Quad Citians will ring in the holiday season on Wednesday, Nov. 19, with a multi-day, multi-city bi-state Deck the Downtowns party anchored by the launch of the region’s signature Quad Cities Festival of Trees, now in its 40th year.
That annual offering and more are part of what the The Cultural Trust calls “Culture Bright Week,” where its leaders promise “something unforgettable is about to happen.”
It starts with the Festival of Trees. That event runs from Wednesday, Nov. 19, to Sunday, Nov. 30. During that 10-day party – an annual fundraiser to benefit Quad City Arts – Davenport’s RiverCenter is transformed into a winter wonderland.
It kicks off with the Friday, Nov. 21, 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.
The Cultural Trust also urges Quad Citians not to forget that at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, the Quad City Botanical Center will host a ribbon cutting for Winter Lights: Culture Bright Neon Forest. At this private event, the center will unveil displays featuring more than 250,000 lights alongside the region’s Culture Champions. That Lights & Flights preview party will pair curated drinks and local flavors with immersive art before opening to the public Nov. 21 – Jan. 1.
Those events also shine a spotlight on such Culture Bright Week activities as the 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, Rock Island Holiday Tree Lighting. Downtown Rock Island will come alive with lights, music and creativity during that Deck the Downtowns event, powered by the Rock Island Downtown Alliance.
Events shine bright
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.”
Toward that end, partygoers are urged to spread the holiday love to both sides of the river at the Quad Cities Chamber Deck the Downtown celebrations by the Downtown Bettendorf Organization, Downtown Davenport Partnership and Rock Island Downtown Alliance. There visitors can explore downtown promotions, holiday activities, unique local shopping, seasonal displays, ornament hunts, goodies and opportunities to win prizes.
For example, in Rock Island they can enjoy crafts, games and live music by Liv Carrow inside Quad City Arts and Visit Culture Bright Photo Booth. They also can buy from artisan vendors and food from downtown businesses, hear music by local choirs, and visit with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and the elves.
The bistate event also 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.
Deck the Downtowns also urges Quad Citians to join the Downtown Rock Island Tree Lighting by Rock Island Mayor Ashley Harris from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19. It includes Rock Island High School Chamber Choir and shopping at Arts Alley Holiday Market vendor stalls. For details go here.
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. treelighting. 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.
