The Quad Cities downtowns, shopping districts and area small towns are getting in the holiday spirit with annual Christmas shopping events beginning this weekend.
Various downtown merchants, restaurants, bars and more are showing Quad Citians that they are open for business with their traditional Christmas celebrations. Here’s a look at some of the upcoming Christmas Walks to help jumpstart the busy retail season:
- 38th Annual Christmas in LeClaire, Friday-Sunday, Dec. 2-4, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., downtown LeClaire. The festivities will feature a new event – the lighting of a live LeClaire Christmas tree on the city’s levee at 6 p.m. Friday. The LeClaire Christmas Parade will be 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The three-day event also includes bake sales, cookie sale, crafts, silent auction, Santas from around the World, a fun run, live music, selfie booth, photos with Santa, shopping, a trolley ride, and more.
- Christkindlmarkt, Friday-Sunday, Dec. 2-4, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Freight House Farmers’ Market in downtown Davenport. This free event features more than 60 vendors participating in an artisan craft and gift market centered around a festive German theme and includes food, drinks and live music.
- Christmas in the Village, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3, 6-9 p.m., Village of East Davenport. The event, celebrated for more than 40 years, features shopping, festivities, and chances to meet Santa at the International Fire Museum as well as The Grinch, an elf and reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman. Free for the whole family. Fireworks will light the sky at 9 p.m. Saturday.
- DeWitt’s Hometown Christmas, Saturday, Dec. 3, DeWitt, Iowa. The Lighted Parade and Tree Lighting will be at 5 p.m. in Lincoln Park. Festivities run all day long beginning with a Kid’s Christmas carnival from 9-11 a.m. at Emmaus Road Church, a showing of The Grinch at the DeWitt Operahouse at 11:45 a.m. and a holiday meal from 5-7 p.m. from the Nite Lions at the Community Center. The Live & Lit Window Walk will be from 5-7 p.m.
- Julmarknad (Christmas Market), Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bishop Hill, Illinois. Attractions include Swedish folk characters, traditional Swedish holiday decorations, music, crafts and Christmas gifts for sale.
- Geneseo Victorian Walk Throwback, Saturday, Dec. 10, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., downtown Geneseo, Illinois. The 2022 theme is Victorian Walk Throwback, a nod to the event’s 1986 beginning. Fun kicks off with Geneseo Jingle Run 5K at 8:30 a.m. Shop and dine all day long and join the walk’s Lighted parade at 5 p.m.
