With a campus filled with over 40,000 students, hundreds of student organizations and the country’s largest Greek community, it’s unlikely to find yourself bored on any night of the week. Whether or not you’re a part of Greek life, bars make up a large majority of the nightly scene. With 12 on-campus bars to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the choices, unless you know what popular spots to hit each night of the week.
Monday Night: Joe’s
Joe’s is a legendary stop for the Monday night bar scene. With three bars inside, hugely popular burgers, a mechanical bull, and all the beer an Illini could ask for, Monday is no longer the dreaded first day of a long week of school. Joe’s is a great way to start your week off right, and get back into the social scene.
Tuesday night: The Clybourne (Clys) “Wine Night,” The Red Lion “Senior Night,” Kams “Tequila Tuesday”
With bottles of wine for only $8, Clys is most definitely a go-to spot for Tuesday nights. Known to always be packed with lines wrapping around the door, students look forward to their wine night fix.
“Senior Night” at The Red Lion often sees more than just seniors, but before the Clys crowd makes their way over to The Red Lion, seniors, (or those over 21), can enjoy free cover and awesome drink deals, which all add up to a great night.
Kams’ “Tequila Tuesday” pretty much says it all in the name. If you’re looking for a not-so-average Tuesday night, and plenty of tequila, Kams is definitely the place to go.
Wednesday: “Frattle of the DJs” at Clys and Kam’s, Karaoke at White Horse
Starting this week, Clys and Kams will both be partaking in “Frattle of the DJs” presented by WPGU 107.1FM. Each Wednesday, three to four DJs from different fraternities will compete to win a spot as a fall DJ at either The Red Lion or The Clybourne. Plus, those who win the weekly competition will advance to the finals, where a $1,000 cash prize is at stake. If great music isn’t enough of an incentive to go, drink deals are available, as well as FREE food from OrderUp.com. What more could you possibly ask for in one night?
But, if you’re not into the DJ scene, karaoke at White Horse is definitely the go-to spot for you on Wednesday nights.
Thursday: Exchanges and Personal Preference
Thursdays in Greek life are usually marked by the migration of students bussing to off-campus bars such as High Dive and C-Street to partake in “exchanges.” As the sororities and fraternities meet up with a different pairing each week, and dress in outrageous costumes, many students return to campus after to go to more bars. Thursday nights are one of the biggest nights on campus, and bars such as The Red Lion and Kams are always a popular choice.
Friday: Personal preference and “Crab Races” at Kams
Friday is known for the crowds of students looking to celebrate the weekend as early as they can, as they head towards bars for happy hour. While most bars have deals for happy hour, and many students make multiple bar stops, Kams is definitely a bar-stop you will want to make. With “Crab Races” on Fridays, Kams offers a fun and unique experience during happy hour that no other bar can match.
Saturday: Block
If there’s one thing that Saturday is known for, it’s the enthusiasm of students to party all day long. Whether you’re involved in Greek life or not, there seems to be no specific bar which most students gravitate towards for Saturday drinking. With bars such as The Red Lion, Joe’s and Kams often filled indoors and outdoors, there’s no doubt you’ll find a fun bar to go to on any Saturday of the month.
Sunday: Kam’s, Joe’s (Dinner)
While the students at most schools wouldn’t consider going out on a Sunday night, students at UIUC are more enterprising. While the social scene may not be as hyped on a Sunday night, students may still flock to Kams, or go to Joe’s for a late dinn
Photo Sources:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/169870217165029007/
http://brewhouseblog.com/2012/10/02/a-true-college-bar/