Ways to Have Fun in QC This Winter

By Jonathan Turner

We certainly had an un-white Christmas this past holiday season in the Quad Cities. But that doesn’t mean we’re bereft of ways to have winter fun outdoors and inside during the cold months.

The fine folks at Ski Snowstar in Andalusia, Ill., have been working around the clock to create snow to support its blizzard of wintry activities in its 45^th anniversary season.

Snowstar – at 9500 126^th St. W, Andalusia – has been a community staple since 1981.

Making snow at Ski Snowstar in Andalusia (credit: Snowstar).

The expansive family-friendly facility is the perfect place for your winter sports journey to begin. Whether you’re a first-time skier or an expert on the slopes, Snowstar has terrain for everyone. With 15 skiing and snowboarding lanes, a 28-acre terrain park with 40+ features, 11 snow tubing lanes, four unique food and drink options, a state-of-the-art tune shop and gear rental, there’s something for everyone.

You can rent all your equipment there, and in addition to the fun Tube Hill, there are 15 trails covering more than 28 acres, and Snowstar offers a variety of downhill excitement for all abilities and skill levels.

They also offer lessons—Regular lessons are available without an appointment, but private lessons must be scheduled ahead of time. Expect your first session to last approximately one hour as you learn the basics.

Learn more at Snowstar’s website HERE.

Also, get ready for the opening of Lost Oasis in the winter of 2026-2027.

Ice skating

Located at 700 W. River Drive, Davenport, The River's Edge is a premier ice-sport facility housing two ice rinks: standard North American size at 85ft x 200ft (fall through early spring) and one based on international rink sizes at 100ft x 200ft (year-round).

The facility houses a fully operational concessions stand that offers a variety of items such as beverages, pretzels, nachos, popcorn, and more.

Learn more (including public skating schedules) at the city of Davenport site HERE.

Located at 2255 Middle Road, Bettendorf, The Landing Ice Rink is a perfect spot to skate outdoors.

They are always hosting fun events like Senior Skate and Quad City Storm Night.

Learn more at the city of Bettendorf site HERE.

Watching bald eagles soar

Bald Eagles migrate south from Canada and make the QC their winter playground. Some even like it so much that they take up permanent residence.

From December through February, these magnificent birds gather along the wooded bluffs along the Mississippi River to spend the winter. Their presence during the winter months provide amazing bird watching and photo opportunities when you want to catch these birds of prey in action.

There are a variety of bald eagle spotting sites that will give you the best vantage point to view these beautiful birds of prey, including:

Lock & Dam 15, Schwiebert Riverfront Park, 17th St. & 1st Ave., Rock Island
Lock & Dam 15, 101 W. 2nd St., Davenport
Lock & Dam 14, 25549 182nd St., Pleasant Valley
Sylvan Island, 101 1st Avenue, Moline
Hyatt Place & Hyatt House (River Room on the 9th Floor) 111 Bend Blvd., East Moline
Illiniwek Forest Preserve, 836 State Ave., Hampton
Hampton Heritage Center, 251 S. State Ave., Hampton
Sunset Park, 18th Ave. & Sunset Ln., Rock Island
Credit Island Park, 2200 W River Dr., Davenport
Wapsi River Environmental Education Center, 31555 52nd Ave, Dixon, Iowa

Determine what you are viewing. Although the white head and tail of an adult bald eagle make it unmistakable, a juvenile eagle goes through a series of plumage changes on its way to maturity. Juvenile eagles exhibit a brownish color and do not acquire the white head and tail until they reach four or five years of age.

Be sure to bundle up! The eagles like the really cold weather.

Up to 2,500 bald eagles winter along the Mississippi near the lock and dams. Turbulence created below the dams provide open water and a smorgasbord of stunned fish for eagles to feast upon. In addition, the wooded bluffs that overlook the Mississippi are excellent habitat for roosting and an increasing number of cases nesting. The US Army Corps of Engineers offer many Bald Eagle watching resources, including weekly counts of the birds spotted in our area.

Bald Eagle Celebrations

Bald Eagle Days is the feature celebration on January 9-11, 2026, at the QCCA Expo Center located at 2621 4^th Avenue in Rock Island. It is the largest event in the Midwest dedicated to the United States’ national symbol of freedom.

Another celebration of our national bird is the LeClaire Eagle Festival on January 17 & 18.

Icestravaganza in downtown Davenport

The Downtown Davenport Partnership again will present Icestravaganza on January 16–18, 2026, at the Freight House in Downtown Davenport. Presented by Luxtown.com, this free, family-friendly event will feature an array of ice sculptures, live carving demonstrations and interactive outdoor activities.

“This year’s This is Iowa theme is a chance to celebrate the everyday things people across the state connect with. Our carvers take those familiar sparks of inspiration and turn them into something creative and surprising and we’re excited to watch that come to life in ice throughout the festival,” says Alisha Espey, Senior Program & Events Director for DDP.

Event features—

Ice Sculptures: As festival goers walk along the Freight house boardwalk, they’ll experience intricately carved ice sculptures, beautifully illuminated each evening of the event.
Live Carving Demonstrations: Skilled artists transform blocks of ice into stunning works of art, reflecting the This is Iowa theme.
Outdoor Activity Zone: Interactive, family-friendly games and activities
Warming Station: Complimentary hot cocoa provided by The Family Credit Union.
Saturday Evening After Glow Party: Illuminated ice sculptures by renowned artist Rob Storm, specialty ice bar and live entertainment by DJ Buddha sponsored by T-Fiber.

Enjoy dazzling lights at Vander Veer

You can also enjoy the spectacular winter holiday lights at Davenport’s Vander Veer Park through Sunday, Jan. 11.

Holiday lights at Vander Veer Botanical Park, Davenport (photo by Jonathan Turner).

For more information on the lovely Vander Veer Conservatory, click HERE.

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”.