The holiday season in the Quad Cities will be filled with Christmas tree lightings, holiday markets, a balloon parade, horse-drawn wagon rides, cocoa, cookies, carolers and a lot more.
The season will be filled with all those events as part of the Deck the Downtowns events planned in Davenport, Bettendorf and Rock Island.
Those events are being presented by the Downtown Davenport Partnership, Rock Island Downtown Alliance and Downtown Bettendorf Organization with the help of TBK Bank.
One of the major events connected to Deck the Downtowns is the Holiday Display Challenge. Throughout the three downtowns, 80 businesses are participating in the challenge by decorating their storefronts for the holidays. Local artists have been hired to paint many of the festive storefronts.
Downtown patrons can pick up a flier at downtown businesses to find all participating locations and vote for their favorite display for a chance to win gift cards and goodies.
In downtown Davenport, visitors will join in the German tradition of hunting for the holiday pickle ornament. In order to play, official hunt cards can be picked up at one of the 40+ participating businesses. Those who find 10 pickles and turn in their completed card at either the German American Heritage Center or the downtown Davenport Public Library will win a pickle ornament for their own tree (while supplies last). Participants also will be entered to win a grand prize.
In downtown Rock Island, shoppers and visitors will hunt for the holiday train ornament – inspired by the rich railroad history in Rock Island. Back for a third consecutive year with a new design, the custom-crafted train ornaments laser cut by Crawford Company and decorated by Jackson Autobody & Custom Paint, can be discovered at 35 businesses in downtown Rock Island.
Those who find 10 holiday trains and turn in their completed stamp card at the downtown Rock Island Library, Quad City Arts or Quad City Botanical Center will win a train ornament for their own tree (while supplies last). Participants also will be entered to win a grand prize.
Here are some of the other Deck the Downtowns holiday events:
- Festival of Trees: The festivities kick off on Saturday, Nov. 23, with the Holiday Parade at 10 a.m., which is not only the largest helium balloon parade in the Midwest, it’s also the only televised parade in the Quad Cities. The parade is free. The Festival of Trees is a ticketed event. For all the information, visit qcfestivaloftrees.com.
- Cookie Crawl: On Saturday, Nov. 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., after the Festival of Trees Parade, visit downtown Davenport businesses for the Deck the Downtowns Cookie Crawl. At 26 participating businesses, visitors can enjoy free cookie tastings from Blue Spruce General Store, Cookies & Dreams and Tiphanie’s (while supplies last), plus take advantage of exclusive deals and fun holiday games and activities. Crawlers that make five purchases will be entered to win a grand prize giveaway. All the details on participating businesses and activities are available here.
- Tree lighting ceremony: On Saturday, Nov. 23, join Davenport Mayor Mike Matson to light the 20-foot community tree displayed in Kaiserslautern Square in downtown Davenport at 119 E. Third St.. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. and include hot cocoa and cookies.
- Blessing Tree Lighting: Gilda’s Club will host the Blessing Tree Lighting in Be the Light Park in downtown Bettendorf from 6-7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3. The event includes cocoa, cookies and carolers.
- Arts Alley Holiday Market: The Arts Alley Holiday Market in downtown Rock Island, presented by Valley Construction, will be open weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting Nov. 29 through Dec. 22. Over these four weekends, 10 different local businesses will open a pop-up shop in Arts Alley’s new retail vendor stalls. In addition, each weekend will feature a variety of family-friendly activities, including a petting zoo, tree farm, train rides, Santa visits and more. The full schedule and details on participating businesses are available here.
- Horse-drawn wagon rides: On Saturday, Dec. 14, from 3-6 p.m., free horse-drawn wagon rides will be offered on East 2nd Street in downtown Davenport. The rides coincide with the German American Heritage Center’s Christkindlmarket and the Adler Theatre’s evening showing of The Nutcracker.
For more information on Deck the Downtowns events, go here for downtown Davenport; here for Bettendorf; and here for Rock Island.
