Events in Marion today

Enjoy a peaceful retreat at Prairiewoods focused on rest and renewal for mind, body, and spirit. Facilitated by Rev. Jean Sullivan, the day includes your choice of two services, group meditation practices, a private guest room for the day, a fresh lunch, and access to the labyrinth along with other Prairiewoods amenities. Service options include a 30 minute massage, a 30 minute head and shoulder massage, a 30 minute reflexology session, a 30 minute healing touch session, a 40 minute spiritual direction session, or a 1 hour spiritual arts practice. The cost is $115 and covers two services, group meditation practices, a private guest room, and lunch, or $100 without a private guest room. Registration is required at least eight days in advance with a nonrefundable and nontransferable $50 deposit and your top three service choices, and full payment is required for online registration. To pay the $50 deposit now and the balance upon arrival, call 319-395-6700. During registration, please indicate your top three service preferences.

Create, learn, and explore national parks and monuments through hands-on activities. Watch a live feed of the underwater forest off the California coast while designing your own undersea landscape. Make fireworks art that captures all the oohs and aahs without any fire or noise. Discover why Joshua trees grow in only one place on Earth, hear about the woman who helped protect them, and craft desert greenery to display at home. Then look at how Yellowstone changed when wolves disappeared and how bringing them back helped restore the ecosystem. This session combines creative projects with stories from the natural world.

Everyone is welcome, from kids to adults. Enjoy complimentary food, music from a live DJ, outdoor games, and a variety of activities.

Barbie’s Pink Pony Club Party brings a splash of pink and western-inspired glamour to Kingston’s Steakhouse and Event Venue. Attendees can look forward to music, themed cocktails and plenty of photo opportunities that lean into a playful Barbie vibe. The dress code calls for pink, Barbie-inspired looks or Western chic, creating a stylish backdrop for a memorable girls’ night.

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.

Now in its thirteenth year, this outdoor yoga series returns to the Klopfenstein Amphitheater at Lowe Park, with a different fitness instructor leading each session. It welcomes participants of all ages and experience levels. Please bring a yoga mat and a water bottle. A season-long waiver is required, with additional forms available on site.

Crafters can take part in a two-day in-store crop at Scrapmania featuring extended private access for participants. The cost is $35 per person, and each attendee has four feet of dedicated table space within a 13,600 square foot venue. Bring a snack to share with the group. Expect plenty of time for crafting, fun, and shopping, plus a 10% discount on in-stock merchandise for registered participants throughout the event, with some exclusions. Registration is available in person or by phone at 319-377-9999. If attending with friends, mention this when registering so seating can be arranged together. Registrations are final with no refunds or date changes, so confirm availability before signing up.

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.

A doubles tournament open to both men’s and women’s teams, featuring two divisions. The Upper division is intended for competitive play, while the Lower division focuses on relaxed, recreational fun. Tickets are available.

Xavier Saints Youth Boys Basketball will hold grade-based sessions for boys, with check-in followed by each group’s activities. First graders will participate in an open gym and uniform fitting. Second through eighth graders will take part in evaluations and a uniform fitting. Registration is open. Information is being shared with Xavier Schools friends and families, and boys of any experience level are welcome to attend. For questions, contact xaviersaintsyouthhoops@gmail.com.

Midwest Shredfest brings Asphalt Apocalypse to Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, delivering a two day, rain or shine celebration of drifting with tire smoke, roaring engines, and side by side action. Spectators can enjoy free general admission, with a $30 pit pass option, and children under 10 are free. All guests complete payment at the gate and sign a waiver. Ride-alongs are offered for those with a pit pass and their own helmet. New drivers are welcome. Convertibles are allowed with a rollover bar, and a cage is only required for tandem runs. Expect multiple course layouts shaped by driver input and support from two on site tire technicians. Food trucks will be available, and pets are not permitted. Driver pricing includes a $200 weekend pass that comes with a cool shirt, a $100 single day pass without a shirt, and a $120 single day pass if purchased at the gate. Weekend driver passes are not sold at the gate. The event flow includes driver and media check in and tech, spectator entry and a drivers meeting, on track sessions with an intermission, additional driving, and a wrap up to close the day, followed by a second day with the same structure and final sessions to conclude the weekend.

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.

Ease into the morning with a gentle Hatha practice held outdoors in nature with Breathing Room Yoga. This welcoming, grounding class is open to all experience levels and emphasizes steady breath, comfortable mobility, and mindful movement. Registration is preferred. Bring a yoga mat, a water bottle, and an open heart. In the event of rain, the class will move indoors.

A collaboration between the City of Marion and the Marion YMCA & Community Rec Center brings Community Days, offering Marion residents full access to the YMCA with a single-day pass. Admission is 10 dollars for youth, 20 dollars for adults, and 35 dollars for families. A waiver will be required at check-in if one is not already on file. Open to Marion residents, these community access days take place on the final Sunday of each month.

A flowing yoga practice that links each movement with the breath, moving smoothly from one posture to the next. The steady pace cultivates a meditative mindset, helping participants quiet the mind and stay grounded in the here and now. Suitable for every experience level.

Explore qigong with Gina Molby, a gentle, restorative practice rooted in ancient Chinese practices that weaves together movement, mindful awareness, and a present, flowing state of mind. This beginner friendly class offers a moving meditation that helps the nervous system settle through unhurried sequences, soft attention, and steady breathing. Participants learn to notice thoughts and emotions without being swept along by them, which can invite emotional steadiness, clear thinking, and a refreshed sense of vitality as energy moves more freely through the body. It is suitable for anyone juggling a busy life, feeling the weight of stress, experiencing low reserves, or simply curious about methods that build lasting energy and mental clarity. The session is guided by Gina, a certified energy practitioner, Reiki Master, qigong instructor, and earth steward who supports people in reconnecting with their bodies, regulating the nervous system, and cultivating resilience and steady energy. The class fee is $20 per session.

Experience a quiet community meditation that welcomes both newcomers and long-time practitioners from any tradition. This is not a mindfulness class, but an open space to sit together in silence. Each gathering begins with a few words of inspiration or explanation from meditation teachers, continues with a shared silent practice, and closes with open discussion and reflection. Participants may check in with one another and talk about recent challenges in their practice. There is a suggested donation of $5 per session accepted at the door, and registration is appreciated.

A guest from Tanager Place introduces an expressive arts program that uses books, dance, art, and other creative activities to help children and families build confidence, explore emotions, and strengthen inner resilience.

Every Tuesday brings half-price fun from opening to closing. Enjoy 50 percent off Game Zone games, open bowling, and laser tag all day. Some exclusions apply.

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.

The Kernels take on South Bend, the Chicago Cubs affiliate, in their final away game outing. Big Grove will have game day specials, and food and drinks can also be purchased from other Kingston Yard businesses. Bring a lawn chair and settle in on the grass. Please note that a Saturday game will only be shown if it does not conflict with an Iowa football game.

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.

At The Shack Tavern, this series begins indoors as it builds momentum, with plans to move outside to the patio once interest grows. The stage will be available throughout the summer. The atmosphere is laid-back, centered on relaxing and vibing together, with a mix of live jukebox energy and fun karaoke to create a show everyone can enjoy. Attendees are encouraged to spread the word and share good times with friends, including a few brews.

Tuesday brings karaoke, crowd-pleasing hits, and an upbeat atmosphere to Cliff’s Dive Bar & Grill. The kitchen stays open until 10 for food orders.

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.

This breath-led yoga class links smooth transitions between poses into an ongoing sequence that encourages a calm, meditative state. The focus is on movement synchronized with each inhale and exhale, inviting participants to let go of distracting thoughts and settle into the present moment. Suitable for all experience levels.

Celebrate Wednesdays with half-price fun from open to close. Take 50% off laser tag, open bowling, and games in the Game Zone all day. Some exclusions apply.

Discover a community market at Old MacDonald’s Farm featuring local vendors. Browse fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, and handmade crafts at stalls set up near the farm entrance. Some vendors are certified by the Iowa Department of Agriculture to accept IFMNP checks from the WIC Program, helping provide nutritious foods to women, infants, and children. Bring a reusable bag, say hello to the folks behind the tables, and enjoy a relaxed midweek visit.

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.

A casual networking gathering takes place at The Yard in Kingston Yard. The event features music from DJ Riley Mullane for part of the program and includes a ticket good for food and a drink. Vendors on site include Big Grove, Pickle Palace and Aroma Pizza. Seating is limited and dispersed, so bringing a bag chair or outdoor blanket is recommended for those who prefer to sit. Most attendees stand.

A weekly modern play session takes place at First Turn Games. This recurring meetup is focused on modern play and offers a regular opportunity to play with others.

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.