Channel Cat Water Taxi returns for season, with new music series
By Jonathan Turner
The Channel Cat Water Taxi is back prowling the Mighty Mississippi for its 31st season, with some new features.
The water taxi will operate daily through end of September with weekend-only service continuing through mid-October, weather permitting. Operating hours are as follows:
- Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. to 7:40 p.m.
- Friday – Sunday: 9 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.
The Channel Cat will not service the Village of East Davenport landing at Lindsay Park Marina until late June until improvements are completed this summer. Once complete, passengers will enjoy a brand-new dock and pedestrian bridges that take them from the line area to the boat, according to MetroLINK, which operates the service.
The Channel Cat system continues to enhance the riverfront experience with upgraded signage that includes a QR code. By scanning the QR code, you can track your boat in real time and learn about points of interest at each location including shopping, eating, walking trails and family friendly experiences. Each boat has its own unique QR code, so passengers should scan each time they board.
River Action’s “Explore the River” Channel Cat Talks will return for the 2026 season on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. The educational series highlights the wildlife, history, culture and geography of the Mississippi River and the Quad Cities. Tours depart from Riverbend Commons in Moline. New this season, “Explore the River” Channel Cat Youth Talks will be offered on select Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Dates include June 3, 10 and 17, as well as July 15 and August 12 and 19. Topics are tailored for younger audiences and include Raptors along the River, Rhythms of the River music, and an introduction to the Lock and Dam system.
The Channel Cat will introduce its inaugural Channel Cat Sessions music series during the 2026 season, featuring live performances from local musicians onboard select rides throughout the summer. The 2026 Channel Cat Sessions lineup includes:
- Eva Kendall: June 18, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and June 21, 10 a.m. – 12 noon.
- Mo Carter: July 16, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and July 19, 10 a.m. – 12 noon.
- Kaiden Leezer: Aug. 13, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and Aug. 16, 10 a.m. – 12 noon.
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These pop-up concerts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis during regularly scheduled ferry boat service. The area musicians were picked with the help of a community vote.
MetroLINK in late March sought applications for solo, acoustic artists to perform on board (six sessions total); they received 70 submissions and selected eight finalists. They sought the public’s opinion on which three artists will perform this summer, on two two-hour stretches apiece (the boats have a 49-person capacity and a round-trip usually takes 65 minutes).
Tickets are available on board, cash only, or online through the official Channel Cat website: www.channelcatqc.com. Daily passes include unlimited rides for the day of activation. Boarding is first come, first served. Please check the QC Channel Cat Facebook page for up-to-the-minute delays and closures due to weather and/or unforeseen scheduled events: https://www.facebook.com/qcchannelcat.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for children (ages 2-10), and free for kids under 2 with an adult.
There are other larger riverboats that cruise regularly on the Mississippi, in and outside the Quad Cities.
Moline-based Celebration River Cruises is a family owned and operated riverboat offering cruises up and down the Midwest along the Mighty Mississippi River, now in their 43rd season. They offer specialty themed lunch cruises, dinner and sightseeing cruises as well as special events such as the popular Dueling Pianos Cruise and Fireworks Dinner Cruise.
Celebration Belle is also available for special events, including weddings, reunions and company parties. For more information, visit www.celebrationbelle.com.
The Riverboat Twilight is starting its 20th season offering cruises on the Mississippi. Also a family-owned and operated business, with a focus providing entertaining and quality cruises, Riverboat Twilight offers one-day, two-day, and sightseeing cruises departing from LeClaire and Dubuque, Iowa.
For more information, visit https://riverboattwilight.com.
Jonathan Turner is a veteran journalist and piano player, who has made the QC home since 1995 and loves writing about arts and culture. He is the author of the books “A Brief History of Bucktown: Davenport's Infamous District Transformed,” and “100 Things To Do in the Quad Cities Before You Die”.