For new and returning students alike, the beginning of the school year is an opportune time to discover new things to do on campus. Given that college can be a costly time in one’s life, Athens’ plethora of free entertainment options is certainly a benefit to college students looking to save some money.
Baker University Center
Perhaps one of the most easily accessible free entertainment options on campus is the wide range of events hosted in Baker throughout the year. From art exhibitions to lectures, there is something for everyone.
To kick off the year, the University Program Council is hosting the Welcome Week Drag Show Aug. 29 from 6-9 p.m. The drag show will feature performances from drag performers Rock M. Sakura, Kazma Knights, Evelyn Everything and more. Additionally, the show will include performances from the Drag Collective, a drag-focused student organization at Ohio University.
Also in the creative realm are Marti & Stewie craft nights. Held every Thursday from 7:30-10 p.m. by the West 82 food court, these craft nights feature a different artistic activity each week. Students can enter for free with their OU student ID and access free art supplies for the weekly craft.
Kennedy Museum of Art
For anyone willing to travel a bit further off-campus, free events happen frequently at Kennedy Museum of Art.
This semester, the museum will have two exhibitions: Telluric and Material Matters. Admission to the museum is free, which makes it a great addition to the artistic community in Athens and an easy way for students to get involved.
Aside from viewing art, visitors can also make their own art as a part of Open Studio events, which happen on select Sunday afternoons.
KMA also hosts other free events, such as Porch Songs with Emily Singer and Friends, a free music performance, and FriendsGiving, an event a bit further away at Zenner House that celebrates 30 years of KMA.
Alden Library
Along with the wonderful free resource Alden is, it also often features museum-like exhibitions.
On view through September, お土産話 (Travel Stories) is a free photography exhibition on display on the third floor of Alden in the Fine Arts Library. This exhibition showcases photos taken by two OU students who participated in the exchange program with Chubu University in Nagoya, Japan.
On Sept. 13, Alden will open a new exhibit — Life Before Ohio University: Manasseh Cutler. This exhibit on the fifth floor of Alden celebrates the life of Manasseh Cutler, a figure who was key to the establishment of OU. On the day of the exhibit’s opening, there will also be a living history presentation from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., which is a first-person portrayal by a historical interpreter.
Fitness resources
A great benefit of being an OU student is free access to Ping Recreation Center. Ping includes three floors of gym equipment, basketball courts, racquetball courts, group fitness rooms, mindfulness spaces and more.
A standout element of Ping is the group fitness classes. These are taught by an instructor and include cycle, cardio dance, yoga, boxing, Pilates and cardio sculpt. Students must register for these classes, but they are completely free to attend. Additionally, most classes occur several times a week.
OU students also have free access to the Aquatic Center Open Swim, the Bird Ice Arena Recreational Skate and the Outdoor Tennis Center.
Off-campus
Though OU does have many great free resources, the Athens area as a whole also offers free events.
A standout example of this is Donkey’s Open Mic night, which takes place Thursdays at 8 p.m. Open Mic night is an opportunity for anyone to perform and for anyone to sit and watch for free.
Aside from Donkey, other locations like Casa Nueva and The Union occasionally host similar free music events. Several bars also host free bingo and trivia night.
New events spring up in Athens often, so it’s best to tune into local social media and pay attention to flyers posted on-campus to learn of new entertainment in Athens.
