After seven months of planning, Moline Sesquicentennial organizers are putting the finishing touches on a “big-time” Moline 150 music, history and arts street festival that kicks off Thursday, Aug. 25. “It’s been all-hands-on-deck across many city departments, our fantastic consultant Hive, and loads of help from sponsors big and small including presenting sponsor John Deere, […]
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After seven months of planning, Moline Sesquicentennial organizers are putting the finishing touches on a “big-time” Moline 150 music, history and arts street festival that kicks off Thursday, Aug. 25.“It’s been all-hands-on-deck across many city departments, our fantastic consultant Hive, and loads of help from sponsors big and small including presenting sponsor John Deere, as well as other organizations like WQAD, Renew Moline, Visit Quad Cities and the Black Box Theatre to pull together so many moving parts and create the first big-time public festival in Moline in many years,” said Tory Brecht, the city’s communications coordinator and a Moline 150 Committee member.“It really is going to be one big birthday party, and knowing it only comes around every 150 years, we wanted to make sure it was a big deal,” he added.The highlight of the weeklong celebration that began today, is the three-day festival that runs from Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 25-27.
It was made possible by a $150,000 contribution from the city and $150,000 in financial and in-kind contributions from sponsors, led by Deere & Co. and Main Stage Sponsor Mid-American Energy. Others include: Old National Bank (formerly First Midwest Bank), The Moline Foundation, Moline Centre, MetroLINK, Roof Drs, Hutchinson Engineering, TaxSlayer Center, Rexroat Sound, Wyndham and Element. Media sponsors are WQAD and iHeart Radio.
Downtown party hours are:
Thursday, Aug. 25, 4–9 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 26, 4–11 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 27 – 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. (Moline Touch-a-Truck, 8:30–11:30 a.m.) Fireworks at dusk, River Drive
History also takes center stage at the John Deere Pavilion, the site of 30-minute Historic Trolley Tours from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Aug. 23, and Wednesday, Aug. 24. Riders will meet pioneering industrialists John Deere and David Sears, who harnessed the Mississippi River’s power; as well as a former slave who helped found a church; Moline's first female doctor; a river-loving poet; and a World War II hero from the Floreciente neighborhood.But the biggest spotlight surrounding Moline 150 week – which kicked off with today’s invitation-only Mayor’s Luncheon – has centered on the musical acts headlining the free festival events. “We are very excited to be able to bring such high-quality entertainment – from national touring bands to scores of talented local acts – to two stages in downtown Moline – for an event where everything is 100% free,” Mr. Brecht said.Kate Dale, co-founder of Hive Event Consulting, said: “We have a great diverse lineup planned for entertainment, everything from a vast selection of our local bands to national top-tier talent like Galactic from New Orleans and powerhouse guitarist Celisse, who’s been referred to as a modern-day Sister Rosetta Tharpe,” said.
Among the top Moline 150 acts are:
Galactic is a New Orleans-based ensemble that plays a blend of funk, pop, R&B, jazz and hip hop. It’s led by Anjelika Jelly Joseph, a former American Idol contestant who toured with Tank and the Bangers.Banda Cerro Azul, a traditional mariachi band, highlights the Friday night main stage takeover by Mercado on Fifth. CREDIT BANDA CERO AZUL
Celisse, a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, performer and spoken word artist who has played with Mariah Carey, Graham Nash and Melissa Etheridge.
Pokey LaFarge brings a mix of Americana, old-time country, blues, folk and Western swing to the stage.
Lissie, a Rock Island native whose career has spanned four albums and countless sold-out concerts featuring her own mix of rock and folk-pop.
The Way Down Wanderers, a regional favorite from Peoria, Illinois, plays a quirky style of modern bluegrass and roots-pop.
Banda Cerro Azul is a wildly popular traditional mariachi band. It will highlight the Friday night main stage takeover by Mercado on Fifth. In addition, The Crooked Cactus Band, AKA Los Nopales Chuecos and Grupo Innstinto, are scheduled to play the Main Stage.
“The level of talent that we’re bringing would easily be a $100-plus ticket for a festival like this anywhere else in the country, so it’s amazing that the City of Moline with the help of our sponsors were able to come together to make this a free and affordable event for our community,” Ms. Dale said.“It’s a great event that I’m proud to be a part of, and we’re excited to bring a major festival event back to downtown Moline to celebrate such a historic milestone.”Plenty of food also is on the menu, organizers say. “We have signed up more than 20 food and merchandise vendors – and will have two local craft beer tents on hand as well as domestic beer and hard seltzers from Stern (Beverage),” Mr. Brecht said. “Many of the food vendors are local, as we gave a discounted rate (to participate) for Moline-based restaurants and Mercado on Fifth vendors, so it will have a very local flair.”Added Ms. Dale: “All of our food, retail and community vendors feature many of our great local restaurants and businesses from the QC, including some local craft brews on tap from Bent River and Galena Brewing Company, wine selections from WaterMark Corners, as well as having all of our beverage tents staffed with volunteers from our area nonprofits, so that tips can go directly back into our community.”
Moline 150 focus on family
Organizers stress that Moline 150 also is a family-friendly affair. In addition to a community stage where local acts will play, Moline 150 will boast a Kids Zone for families, which is sponsored by Hutchinson Engineering.We’re partnering with Quad City Arts and MuralSoup to have chalk art community murals, coloring books for the kids drawn by local artists, bounce houses and Toto the clown providing balloon sculptures for the kids,” Ms. Dale added. “Be sure to stick around for the fireworks on Saturday night as well, right before our headliner Galactic hits the stage,” she said.Street festival events will be in the area between 12th and 15th streets on River Drive, in front of the TaxSlayer Center. The main stage will face east and basically back up to the skybridge between the arena and the parking garage, Mr. Brecht said.The community stage will face north, and be located on the John Deere Pavilion patio. The Kids Zone will be across from the community stage, near the 15th Street entrance. Vendors will be lined up along River Drive, so you will essentially have a lineup of food, merchandise and beer along both sides of River Drive as you walk from 15th toward the stage.Courtesy golf cart shuttles will also be available from downtown parking ramps throughout the weekend, sponsored by Metrolink. Please note that backpacks and purses larger than a clutch are not allowed. You can bring lawn chairs, strollers and diaper bags. All items are subject to search.Parking will be plentiful, Mr. Brecht said, and visitors are reminded that there is ample parking across downtown Moline, including surface lots and other parking ramps. But motorists should be aware that the ramp across from the TaxSlayer Center will be closed for the duration of the event. For more information, visit Moline150.org or the Moline 150 Facebook page. It also features historical facts such as the ones below.
Moline Fun facts:
Moline was first platted as a town in 1843 – the year John Deere relocated his innovative steel plow company to the City of Mills’ riverfront.
In 1848, Moline was incorporated as a village.
On Aug. 29, 1872, the “City” of Moline officially was surveyed and recorded.
John DeereIn 1873, John Deere became the city’s second mayor.
Moline Riverside Cemetery is the final resting place of Francis Jeffery Dickens whose gravestone notes he was the “Third son of the Author Charles Dickens.”
Jazz great Louie Bellson grew up in Moline. He and his equally famous wife Pearl Bailey visited Moline often.
Actor, singer, dancer Ken Berry, of Moline, starred in some of television's most enduring series including: F Troop, The Andy Griffith Show and Mama's Family.
Moliner Gene Oliver appeared in 786 games with the St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs.
