Summer Concert Series Event Planner

In 2024, the City of Champaign launched the Market Street Entertainment District and introduced The Beat, an outdoor concert series created as part of the Downtown Entertainment Pilot Program. This initiative aimed to enhance and promote nightlife by integrating arts, culture, and entertainment, while offering inclusive programming designed to attract a diverse audience. The pilot continued in 2025 with refinements based on feedback from community stakeholders and downtown businesses. Now entering its third year, and in light of staffing capacity constraints, the City of Champaign is seeking a qualified vendor to produce and manage the program on our behalf—now branded as The Beat on Market Street. The selected entity will oversee all aspects of event production, including talent buying, vendor coordination, staffing, security, artist hospitality, crowd engagement, AV production, and comprehensive event management.

The Beat on Market Street has become a signature cultural and entertainment experience for the Champaign community. Designed as a safe and welcoming venue, the event features a mix of DJs and live bands and consistently attracts a diverse audience across age groups and backgrounds. Each concert offers food and beverage options, including alcohol vendors, creating a vibrant atmosphere for social engagement. In 2025, the series introduced themed nights highlighting genres such as Funk, Prince, Hip-Hop, Boots on the Ground, Reggae, Soul, and R&B, with performances primarily by local artists and select acts from Chicago (See Section 3, Attachment A). Audience engagement was a key focus, with emcee-led interactions, contests, and activities enhancing the overall experience. In 2025 the event was four hours in duration (8:00 p.m. to midnight), drew an average of 800 attendees, and had an age restriction of 21.

Posting Questions? Contact: Derrick Braun, 102 N Neil St,. Champaign, IL 61820, derrick.braun@champaignil.gov Derrick Braun 217-403-8807 derrick.braun@champaignil.gov