The Putnam Museum and Science Center, 1717 W. 12^th St., Davenport, will welcome the community back for its second-annual Putnam Palooza, a full day celebration of spring, creativity, and Quad Cities culture. The event will take place Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., bringing together dozens of community partners, performers, and hands‑on activities for all ages.

Putnam Palooza ’26 builds on the success of last year’s inaugural festival, expanding both daytime programming and the evening concert lineup. Family‑friendly activities run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring everything from balloon artists and face painting to seed‑ball making, dinosaur discovery stations, bounce houses, virtual reality, Chalk the Walk, and interactive experiences with partners including the Quad City Botanical Center, Figge Art Museum, Quad City Arts, Family Museum, Midwest Writing Center, and more. Guests can also vote on the name of the Putnam’s planned triceratops, explore the Pollinator Garden, and enjoy a foam party and bubble zone on the museum grounds.

A scene from the first Putnam Palooza in May 2025.

Daytime performances include ACS Chemistry Kids, Native American storytelling with Larry Lockwood, Ballet Quad Cities, D4 Dance Academy, multiple JP Polar Bear meet‑and‑greets, and screenings of Flight of the Butterflies 3D in the Giant Screen Theater. At 4 p.m., the Putnam will showcase the winners of the 48‑Hour Film Challenge.

As the sun sets, Putnam Palooza After Dark transforms the museum into a lively evening venue with alcoholic beverages available at the bar and beer oasis. This year’s lineup features Mountain Swallower (5:15 p.m.), Chrash (6:15 p.m.), and Wicked Liz & the Bellyswirls (7:30 p.m.), along with performances throughout the evening by Danielle Colby’s Ecdysiast Arts Fan Dance Troupe.

A scene from the first Putnam Palooza in May 2025.

Food trucks will be available all day, including QC Waffle House, Flavor Train, Kawi Coffee, and The Full Nelson (11 a.m.–2 p.m.). Scooters Coffee will offer free lemonade and donuts to the first 500 guests.

“This event is all about celebrating the creativity, culture, and community spirit that make the Quad Cities so special,” said Cindy Diehl Yang, President & CEO of the Putnam Museum. “Putnam Palooza brings together families, artists, educators, and local partners for a day of discovery and joy. We’re proud to offer an event that truly belongs to the community.”

Admission:

• Daytime museum admission: $12 adults | $10 youth/seniors/military
• Palooza After Dark: $12
• All‑Day Pass: $20
• Putnam members: FREE all day, $12 for evening tickets

A scene from the first Putnam Palooza in May 2025.

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Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner -- who has called the Quad Cities home since 1995 -- has decades of experience as a professional journalist and pianist. His experience writing for daily newspapers, public radio and local TV encompasses a wide range of subjects, including the arts, politics, education, economic development, historic preservation, business, and tourism.

Jonathan most loves writing about music and the arts (which he now does as a freelancer for the River Cities Reader and Visit Quad Cities). He has a passion for accompanying musicals, singers, choirs and instrumentalists, including playing for QC Music Guild's 2023 productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD. He is assistant music director and accompanist for the spring 2025 Music Guild show, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. He wrote an original musical based on The Book of Job, which premiered at Playcrafters in 2010. Jonathan penned a 175-page history book about downtown Davenport, that was published by The History Press in 2016, and a travel guide about the QC published by Reedy Press in 2022.