It’s almost time for the colorful trees, gingerbread houses, doors wreaths, a parade and all other things Christmas in the Quad Cities.
It’s almost time for the Quad City Arts’ 39th annual Festival of Trees, which will take over the RiverCenter in Downtown Davenport from Saturday, Nov. 23, to Sunday, Dec. 1.
“It’s an incredible tradition. People should see the incredible creativity of people in the community,” said Kady Derbyshire, the interim executive director of the Rock Island-based Quad City Arts.
The event has a $2.5 million economic impact on the community, and has raised more than $8 million in support of local arts since 1986, according to the Festival of Trees website. This year’s holiday event will feature more than 75 designer trees, many special events and thousands of volunteers. The festival theme will be “Merry and Bright.”
Ms. Derbyshire is quick to point out that it’s those many thousands of volunteers who help make the festival merry and bright. “We have an incredible team of volunteers who put their hearts and souls into this every year,” she added.
As of early November, Quad City Arts still was looking for more volunteers to help with the festival and its related events. To volunteer or learn more, go here.
While this year’s festival will showcase many of the artistic displays patrons have come to expect from the celebration, but there will also be some changes.
For instance, this year’s fest will be a cashless event. That is, visitors will need to use a debt/credit card at the admission gates to enter the festival. Ms. Derbyshire said she hopes this change will help cut down the long lines at the entrance.
Here is the schedule for the festival and many related activities:
- Festival of Trees at the RiverCenter: The festival will be open to the public from Nov. 21 to Dec. 1, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on most days. (Closed Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28.) Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for children. The admission gates are cashless. Some of the features include the Gingerbread Village, Festival Express Train, inflatable snow globe, high school art exhibit, music and shows with local talent on the center stage and much more.
- Holiday Parade: 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23. The parade begins on Third Street and Pershing Avenue and winds through downtown Davenport. It will feature giant-sized helium balloons, area bands and much more.
- Premiere Party: Doors open at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, in the RiverCenter South, Great Hall. Tickets are $70 each and includes food, cocktails and an exclusive Festival of Trees beer crafted by Front Street Brewery, Davenport. There will also be various prizes from the Quad Cities Cultural Trust.
- Teddy Bear Tea: 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 111 . 2nd St., Davenport. Tickets are $30 each. Children are invited to bring their favorite plush toy to this event.
- Sugar Plum Ball: 6-9 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26, at the Waterfront Convention Center in downtown Bettendorf. Tickets are $70.
- Celebrity Lunch: Begins at noon Wednesday, Nov. 27, at the RiverCenter North, Mississippi Hall. The pre-holiday lunch and fundraiser is hosted by local celebrities. Tickets are $65 each.
- Silent Disco: 8-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at the RiverCenter. Tickets are $25.
Those and many other events help make the Quad Cities a special place during the holidays, say downtown advocates.
“It remains the marquee holiday festival for the Quad Cities, and we’re excited for the event to kick off the shopping and holiday season in downtown Davenport,” said Kyle Carter, executive director of the Downtown Davenport Partnership, an affiliate of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce.
