A Winter Arts & Culture Festival
Shake off the winter blues and immerse yourself in a week of arts and culture with Free Week, presented by X Marks the Arts and sponsored by Think Iowa City and the Iowa City Downtown District. Taking place at various venues throughout the Downtown Iowa City Cultural & Entertainment District, this new collaborative event invites the community to come together for a celebration of local and regional talent through free concerts, performances, and workshops that showcase the heart of Iowa City’s vibrant cultural scene.
Participating locations include: Alley Cat, Beadology, Dey House, Elray’s Live & Dive, FilmScene, Gabe’s, Iowa City Public Library, Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature, Museum of Natural History, Old Capitol Museum, Prairie Lights Bookstore & Café, Public Space One, ReUnion Brewery, Stanley Museum of Art, Studio 13, The Englert Theatre, The James Theater, UI Theatre Building, University of Iowa Libraries, Voxman Music Building, and Vue Rooftop.
How to Experience Free Week
Free Week is your invitation to explore the ever-changing arts scene of Downtown Iowa City’s Cultural & Entertainment District. Most venues are just a short walk away, so be sure to dress warmly, wear comfortable boots, and embrace the winter weather as you dive into the energy of each show. Arriving early for your must-see performances is recommended to ensure you secure a spot before venues hit capacity—once they’re full, they’re full. The best part of Free Week? You can easily hop from venue to venue, discovering new experiences and performances along the way. Stay open to the unexpected—checking out new acts or unfamiliar venues might just introduce you to your next favorite artist, band, or performance.
All programming affiliated with Free Week is admission-free, ensuring that everyone can join in the celebration of the arts. While you’re out enjoying the festivities, take advantage of special food and drink offers from participating venues to complete your experience. Offers and specials will be announced soon with a festival map.
- Tuesday, February 18
10:30 AM – Spanish Bilingual Storytime – Iowa City Public Library
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM – “We Always Come Here” Looping Video Installation – FilmScene (Ped Mall)
1:00 – 7:00 PM – Make-n-Take Elastic Bracelets – Beadology Iowa
1:00 PM – Schumann Quartet Concert – Dey House
3:00 – 8:00 PM – FilmScene Free Tuesday – All Shows Free Admission – FilmScene (Chauncey & Ped Mall)
4:00 PM – Curator Guided Tour of A Roll of the Dice: Symbolism in the Sackner Archive with Rich Dana – University of Iowa Main Library
4:00 – 5:00 PM – World Club: Heritage Rhythms of African Ankle Bells – Iowa City Public Library
- WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19
10:30 AM – Story Jam – Iowa City Public Library
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM – “We Always Come Here” Looping Video Installation – FilmScene (Ped Mall)
4:00 PM – Girls Who Code for Tweens & Kids – Iowa City Public Library
5:00 – 6:00 PM – First Round with Jan Weissmiller, Rachel Yoder, and Nina Loman – Prairie Lights Bookstore
6:00 PM – “Wintering” Book Discussion – Online
6:00 PM – Creative Bug Club: Intro to Needle Felting – Iowa City Public Library
6:30 PM – A Year with Frog & Toad with Icon Conservatory and Nolte Academy – The Englert Theatre
7:30 PM – University of Iowa Concert Band & Symphony Band – Voxman Music Building
8:30 PM – Gunk Lung – Gabe’s Iowa City
9:15 PM – Slow Retreat – Gabe’s Iowa City
10:00 PM – Good Habits – Gabe’s Iowa City
10:45 PM – New Neighbors – Gabe’s Iowa City
- THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20
10:30 – 11:00 AM – Preschool Stories & More: Music & Movement with Casey
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM – “We Always Come Here” Looping Video Installation – FilmScene (Ped Mall)
4:00 PM – Totally Tweens: Scientweens – Iowa City Public Library
5:30 – 8:00 PM – Weaving Workshop – Stanley Museum of Art
6:00 PM – Community Writing Center (Teens to Adults) – Iowa City Public Library
6:00 PM – SCW Pro Wrestling – The Englert Theatre
6:30 PM – Community Writing Center (Teens to Adults)
7:00 – 8:30 PM – Lights-On Salon Session featuring Scout Faller and Ceremonial Abyss – PorchLight
7:30 PM – Pride & Prejudice – The James Theatre
8:00 PM – Ten-Minute Play Festival – UI Theatre Building
8:30 PM – Anti-Cash – Gabe’s Iowa City
9:00 PM – 28 Days Later – Elrays Live & Dive
9:15PM – Second Half – Gabe’s Iowa City
10:00 PM – KL!NG – Gabe’s Iowa City
10:00 PM – DJ Germ + Free Cover – ReUnion Brewery
10:00 PM – DJ Stuffin – Gabe’s Iowa City
10:45 PM – Fishbait – Gabe’s Iowa City
- FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21
10:30 – 11:00 AM – Book Babies Storytime – Iowa City Public Library
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM – “We Always Come Here” Looping Video Installation – FilmScene (Ped Mall)
1:00 – 7:00 PM – Make-n-Take Elastic Bracelets – Beadology Iowa
6:00 PM – Library Listen & Paint for All Ages featuring The 781’s – Iowa City Public Library
7:00 PM – Steven Duong, “At the End of the World There Is a Pond” Reading – Prairie Lights Bookstore
7:00 PM – Molly Shannon – Elrays Live & Dive
7:30 PM – Colo Chanel – The Englert Theatre
7:30 PM – Grimmtooth Zine Release Show with Horrif Mass and ghOstMiSt – Public Space One
8:00 PM – Ten-Minute Play Festival – UI Theatre Building
8:00 – 11:00 PM – Eva Maeve – Vue Rooftop
8:30 PM – Alyx Rush – The Englert Theatre
9:00 PM – Dueling Pianos + Free Cover – Alley Cat
9:30 PM – The Uniphonics – The Englert Theatre
10:00 PM – Dance Party with Soulshake DJs
10:30 PM – Drag Show + Free Cover – Studio 13
- SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Free Flicks: I Love to Singa and Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2th Century – FilmScene (Chauncey)
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM – One Book Two Book Festival – Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Book Fair – FilmScene (Chauncey)
10:30 – 11:00 AM – Family Storytime – Iowa City Public Library
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM – “We Always Come Here” Looping Video Installation – FilmScene (Ped Mall)
1:00 PM – Iowa Know’s Winter Birds – Iowa City Public Library
6:30 PM – University of Iowa Concert Band & Symphony Band – Voxman Music Building
7:30 PM – Stnic – The Englert Theatre
8:00 PM – Greylan James – Elrays Live & Dive
8:00 – 11:00 PM – Jim Sheets – Vue Rooftop
8:30 PM – Lex Leto x Makebelief – The Englert Theatre
9:00 PM – Comedy Act + Free Cover – Alley Cat
10:00 PM – Dance Party with DJ Anthony Worden – Gabe’s Iowa City
10:30 PM – Drag Show + Free Cover – Studio 13