity found right here in Champaign-Urbana. Join us Thursday, September 3rd for live music, food and drink, family-friendly activities, and lots of fun.

Celebrate Community! Celebrate the arts! Celebrate the start of our 2026-27 season!

Come Be Here.

Kick off the Opening Night Party with a procession starting in the Student Union Plaza led by Mucca Pazza and the Chicago International Puppet Festival. Campus, community groups, and individuals are invited to join in the fun that will culminate at Krannert Center's ampitheatre.

Chicago’s wildly inventive Mucca Pazza storms the stage with brass, drums, cheerleaders, and nonstop energy. Their genre-defying spectacle is bursting with joy, surreal humor, and dance-filled fun that transforms every performance into an unforgettable musical carnival experience. You will be dancing in no time!

Steeped in the energy of Nigerian superstar Fela Kuti, Grammy-nominated Afrobeat powerhouse Antibalas hits hard with unstoppable rhythms, funk-infused grooves, and an electrifying performance that’s a joyous, dance-filled celebration of music and cultural connection.

Guatemalan native Doctor Nativo brings an explosive live show blending reggae, cumbia, hip-hop, and indigenous influences. His ensemble delivers high-energy rhythms, cultural roots, and a powerful message of community, resistance, and celebration experience.

Winner of the “Most Outstanding Group” at the Chicago Music Awards and “Best World Music Group” by Chicago Reader, Chicago-based collective Funkadesi blends the Bollywood and Cbhangra music of South Asia with reggae, funk, and more into one seamless, infectious sound.

Champaign’s own DJ Silkee blends technical skill, musical intuition, and love into rich mix of beats designed to keep the dance floor moving. It’s the perfect sendoff—uplifting, dynamic, and rooted in the power of music to connect people and leave a lasting impression.