IGNITING THE MAGIC: CAST OF FIRST-TIMERS BRING HOLIDAY CLASSIC TO LIFE Get ready to witness a holiday classic like never before! Countryside Community Theatre is absolutely buzzing with excitement as the timeless tale, based on the 1965 TV Special, starring none other than the lovable gang from the iconic “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles Schulz. Prepare to join Charlie Brown as he hilariously takes on the role of director for the school Christmas pageant, all because he can’t handle the materialistic madness that engulfs the holiday season. More than half of the cast is filled... Read More

In the true “spirit” of Christmas in July, Quad City Arts announces that the trees will be returning for the holidays this year!  Following a year off from its traditional presentation, the 36th Annual Kwik Star Festival of Trees, will be held at the RiverCenter, November 20-28, including all ticketed special events and the free, televised holiday parade scheduled for Saturday, November 20th in downtown Davenport. Showcasing over 150 designer displays, fun-filled attractions, live performances, five special events and the largest helium balloon parade in the Midwest, Festival of Trees is... Read More

Those looking to add a personal touch to their holiday decorations can craft along with the Bettendorf Public Library to create an origami wreath appropriate for any holiday or special occasion. Starting on Thursday, December 17, free supply kits for the Take Home Workshop: 16-point Origami Star Wreath will be available for pick-up at the Library located at 2950 Learning Campus Dr. in Bettendorf. Take Home Workshop kits are for adults and teens aged 16 and older. They contain supplies and instructions and are accompanied by a short demonstration video posted on the Library’s YouTube channel at... Read More

HyVee is hosting a virtual cooking event where you can make your own gingerbread house, at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Get in the holiday spirit in this virtual Kids in the Hy-Vee Kitchen Class! We will be making Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses, Banana Santas, and Hot Chocolate Stocking Stuffers! Registration required. Register at this link. To make these recipes with Nina and Katie in real time you will need the following: For the Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses: -Honey Maid Graham Crackers – 5 per house -4 cups powdered or confectioners sugar -5 Tbsp warm water -3 Tbsp meringue powder -Paper... Read More

For the past few months, my Iowa friends have been deeply envious of my Illinois address. Not because of the upcoming legalization of pot, nor because of the lack of flooding, but rather because I don’t have to deal with the constant deluge of politics and politicians dumping on them. With everything from TV and radio commercials to rallies to appearances to door-to-door visits to telemarketing calls and polls, the good people of Iowa have been hit by an avalanche of politics in advance of the caucus next year. And regardless of anyone’s beliefs or sympathies towards any candidate, all of them... Read More

It’s Festival of Trees time again! The 2018 KWIK STAR FESTIVAL OF TREES, benefiting Quad City Arts, is sprouting up November 15-25, 2018. General Admission opens Saturday, November 17 at the River Center, 136 E. 3rd St. Davenport. This year’s theme is Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree for the 33rd annual gig featuring a spectacular display of over 150 designer trees, rooms, wreaths, fireplace mantles, gingerbread creations and other holiday gift shop items that are all sold to raise money for Quad City Arts, a local non-profit arts organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life in... Read More

It’s Festival of Trees time again! The 2018 KWIK STAR FESTIVAL OF TREES, benefiting Quad City Arts, is sprouting up November 15-25, 2018. General Admission opens Saturday, November 17 at the River Center, 136 E. 3rd St. Davenport. This year’s theme is Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree for the 33rd annual gig featuring a spectacular display of over 150 designer trees, rooms, wreaths, fireplace mantles, gingerbread creations and other holiday gift shop items that are all sold to raise money for Quad City Arts, a local non-profit arts organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life in... Read More

Schedules can get hectic this time of year. So why not take a break and enjoy a nice relaxing evening with your family, in your jammies? Bettendorf’s Family Museum (2900 Learning Campus Dr) is hosting Holiday Jammie Jam this Friday Dec 15 from 6-7 p.m. Put on your jammies and head to the Family Museum for a cozy evening of singing, hot cocoa (provided by Dunn Brothers Coffee), peppermint sticks and family togetherness! Come sing some holiday favorites while appreciating the beautiful holiday decorations in the Great Hall. The Museum galleries will be dark and turned off, in order to keep the... Read More

Taking a diversion from the usual holiday fare, the 102 year old organization will present David Sedaris’s The Santaland Diaries on Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16. The Santaland Diaries chronicles David Sedaris’s experience as a worker in Macy’s Santaland display. This compact, one-character comedy is a hilarious – and heartwarming – cult classic, featuring comic encounters during the height of the holiday crunch. Directed by Prairie Players Civic Theatre’s very own Tristan Tapscott, the production will star Quad City actor and filmmaker Anthony Natarelli.... Read More

There’s something magical about a massive group of low brass players getting together to perform Christmas carol melodies that really puts you in the holiday spirit. Good thing it’s time for TubaChristmas! That’s right, this year’s QC TubaChristmas is happening this this Saturday Dec 9 at SouthPark Mall. The beautiful and melodic experience will begin promptly at 2 p.m. in the Younkers Court. Griggs Music and the Harvey Phillips Foundation have sponsored this event every year since 1992 in the Quad Cities. It has grown into a very large and popular concert with up to 180 musicians ranging... Read More