Join IFI’s free Welcoming Picnic at Hessel Park on September 7th! – IFI at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Date/Time
7 Sep 2025
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location
Hessel Park – Large Pavilion on the north side of the park, 1401 Grandview Drive, Champaign, Illinois

Loading Map....

You are invited to IFI’s free International Welcoming Picnic on September 7th! Sign up by September 2nd!

International Friendships (IFI) would like to begin the fall semester by inviting international students, visiting international scholars and your family members to an International Welcoming Picnic at Hessel Park in Champaign. The park is just west of the UIUC campus. Enjoy plenty of free food! There will be many vegetarian options included. You won’t leave hungry! Play some outdoor games including baseball, volleyball, cornhole bags and more! Visit with other international students, as well as local residents who would love to meet you and extend some central Illinois hospitality! Your international friends are welcome, but they must also sign up by September 2nd.

Bus Directions: The park is easily accessed by using the MTD’s 100 Yellow South Bus (Scheduled every 30 minutes. The MTD Transit Plaza across from the Illini Bookstore has departures at 3:15, 3:45, 4:15, 4:30, etc.). Get off the bus at State and Birch Streets in Champaign. Hessel Park is a 1.5 block walk to the west from there. The IFI picnic will be held at the north side of the park in the large pavilion. Take the 100 Yellow North Bus at First Street and Stadium Drive 1.5 blocks north of Memorial Stadium (the football stadium) on First Street to return to campus.

International Friendships wants to welcome you to UIUC and make you feel at home in the Urbana-Champaign community! We hope that you will participate in IFI’s international friendship events and activities throughout your time here. Regularly check uiuc.ifiusa.org to sign up for other enjoyable international friendship opportunities throughout the year!

You will be notified if rain causes any changes for the picnic.

Welcome to Urbana-Champaign!

Bill Erickson

Area Director for International Friendships (IFI)

Sharing God’s invitation of love for the world through caring friendship and understanding!

Join IFI's free Welcoming Picnic at Hessel Park on September 7th!

First name:(Required)

Last name (family/surname):(Required)

Phone (your US phone number):(Required)

Email:(Required)

Your local address (Street, Apt.#, City):(Required)

Country that you are from (a citizen of):(Required)

What is your native language?(Required)

Your sex (M or F):(Required)

Foods that you do not eat? (Describe or say None):(Required)

List all family members & relationship to you who are living here with you (list children's ages if applicable):(Required)

What degree/department are you here for? (if other reason, explain):(Required)

When will you complete your stay here? (Month/Year):(Required)

Do you have a car? (Yes or No) - A car is not required to participate in IFI activities:(Required)