Holiday Events in the QC 2021
From decorated historic houses to holiday performances to holiday-themed 5Ks, you won't want to miss a minute in the Quad Cities that will bring you a child-like glee in November and December. Use #tistheQCeason in social media to show off your Quad Cities holiday fun.
Kwik Star Festival of Trees: Nov. 20-28
Festival of Trees is a Quad Cities holiday tradition and the largest fundraiser for Quad City Arts. For 11 days in November, Festival of Trees transforms the 30,000 square foot RiverCenter into a winter wonderland featuring designer displays, interactive family activities, shopping, and more. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Festival of Trees has gone cashless this year.
Holiday Balloon Parade: Nov. 20
The Holiday Parade takes place in downtown Davenport at 10 am. Broadcast live by KWQC-TV6, this FREE event features giant helium character balloons, including the debut of Optimus Prime, Animal from the Muppets, the Cheshire Cat and more, along with pageant queens, dance groups, floats, marching bands and of course your chance to see Santa.
Lighting on the Commons: Nov. 20
This is a free event with horse/wagon rides, kids crafts, holiday choirs, fireworks, tree lighting, and SANTA himself in downtown Moline. Enjoy cookies, hot cocoa and cider too. 3:30-6:00 pm.
Julmarknad (Christmas Market): Nov. 26-27, Dec. 4-5
Prepare for the holidays by attending Julmarknad, or Christmas Market, in Bishop Hill. The attractions include Swedish folk characters, traditional Swedish holiday decorations, holiday music, a storytelling Santa, craft activities, and Christmas gifts for sale. All our shops, museums, and restaurants will be open to satisfy your holiday needs.
Christmas in LeClaire: Dec. 3-5
Have fun in LeClaire with shopping and activities for all ages. Visit Santa’s Gift Shop at the LeClaire Civic Center, in-store holiday specials throughout town, trolley rides, Ugly Sweater 5K, and more.
Christkindlmarkt: Dec. 3-5
Christkindlmarkt Quad Cities will bring a cherished German and European tradition with international flair and local charm to the Quad Cities riverfront in December. It features German food, music, unique handcrafted items, and is fun for the whole family. Seeing the German legendary characters such as Christkind, Krampus, and St. Nicholas is always a highlight. Vendors will have German gifts, custom embroidery, coffee, baskets, ornaments, fresh greenery, Christmas trees, candles, treats, and more. Glühwein (German mulled wine) will be served, and live music will be playing throughout the open-air festival. It’s a perfect place for holiday shopping.
Christmas in the Village: Dec. 4
See Santa Claus, Scrooge, Carolers and Musicians throughout the Village of East Davenport. Have fun on Trolley Rides, Nativity With Animals - Friday & Saturday Night, and Live Music - in Various Shops!
Christmas at Deere-Wiman House: Dec. 3-5
The 1872 Deere-Wiman House, home of John Deere’s son, Charles, in Moline will be adorned with beautiful and festive Victorian era decorations. Visitors will be given a special gift bag of materials to take home to make an ornament to commemorate their visit. In the Deere-Wiman Carriage House, children attending can select a book from Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House. For the 2021 Christmas at Deere-Wiman House event, we will be implementing a (free) timed entry ticket system for guests to tour the house.
Winter in Bloom: Dec 5
The Hauberg Estate in Rock Island is hosting Winter In Bloom, a holiday open house, free to the public. The Mansion will be decorated for the holidays and offers fun for all ages. Carriage rides take place from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Santa arrives to hear all about your “wish list” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. There will be crafts for the kids and hot chocolate and cookies in the Carriage House.
2021 Geneseo Christmas Walk: Dec. 11
The 2021 follow-up to the 2020 Geneseo Christmas Walk is themed “All of the Lights”, in which we will illuminate the night with breathtaking Christmas Light displays. All of your favorite features of the event will be back, including the tree-lighting ceremony, luminaries, the 11th annual Jingle Run 5K, downtown living windows, trolly rides, and the famous Geneseo Christmas Walk Lighted Parade which begins at 5:00 pm and will go city-wide again.
Polar Express Pajama Parties: Dec. 17-18
Families of all ages can expect tons of fun while attending a Polar Express Pajama Party — a QC holiday tradition, over ten years strong at the Putnam Museum. You and your family will enjoy the magnificent holiday classic The Polar Express 3D on the GIANT Screen in the comfort of your PJs and take part in holiday activities for all ages, including temporary tattoos, hot chocolate in an exclusive souvenir travel mug, a make-n-take sleigh bell station, a souvenir Putnam ornament and a lights-out adventure through the museum exhibits.
Holiday Performances
Winter Wonderland: Nov. 12-Dec. 29
Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse is treating family audiences to a yuletide musical revue, Winter Wonderland. This festive show will charm audiences with its magical blend of laughs, sentiment and beloved songs from the past, and it’s being brought to life by a marvelous team of professional talents.
Holiday Inn: Dec. 1-5
Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn tells the story of Jim, who leaves the bright lights of show business behind to settle down on his farmhouse in Connecticut… but life just isn’t the same without a bit of song and dance. Together they turn the farmhouse into a fabulous inn with dazzling performances to celebrate each holiday, from Thanksgiving to the Fourth of July.
A Christmas Carol: Dec. 2-12
Step into a 1940’s radio station and experience the classic Dickens Christmas tale - A Christmas Carol with Scrooge, the Spirits of Past, Present and Future and Tiny Tim at The Black Box Theatre. Performances December 2, 3, 9, 10, 11 at 7:30 pm December 5 and 12 at 2:00 pm.
Riverbend Bronze Christmas Concert: Dec. 3-4
Riverbend Bronze Director John Klopp will lead the 20-person handbell ringers ensemble through a program of beloved carols and songs which reflect today’s sacred and secular celebration of Christmas. The ensemble routinely uses over 200 bells and chimes in performance.
Christmas at Augustana: Dec. 4-5
Christmas at Augustana has thrilled audiences in sold-out performances for over a decade. Student musicians will take the stage to share their talents in what has become a highlight of the Augustana College and Quad-Cities holiday season. Featuring performances by the Augustana Brass Ensemble, Ascension Ringers, Augustana Choir, Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble and Augustana Concert Chorale.
Black Nativity: Dec. 10-12
“Black Nativity” is a gospel song play by American playwright, poet, novelist and fiction writer Langston Hughes who was born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri, and whose work portrayed Black life in America from the 1920s through the 1960s.
The Nutcracker: Dec. 11
Everyone’s favorite holiday performance is back on the Adler Theatre stage. Celebrate the holidays with an enchanted experience for the whole family. Be swept away on a journey to the land of sweets, as Orchestra Iowa & Ballet Quad Cities present The Nutcracker. Breathtaking sets, dazzling costumes, incredible dancers, and extraordinary music.
Holiday Brass: Dec. 12
Ring in the holiday season with members of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra Brass and Percussion sections. Under the direction of Maestro Mark Russell Smith, the ensemble is joined by organist Chris Nelson to perform uplifting sections of classical and holiday favorites.
Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical: Dec. 18
This touring stage production is a thrilling spectacle of music and dance that transports audiences to the North Pole to glimpse the magical lives of Santa’s Scout Elves at the Adler Theatre. This toe-tapping tale tells the story of one particularly impressive Scout Elf who must help his new, human family remember the importance of Christmas cheer.
Big River Brass Band Concert “A Very Brassy Christmas”: Dec. 19
Join the Big River Brass Band for an afternoon of your favorite holiday classics at 3 p.m.
5Ks
Turkey Trot: Nov. 25
The YMCA Turkey Trot takes place in-person on Thanksgiving morning at the new Bittner YMCA on East 4th Street in Downtown Davenport. The 200-yard, 400-yd and 1-mile events begin at 8:30 a.m. The 5K and 5-mile events take off at 9 a.m.
Christmas in LeClaire Ugly Christmas Sweater 5k Race & Kids’ Fun Run: Dec. 4
There will be money, medals, awards, and prizes waiting for you at the finish line. Run or walk with all the other crazy people who will brave the cold for FUN during the Christmas in LeClaire weekend at 10 a.m.
2021 Geneseo Jingle Run 5k: Dec. 11
A great way to kick-off Geneseo’s Christmas Walk is with the Jingle Run 5K. 2021 marks the 11-year anniversary of our region’s favorite annual holiday themed 5K run. The first 100 runners will receive a shirt, medals to be awarded to men’s & women’s top division finishers. All runners will receive jingle bells for shoes or runners’ bibs, so you actually jingle while you run. Race day registration and check in begins at 7:30 am, race steps off at 8:30 am sharp.
Run Santa Run 5K: Dec. 11
STEP #1: Decide whether you want to run or walk as a Santa, Elf, or Polar Bear.
STEP #2: Get your costume. We’ll help with character shirts and hats or accessories.
STEP #3: Run or walk the 5K and have a good time making sure to soak in all the holiday fun.
STEP #4: Enjoy the North Pole Post-Race party at Front Street Brewery in Davenport.
Be sure to search our online calendar for even more events and holiday arts and craft fairs.