Fashionably Frugal Fridays

This is going to be a regular post for me - free or low-cost things that you can do over the weekend. Whether it be with your family or going out with friends. I'm all about being frugal, but I'm all about being fabulous too....so it won't be your run of the mill stuff here!!! ; )

Everything I post will be within Champaign County, unless there is something worth driving too outside of this area.

1. Free Art Exhibit at Pages For All Ages, 1201 Savoy Plaza Lane, Savoy

Various dates from Friday, Aug 1, 2008, to Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008 - An art Exhibit of Photography by Larry Pegram and Paintings and Drawings by Michael Owen Thomas, Aug. 1through Sept. 30. Open during store hours. Free. For more information call 351-7243, or visit www.pagesforallages.com.

2. Used Book Sale at St. Joseph Township Library, St. Joseph

The St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library announces its Summer Used Book Sale. The book sale will begin Monday, Aug. 4, and run until Aug. 28. Paperbacks are 25 cents, hardbacks are 50 cents, Magazines 10 cents. Audio books, CDs and videos, $1 each. Adult fiction, non-fiction, romance, biography, large print, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, adventure, horror and western, children's fiction and non-fiction. The sale will run during normal library hours: 3 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 1 to 7 p.m. Fridays; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. For information call 469-2159.

3. Ice Cream Social, Tolono Methodist Church, Tolono, Friday 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Tolono United Methodist Church's Annual Ice Cream Social. Donations will be taken at the door. Menu items include BBQ Sandwiches, Egg Salad Sandwiches, Hot Dogs, Cole Slaw, Chips, Desserts, Drinks and, of course, Ice Cream. The event is open to the public.

4. Homeless Animals Day, Saturday 7 a.m. - 12 p.m., Lincoln Square Mall, Urbana

Twelve animal welfare agencies from the Central Illinois Animal Welfare Coalition will host booths at Market at the Square, the weekly farmers' market held in Urbana. Agency representatives will be on hand to provide information detailing the services they provide and the type of animals that they help. If temperatures aren't too high, adoptable animals will also attend the event with the hope of making a connection with that special someone. Children can learn about pets through fun activities. The event is intended to raise awareness of the plight of homeless animals, and to spotlight the work that animal welfare agencies do to find those animals new homes.

5. Downtown Festival of Arts, Champaign, Saturday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Join us for the fifth year of this growing festival in the heart of Downtown Champaign. Explore the culinary and artistic flavors of the downtown community as you stroll the streets and view juried works by fine artists from both near and far. Take in the performing artists and musicians as you dine and help your children create their own fine creations in our Little Artist Tents. For more information call 398-2550, or visit www.champaignparkdistrict.com.

6. Music! Music!, Urbana Free Library, Saturday 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Performance and presentation by students from The University of Illinois as they showcase instruments such as the harp, cello, piano, flute and mbira (an instrument of Zimbabwe)! Children of all ages are invited to this free program. (Children 7 and yunger must be accompanied by an adult.) No registration. Call 367-4069 or visit www.urbanafreelibrary.org.

7. "In Field Fly", Frank Elliott Air Field, Rantoul, Saturday 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

An airplane will fly over the baseball field dropping hundreds of baseballs towards designated "dug-outs." The ball that lands in, or closest to each of the "dug-outs" will win a generous cash prize. There will be "cheeseburgers in paradise" and beverages. The Boat Drunks will perform from 5 to 9 p.m. All proceeds will go towards the tuition assistance fund at St. Malachy school. Everyone is invited to attend. Baseballs will be sold for $50 each. Admission to The Boat Drunks is $5, children 12 and under are free.

8. Parking Lot Party, Bunny's Tavern, 119 W. Water, Urbana, Saturday 7 p.m.-11 p.m.

Live music by Candy Foster and the Shades of Blue in the parking lot next to Bunny's tavern from 7 to 11 p.m. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the music. No cover charge.

9. Lu & Denny's 48th Annual Bash, Route 45, Tolono, Saturday 4 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Food, music, and fun - Visions 'n Vibrations starting at 9 p.m. and keeping you dancing until 1 a.m. No cover charge.

10. Fighting Illini Fan Appreciation Day, Sunday 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

The University of Illinois football team will host is annual Fan Appreciation Day at Memorial Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 17 from 1-2:30 p.m. Along with Coach Zook and the more than 100 players that make up the football roster, the Fighting Illini volleyball team will be out to greet the Illini faithful. The event is free of charge and fans attending the event should enter the field through the Horseshoe on Kirby Ave.