The holiday season is in full swing in the Quad Cities, with the multi-day, multi-city bi-state Deck the Downtowns party anchored and the region’s signature Quad Cities Festival of Trees, now in its 40th year.
The annual offering and more is what the The Cultural Trust is calling “Culture Bright Week,” where its leaders promise “something unforgettable is about to happen.”
It started with the Festival of Trees which began Wednesday, Nov. 19, and runs until Sunday, Nov. 30. During that 10-day party – which is an annual fundraiser that benefits the Quad City Arts – Davenport’s RiverCenter has been transformed into a winter wonderland.
Tonight, Friday, Nov. 21, there will be a black-tie-optional Festival of Trees Premiere Party to honor the 40-year anniversary. That will be followed the next morning at 10 a.m. by the Festival of Trees Parade. The larger-than-life 22nd parade featuring giant balloons will be followed by the Quad City Symphony’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in Concert at the Adler Theatre in Davenport.
Friday also is opening night for the Quad City Botanical Center Winter Lights: Culture Bright Neon Forest that runs until Jan. 1.
Events shine bright
Quad Cities Chamber Deck the Downtown celebrations by the Downtown Bettendorf Organization, Downtown Davenport Partnership and Rock Island Downtown Alliance will run through the season. There visitors can explore downtown promotions, holiday activities, unique local shopping, seasonal displays, ornament hunts, goodies and opportunities to win prizes.
Alliance Executive Director Jack Cullen said, “The purpose of Deck the Downtowns is to spur exploration of our neighboring downtowns in the Quad Cities and the businesses that make them each unique. Whether you’re drawn in by our festive storefronts decorated by local artists, one-of-a-kind shops on an ornament scavenger hunt or the events that keep evolving, there’s something to capture your attention — and your imagination.”
The bistate event includes the Holiday Display Challenge. That storefront decorating competition will take place in those three cities’ downtowns. Patrons can pick up a flyer at downtown businesses to find each city’s participating locations then vote for their favorite display from Nov. 20 to Jan. 1 for a chance to win gift cards and goodies.
Cookies & holiday lights
Don’t forget, too, that the Moline Centre’s annual Lighting on the Commons begins at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, and features the 6 p.m. tree-lighting. Enjoy photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, horse-drawn wagon rides, live music, a children’s craft area, and more.
Across the river in Davenport, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, Quad Citians can take in the Festival of Trees Parade and visit Downtown Davenport businesses for the Deck the Downtowns Cookie Crawl. More than 25 Davenport businesses are participating in the annual event, according to the chamber.
Visitors can enjoy free cookie tastings from ½ Nelson, 392, and Cookies & Dreams, plus exclusive deals and fun holiday games. Crawlers who make five purchases also will be entered to win a grand prize giveaway. Find Cookie Crawl participating businesses and deals here.
The Davenport Community Tree Lighting also will kick off at 6 p.m. on Nov. 22 when Davenport Mayor Mike Matson lights the 20-foot community tree at K-Square. The festivities include hot cocoa, cookies and carols performed by Voices By Share Youth Performance Group.
Later at Be the Light Park in Bettendorf, on Tuesday, Dec. 2, Cancer Support Community Iowa & NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club will host that park’s Christmas Tree Lighting. From 6-7 p.m. celebrants can enjoy cocoa, cookies and carolers.
Five days later, downtown Rock Island will host the Second Avenue Holiday Market. Presented by Valley Construction, it will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. Arts Alley will feature crafts, games and live music by Liv Carrow inside Quad City Arts. Or they can take a pedicab to nearby Schwiebert Park for festivities there.
Food, fun, ornaments
Visitors can expect to find the Culture Bright Photo Booth, shop local artisan vendors, enjoy food from Huckleberry’s and drinks from Icons, carol with the Rock Island High School Chamber Choir, view holiday projection, take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and sample hot cocoa and art.
Vendors include Blue Collar Bagels, Flaherty’s Irish Candy, Fleet Feet and Timber Lane Tree Farm along with a live reindeer exhibit, train rides, holiday music, photos with Santa and the Rock Island Rotary Reindeer Ramble 5K Run/Walk. Find Holiday Market event details here.
In addition to being an old holiday favorite, the downtown annual ornament hunt also will make its holiday season return on both sides of the river.
Over in Davenport, patrons can join the German tradition of searching for the holiday pickle ornament. In Rock Island, shoppers will be on the lookout for a holiday train ornament inspired by its rail history. The custom-crafted train ornaments were laser cut by Crawford Company and decorated by Jackson Autobody & Custom Paint.
Hunters in both cities’ who find 10 ornaments between Nov. 20 and Jan. 1 will win a free one while supplies last. Find out more here.
