Free events in Marion, IA

NewBo City Market’s signature summer wellness series offers free guided activities in the Market Yard and on the Bankers Trust stage on the Market Lawn. Options include dance fitness taught by a rotating roster of instructors, yoga sessions, group walks, group runs, and bike rides. Walks and runs typically cover one to four miles, with routes that change each week and occasional destination outings. Bike rides vary in distance and also explore new routes. Activities take place outdoors, so weather-ready clothing is encouraged. For classes, a water bottle is recommended, and yoga participants should bring a mat. All abilities are welcome, and no advance registration is needed. Select evenings feature Family Night with a bounce house and additional activities for all ages. This series is presented by Dupaco and supported by 7G Distributing, Iowa Running Company, PCI, STACK Wellness, and Twenty40 Concepts.

Live music fills City Square Park as Uptown Getdown brings summertime sounds to Marion. This year's roster spans performances by Last Call, Matt Panek & The Electric Trio, Outlaw Band, and Mill Creek Band, offering something for a range of musical tastes. Admission is free, made possible by Marion Chamber Platinum Community Partners including Farmers State Bank, ImOn Communications, MercyCare Community Physicians, SFD Insurance, Summit Pointe Senior Living, and Z102.9, along with the City of Marion Hotel/Motel Fund.

Think & Drink Entertainment hosts a lively game night at Spare Time Entertainment in Cedar Rapids, featuring crowd favorites such as Survey Says, Name That Tune, general trivia, and music bingo. There is no fee to participate, teams can include up to eight players, and winners can earn house cash and other prizes. The event welcomes all ages. Arriving early is recommended to secure a table.

The City of Marion presents Pop-Up Acts in the Artway, a summer series of live music at no cost made possible by Iowa Appliance Center and Affordable Heating and Cooling. Performances take place in the Uptown Artway or on a nearby business patio and highlight local and regional musicians. This installment features Bovine Invasion. All ages are welcome.

Marion Farmers Market offers a weekly community marketplace at Willowood Park featuring local food and handmade goods. Shoppers will find farm-fresh produce, bakery items, meats, flowers, honey, handcrafted jewelry, woodwork and other crafts from area vendors. During market hours, Marion City Council members hold weekly office hours at the market, and one or more members are available to talk with attendees and respond to inquiries.

Downtown Cedar Rapids transforms into a sprawling open-air celebration that brings together a wide range of vendors with a lively lineup of entertainment. Enjoy food, beer, wine, and art paired with creative placemaking displays that turn the streets into a colorful scene. This popular free event offers a welcoming atmosphere and plenty to explore throughout downtown.

Enjoy a free yoga and pilates practice at Amazing Space at Indian Creek Nature Center, held entirely outdoors on the patio and lawn with restored prairie and woodlands all around. Music is not part of the plan, the sounds of geese, frogs, and the breeze create the ambiance. To help the session begin and end smoothly, arrive a little early to park and get settled. Please bring your own mat, blocks, straps, and any other gear you prefer, as mats are not available to borrow. The building is open only for restroom access and water bottle refills. This is an outdoor-only offering with no indoor alternative if weather moves in. If conditions look uncertain, check the event’s Facebook page for potential cancellation updates. For the weekly instructor lineup, visit the nature center’s website. If you or anyone in your household is ill, has been ill recently, or has been in close contact with someone who is ill, please stay home and rest. Sponsored by Sandwire.

Think & Drink Entertainment hosts a live, team-based trivia game at Mulligan's Pub in Cedar Rapids. There is no entry fee, and teams can include up to eight players. The competition features four rounds that become more challenging and are worth increasing points, with categories that span current events, history, geography, science, sports, and more. After each question a song plays, and your team has until the end of the track to turn in an answer. Prizes are awarded to the top three finishers, and house cash is up for grabs. All ages are welcome. Mobile phones, web-connected devices, and smartwatches are not permitted during play. Arriving early is recommended to secure a table.

At The Bar - Cedar Rapids, this weekly music bingo night is free to play and features rotating themes each month. Players pick up a card, listen for songs, and mark matches for a chance to win in-house credit. It is a relaxed, drop-in experience, so you can arrive at any point and stay as long as you like, all set to a soundtrack of great music.

A free comedy open mic takes place at Old Neighborhood Pub. Performers can sign up through a link that will be posted on the Lucky Cat's Facebook page.

Complimentary DJ trivia at Bushwood Sports Bar & Grill offers a friendly way to test your knowledge.

Community gardening takes place in the Shakespeare Garden at Ellis Park, offering time outdoors and a chance to help care for a space enjoyed by many. Participants are welcome to bring their own gardening tools.

Trainers gather for a weekly meetup focused on connecting, playing, and trading across the Pokémon community. Whether you battle on Nintendo Switch, enjoy the Trading Card Game, or take part in Pokémon GO, there is room for casual matches, competitive sets, on site raid coordination, trades, and PVP. Optional mini tournaments and challenges are available, along with chances to swap cards, get tips, build teams, and discuss strategy. All ages and skill levels are welcome. This is a bring your own device gathering, so bring your console, cards, or mobile device to participate. There may be limited sharing of gear, but it is not guaranteed. Admission is free and no registration is required.

Put your music knowledge to the test at The Pedaler's Fork in Cedar Rapids with a Name That Tune style trivia night. Short clips of songs are played and teams try to identify both the title and the artist. Each correct guess boosts your score, and top teams can win house cash. It is free to participate, teams may include up to eight people, and all ages are welcome. Arrive early to secure a table.