Events

We're taking a week to catch our breath, do a little extra cleaning, and prep for a few projects coming up soon.

We will be closed from October 5-9. We will re-open for regular hours on Saturday, October 10 at 11AM.

See you then!

Let’s PLAY! Game, socialize, and build a sense of community and joy together at Diversions for our FREE Second Sunday Social, in collaboration with our community-building bestie, Bitchin’ Events!

Whether you bring friends or show up solo, you'll have a fun time gathering around a game with friendly faces. Gaming is FREE for folks who check-in before 5PM, no matter how long you stay and game!

We’ll have nametags available and ‘Join Us’ signs on most tables to make it easy to meet, greet, and play! Join our greeting game as you arrive — featuring one of our party-style games — to easily jump in and meet others. When you’re ready to try another game, our staff will be available for game recommendations, assistance with setup, or learning new games.

Making new friends can be hard, but make it a little easier by sharing a game together!

Join Diversions for a thrilling round of Blood on the Clocktower every week! This Level Up session aims to build on prior experience while also introducing players to more complex elements of the game, such as Madness or changing alignment. Players are expected to understand the basics of the game and be ready to level up their skills!

• $6 for a Player Pass, which is required to participate — grab yours here!
• Spots are limited to 15 players for each session.
• Doors open at 5:00PM and participants are encouraged to mingle prior to the game. Each game starts at 5:30 SHARP.

Click here to visit our Blood on the Clocktower hub for storyteller, script info, and other event details!

This Advanced session is open to any scripts the Storytellers deem worthy – the possibilities are endless! Players will be expected to have a strong understanding of the game, characters, and rules and be ready for a challenge.

• $12 for a Player Pass, which is required to participate - grab yours here!
• Spots are limited to 15 players for each session.
• Doors open at 5:30PM and participants are encouraged to mingle prior to the game. Each game starts at 6:00 SHARP.

Click here to visit our Blood on the Clocktower hub for storyteller, script info, and other event details!

Enjoy an afternoon of gaming and conversation with other LGBTQ+ gaymers, hosted by Press Coffee & Diversions! Choose from a variety of games or join our hosted table to play with other gaymers. Grab a name tag, pick out a game, and enjoy — it's as easy as that!

Press Coffee is an accessible gathering space for all who want to join, and they'll be serving up irresistible drinks and snacks. Build community with new and familiar faces at these monthly Gaymers Gatherings, every third Saturday of the month from 2-5PM or monthly at Diversions. All Gaymers Gatherings are also sponsored by Iowa City Pride, in their ongoing mission to support community and connection year-round! 

All ages are welcome and encouraged to attend, whether you are looking to game or not. You can bring your own game or choose as many as you'd like from Diversions' game library! Gaymers Gathering also happens monthly at Diversions — please confirm dates and times at diversionsic.com/events

About Gaymers Gathering:
Diversions hosts Gaymers Gatherings with the goal of building community and creating a safer, inclusive, and intentional space for the LGBTQ and gaming communities. We encourage you to stop by and roll some dice, puzzle over some pieces, embark on a quest, or just come to chat! As a Queer-owned business, Diversions is proud to offer these events for our community to enjoy.

About Press Coffee:
Press Coffee is a community cafe staple with over a decade of experience providing delicious beverages in a cozy, welcoming environment. This is a truly local business that supports a team of wonderful baristas, provides gallery and sales space for local artists, and partners with nearby organizations to host community-building events.

About Iowa City Pride:
The mission at Iowa City Pride is to increase positive visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and asexual/agender/aromantic (LGBTQIAA) community of Iowa City. We do so by providing opportunities to express and celebrate diverse perspectives, emphasizing acceptance of all individuals regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Iowa City Pride coordinates an annual Pride festival and related events throughout the year.

With the current revival mahjong is experiencing in mainstream culture, we are excited to be welcoming a new monthly mahjong gathering at Diversions to introduce folks to the game, improve player skills and comfort, or help players find other folks to join a table!

New players are welcome, as are seasoned Chii callers, and everything in between. Tables will be available, some sets will be provided, and the free popcorn will be plentiful! No ticket needed, and players are encouraged to claim a seat for the game on Aftergame.

NOTE: The primary variant played so far has been Japanese/Richii, but other variants are welcome.

Join Diversions to learn the thrilling hit game Blood on the Clocktower! This cryptic social deduction game might remind players of similar games (such as Mafia, Werewolf, or Traitors), but this game has become known for its unique roles and twists. With sessions every week, we're excited to welcome more players to the game through these introductory, learn-to-play sessions.

Click here to see all scheduled Clocktower events and details.

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. This session is geared towards folks who haven’t played before; the Storyteller (the game host) will go over the rules in depth before diving in to at least one full play-through, and will pause throughout the game to provide context and explanation to assist player understanding.

Doors open at 5:00pm and participants are encouraged to mingle prior to the game. The game starts at 5:30 sharp! This event is FREE, but a Player Pass is required to participate! 

Storyteller: Jessi H.

Read more about Blood on the Clocktower here!

Bring the (friendly) heckles and banter – it’s bingo night at Diversions, co-hosted by Bitchin’ Events! Winners will have chances at a wide variety of prizes (details below!) and EVERYONE gets to enjoy a fun night of gaming. Game for Good by joining in the fun: half of every entry ticket will go to support Old Capitol City Roller Derby, in addition to the FULL $5 of every additional bingo card purchased.

CLAIM YOUR SPOT TO JOIN THE FUN!

Doors open at 6:00 and attendees are welcome to play games from our library of 450+ games before (during) or after the event. We’ll also be serving up classic snack stand candy, chocolate, and chips, along with a variety of sodas, ice teas, energy drinks, non-alcoholic beer, and fully alcoholic beer and seltzers.

• $20 – Entry + first bingo card
• $5/each – Additional bingo card(s)
• Priceless – The laughter and good feelings afterwards!

Prizes for this round of Bitchin' Bingo:
Pokemon: Mega Evolution - Ascended Heroes tin, Scooby-Doo Clue, Exploding Kittens Party Pack, scented dice set, mystery sticker pack, D20 sticker pack, mini dice set + D&D pin, and more!

This Advanced session is open to any scripts the Storytellers deem worthy – the possibilities are endless! Players will be expected to have a strong understanding of the game, characters, and rules and be ready for a challenge.

• $12 for a Player Pass, which is required to participate - grab yours here!
• Spots are limited to 15 players for each session.
• Doors open at 5:00PM and participants are encouraged to mingle prior to the game. Each game starts at 5:30 SHARP.

Click here to visit our Blood on the Clocktower hub for storyteller, script info, and other event details!

Let’s PLAY! Game, socialize, and build a sense of community and joy together at Diversions for our FREE Second Sunday Social, in collaboration with our community-building bestie, Bitchin’ Events!

Whether you bring friends or show up solo, you'll have a fun time gathering around a game with friendly faces. Gaming is FREE for folks who check-in before 5PM, no matter how long you stay and game!

We’ll have nametags available and ‘Join Us’ signs on most tables to make it easy to meet, greet, and play! Join our greeting game as you arrive — featuring one of our party-style games — to easily jump in and meet others. When you’re ready to try another game, our staff will be available for game recommendations, assistance with setup, or learning new games.

Making new friends can be hard, but make it a little easier by sharing a game together!

Join in for a weekend of gaming fun at eastern Iowa’s longest running gaming convention: Gamicon! Since 1991, Gamicon has celebrated board games, card games, roleplaying games, social games – and even video games and computer games – with a weekend of game demos, tournaments, play-to-wins, auctions, and more! It’s a gathering of community you won’t want to miss.

Learn more about Gamicon on their website.