August Festivals in the QC 2021
Summer festivals have always been a highlight of the Quad Cities event calendar. Outdoor festival favorites are returning this summer to the QC bi-state regional destination with new safety practices in place and the same amount of fun. More events can be found at the area’s most comprehensive calendar through Visit Quad Cities here.
Festival fun continues throughout August!
Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival - August 5-7
Davenport native, Bix Beiderbecke, is a jazz legend who performed during the 1920s and is in the International Jazz Hall of Fame. Festival dedicated to music of his time and Dixieland style. Rhythm City Casino Resort is the main site. This is the 50th annual festival.
Heartland British Auto Fest - August 7
Classic British autos on display on the LeClaire Levee.
Mississippi Valley Fair – August 3-8
Week of nightly grandstand concerts with top name, national music acts, carnival rides, demos, and more at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport.
Tug Fest – August 12-14
Giant tug-of-war across the mighty Mississippi between LeClaire, Iowa and Port Byron, Illinois with fireworks and live entertainment all weekend on both sides of river.
Ya Maka My Weekend - August 14
Downtown Rock Island will transform into a tropical paradise with reggae and steel drum music, Caribbean cuisine, and a market offering authentic island wares.
Quad Cities Balloon Festival – August 13-14
Watch these quietly, majestic balloons take off, race, land, and glow at night at a new location at the Rhythm City Casino Resort.
Alternating Currents Festival – August 19-22
Throughout the weekend, a dozen venues across downtown will host a wide variety of live music, film screenings, comedians, and visual artists. Over 50 national and regional acts, big and small, will perform throughout the festival. Patrons are encouraged to travel from venue to venue.
Freedom Fest – August 21
The day-long festival in East Moline includes a variety of events with a car show, vendors, kids activities, capped off by live music in Runners Park in the evening.
Floatzilla – August 21
River Action wants all canoes and kayaks for an attempt to break the world record for the largest flotilla of canoes and kayaks happening at Sunset Marina in Rock Island.
Quad City Symphony Riverfront Pops – August 21
Picnic and listen to music by the Quad City Symphony Orchestra on the banks of the Mississippi River at LeClaire Park. It's the music of the Rolling Stones.
Farm Days – August 28-29
See tractors on display and enjoy activities like wagon rides, petting zoo, magician, and more in the Village of East Davenport.
NerdFest – August 27-29
Celebrating and supporting all the different nerd, geek, and fandom cultures, the new NerdFest 2021 takes place at the RiverCenter and other close venues in downtown Davenport.
St. Patrick’s Parade - August 29
Watch the only inter-state parade in the country with thousands lining the parade route. It was supposed to happen in March, and we couldn't wait a whole year for one of the QC's favorite parades.
World Series of Drag Racing – August 27-29
Weekend of top drag racing at the Cordova International Raceway features a star-studded lineup including three-time Top Fuel Champion Larry Dixon and Funny Car driver Jack Wyatt.
Vettes on the River – August 28
Vettes on the River is an all Corvette Car Show in LeClaire, supporting Local Veterans.