This will be a Quad Cities weekend filled with planes, jets, classic cars, a rappelling fundraiser, a BMX racing competition and much more.
This Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 23-24, will feature a wide variety of events and celebrations that will attract thousands of people to the Quad Cities.
Here’s a look at some of those events:
34th Quad City Air Show
The Quad City Air Show is set for Saturday and Sunday at the Davenport Municipal Airport in Mount Joy, and is expected to attract 80,000 visitors. The gates will open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. both days. Ticket information can be found at quadcityairshow.com.
One of the main attractions this year is will be the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds – the Air Force’s premier air demonstration team.
Here’s the show schedule:
- 8 a.m.: Gates to the show open on both days. Many aircraft displays will be ready, as will rides and vendors. Show organizers expect at least 25 vendors will be on hand. Some scheduled aircraft displays will include CH-47 Chinook, T-33 Shooting Star, E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound.
- Noon: The air show will begin with 12 air acts scheduled to perform. They will be: the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team; the Tora! Tora! Tora! recreation of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor that features about 15 aircraft; the Jack Aces aerial show with P-51 Mustangs; pilot Randy W. Ball, jet demo pilot; a Curtis P-40 Warhawk; pilot Skip Stewart performing aerial feats; a jet truck; Cody Elkins, a professional FMX biker jumping over a moving plane; the Rad Aerosports show; and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
- 5 p.m.: Gates close for the day.
Over The Edge
Over The Edge – the annual fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley (BBBSMV) – will have its Community Day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Hotel Blackhawk in downtown Davenport.
Watch area participants rappel down the Hotel Blackhawk. Seating, food, and beverages available for purchase. Prestige Productions will emcee and provide music. A full rappel schedule is available at OverTheEdgeQC.org.
This year’s event is sold out, with 115 leaders set to rappel down 11 stories on the north the side of the Hotel Blackhawk to raise awareness and funds for BBBSMV’s mission to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth in the Quad Cities. The fundraising goal for the 2025 Over The Edge is $175,000.
Vettes on the River
The 2025 “Vettes on the River” event will be held on the levee in LeClaire, Iowa, on Saturday, Aug. 23. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and admission is free.
The event will be presented by FOR VETS, a not-for-profit organization. All money raised from the event will be donated to Quad Cities Vietnam veterans’ organizations.
More than 250 Corvettes from across the country are expected to attend this fun car show, which highlights Corvettes – old and new – right along the Mighty Mississippi.
Here is the schedule of events:
- 8 a.m. – Gates open for Corvette parking.
- 8 a.m. – Breakfast at the Levee Pavilion.
- 8 to 10:30 a.m. – Registration.
- 9 a.m. – Raffle Drawings, Silent Auction and 50/50 starts.
- 10:30 a.m. – Lunch at the Levee Pavilion – south end.
- 10:15 a.m. – Call to Assemble.
- 10:30 a.m. – Color Guard ceremony.
- 11 a.m. – First Riverboat Twilight Cruise; others at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
- 2 p.m. – Awards presentation.
BMX races
The East Moline BMX Speedway, 1930 Avenue of the Cities, is gearing up for an action-packed weekend of racing as it welcomes riders from across the Midwest for its Illinois State Qualifier. Events kick off Friday and run through Sunday, offering free admission for spectators to enjoy the thrills of BMX racing. Schedule of events include:
- Friday, Aug. 22 – Pre-Race at 7 p.m. Free admission to watch.
- Saturday, Aug. 23 – First-ever Parking Lot Race at 4 p.m. at Rock Island County Fairgrounds parking lot.
- Sunday, Aug. 24 – Illinois State Qualifier at 12:30 p.m. More than 300 riders from across the Midwest expected to compete. Free to spectate.
Atkinson Heritage Days
Atkinson (Illinois) Heritage Days, a two-day community event packed with activities, continues on Saturday.
Some of the highlights include: a BBQ Rib Cook Off downtown, with set-up from 7 to 8 a.m. and judging at 4 p.m. Attendees can also enjoy live music in the park by Shaun Easton from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and craft beer from Bent River Brewing Co. from 11 a.m.
The Atkinson Firemen’s Parade, with the theme “Hometown Heroes,” will kick off at 1 p.m.
Other events include kids’ games and activities and inflatables, including The Ninja Meltdown and a bouncy house sponsored by Foster Hope, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A Kids’ Tractor Pull will be at 11 a.m.
Farm Days in the Village
The Village of East Davenport will host this celebration on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 23-24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some of the events will include wagon rides, a tractor pull, a petting zoo and much more.
Summer Sales & Ales
MUSCATINE, Iowa — Drop into downtown Muscatine on Saturday for the Summer Sales & Ales event hosted by the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Guests must be 21 and older. Tickets are $20 plus tax. Stroll through your favorite shops and enjoy end-of-summer sales while sampling a different brewery at each stop. Tickets are available here.
