Free Fun in Downtown Springfield
July 19, 2024
Not everything fun has to cost an arm and a leg! Some of the most fun activities are free. Check out this downtown list of 10 free things to do in Springfield, MO!
1. Sculpture Walk Springfield
Downtown Springfield
sculpturewalkspringfield.org
A museum without walls with access to all, Sculpture Walk Springfield is made up of more than 20 sculptures in public places around Downtown Springfield. Download a map of all the sculptures from sculpturewalkspringfield.org and head out on a sculpture hunt! You can also download a related kid’s activity sheet here to enhance the artistic fun!
2. Jordan Valley Park
Jordan Valley Park
635 E Trafficway
parkboard.org/524/Jordan-Valley-Park
3. FilmStubs at the Moxie
Moxie Cinema
305 S Campbell, Suite 101
moxiecinema.com
The monthly FilmStubs series at Moxie Cinema is FREE and was made possible by a grant from “Friends of the Library.” Enjoy films like Old Joy (2006) on August 14 or Wonder Boys (2000) on September 11. Plus, Zach Hollingshad of the Springfield-Greene County Library will lead a short discussion following each film.
4. Jazz Nights at the Blue Room and Hold Fast
Blue Room Comedy Club
420 W College, Suite
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
blueroomcomedyclub.com
Hold Fast Brewing
235 N Kimbrough
Tuesdays
hfbrewing.com
Take it easy on a Tuesday night with Jazz Nights at Blue Room Comedy Club or Hold Fast Brewing. The full Missouri Jazz Orchestra (MOJO) big band takes the Blue Room stage from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of the month. There’s no cover and plenty of seating — the perfect atmosphere in which to enjoy live jazz. For a smaller venue with just as good of jazz, you can head to Hold Fast Brewing every Tuesday night. The 1st and 3rd (and sometimes 5th) Tuesdays of the month feature The Brueggemann Gouge Jazz Band and their Ladies of Jazz vocal series. The 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month feature MOJO Lite a smaller group of musicians from the Missouri Jazz Orchestra.
5. First Friday Art Walk
Downtown Springfield
springfieldarts.org/first-friday-art-walk
Established more than 20 years ago, Art Walk is a self-guided program that allows the community to get an insider look at local art, businesses and galleries! As the name suggests, First Friday Art Walk happens on the first Friday of every month and showcases the art, food and fun of Downtown Springfield. Each month you can find a list of all the participating galleries and businesses in the FFAW newsletter, available at springfieldarts.org/first-friday-art-walk.
6. Park Central Branch Library
Park Central Branch Library
128 Park Central Square
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
thelibrary.org
The Park Central Branch of the Springfield-Greene County Library is an arts- and media-themed, non-traditional facility that features a collection of popular books, a wide selection of local and national newspapers and magazines and DVDs, CDs and audiobooks. There is also more than a dozen computer stations with high-speed internet access and the Library’s catalog and research databases.
7. Runs with SBC Athletics
Springfield Brewing Company
305 S Market
Wednesdays at 6:31 p.m. & Saturdays at 7:01 a.m.
sbcathletics.com
Springfield Brewing Company Athletics, an endurance sport team, hosts weekly runs for people of all paces and skill sets. Join them on Wednesday nights and/or Saturday Mornings for a social run through downtown. The course is mostly sidewalks and residential areas, but wear bright reflective clothing, headlamps and/or lighted vests as a safety measure. Wednesday Nights are a fun, 4 mile run through downtown, Jordan Valley Park and historic Walnut Street beginning at Springfield Brew Co. at 6:31 p.m. Post run, SBC Athletics will provide each runner with one draft beer of choice on the house! Saturday Mornings begin at Springfield Brew co. at 7:01 a.m. and are longer 6.25 mile runs, but runners are encouraged to run however many miles they like and then peel off if they need to. You can find more info on runs on SBCA’s Facebook page.
8. Trivia & Game Nights
Downtown Springfield
itsalldowntown.com/trivia
Downtown Springfield is the place to be if you love games! You can test your skills and knowledge at weekly & monthly trivia nights and game nights:
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- Trivia in the Corner Pocket at Springfield Billiards on Mondays at 7:30 p.m.
- Rock N’ Roll Trivia at Mother’s Brewing on the first Monday of the month at 6 p.m.
- Game Night with Meta Games at Finnegan’s Wake every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Board Game Night with Meta Games at Best of Luck Beer Hall on the first & third Tuesdays of the month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Trivia with Mar at Mother’s Brewing on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
- Mario Kart Night at Gailey’s on Wednesdays
- Finn’s Trivia on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
- Trivia at Tabak Co. on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
- Trivia at Hold Fast Brewing on the second Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m.
- Music Bingo at Hold Fast Brewing on the third Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m.
- Board Game Night at Gailey’s on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Trivia at Best of Luck Beer Hall on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
- Downtown Game Night with the Park Central Library Branch at The Coffee Ethic on the second Friday of the month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Trivia Binge at Mother’s Brewing on the last Sunday of the month at 7 p.m.
You can also play chess in the Pocket Park at the corner of South and McDaniel. Chess Pieces can be checked out from Nonna’s Italian Cafe and Finnegan’s Wake.
9. Live Music
Downtown Springfield
There’s always live music happening somewhere downtown and a lot of it is free! Hold Fast Brewing, Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe and Springfield Brewing Company regularly host a rotating calendar of local musicians to fill their spaces with fantastic live music on weekend evenings. You can also find live music from the stage in Park Central Square every Saturday through October during the Farmers Market of the Ozarks Downtown from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. You are also invited to join Pension Consultants in celebrating their 30th Anniversary on August 8 with a free concert by Members Only on Park Central Square.
10. Book Clubs
Downtown Book Club
134 Park Central Square, Suite 120
Second Thursday of the month, 6 p.m.
itsalldowntown.com/bookclub
Books & Brews at Hold Fast
235 N Kimbrough
Fourth Wednesday of the month, 6 p.m.
Books & Brews Facebook Group
Banned Book Club at BookMarx
325 E Walnut, Suite 101
Last Thursday of the month, 5:30 p.m.
bookmarxbookshop.com
Downtown Springfield plays host to several book clubs for readers of all kinds! The Downtown Book Club meets every second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at 134 Park Central Square, Suite 120 to discuss that month’s read and enjoy snacks from various downtown restaurants. Hold Fast Brewing hosts their Books & Brews book club on the fourth Wednesday of the month to talk books on the patio. The Banned Book Club takes on books that have recently been in the news for being banned or challenged at BookMarx on the last Thursday of the month.