The Quad City Botanical Center gardens are once again in winter bloom! The 2nd Annual Winter Nights Winter Lights kicks off at the Quad City Botanical Center (2525 4th Avenue Rock Island) this Saturday Dec 1 and will continue through Sunday Jan 6. Enjoy the beauty of the gardens in winter bloom in addition to thousands of glowing lights from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays – Sundays throughout the month of December! Bundle up, stroll the gardens at night then warm up inside at the hot chocolate bar. Bring the kids for crafts or plan your visit on one of the special event nights.   Here is... Read More

Autumn is officially upon us. And what a better way to celebrate than with a Pumpkin Extravaganza? Celebrate the fall season with Pumpkin Extravaganza at the Quad City Botanical Center (2525 4th Ave Rock Island) every Sunday, beginning this Sunday Sep 30 through Oct 21 from 12:30 – 3 p.m. Each week will feature a fall-themed family friendly activity. All Pumpkin Extravaganza events are included with general admission. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for children ages 2-15 and free for children under 2. No reservations are required, these are drop-in events. Here are the weekly Pumpkin Extravaganza... Read More

Looking for something fun and educational to do with your little one during the day? Check out the Quad City Botanical Center’s (2525 4th Ave Rock Island) monthly installment of KinderNature this Tuesday Sep 11 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. This month’s program is all about monarch butterflies! For children ages 3-5 and their parents. Come enjoy a morning of crafts, story time, activities and learning. Themed snack included! Cost is $8 per child/adult pair and additional children are $4. General admission applies to all other adults who wish to join. Reservations can be made online at http://www.shop.qcgardens.com/,... Read More

Mother and daughters connect with their inner fairies (or trolls) at this magical event! The Quad City Botanical Center (2525 4th Ave Rock Island) is hosting a Mother & Daughter Fairy Frolic this Sunday Aug 19 from 1-3 p.m. Dress up as your favorite fairy, troll or magical creature and explore the enchanted gardens. There will be a fairy seek and find in the gardens, magical crafts, a photo booth and much more! The cost to attend is only $10 per person in advance, or $15 per person at the door. There is a discount for QCBC members! Purchase your tickets online at https://apm.activecommunities.com/rockislandparksandrec/Activity_Search/2891. Don’t... Read More

Art, music, food and flowers. Sounds like the perfect recipe to a beautiful summer day! The Quad City Botanical Center (2525 4th Avenue Rock Island) is hosting the 2nd Annual Art in the Garden on Saturday July 29 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The cost of admission is $8 for adults and $4 for youth and members of the Botanical Center. There are no advance purchase of tickets, this is a drop-in event. Art in the Garden will have nature-inspired artists selling and displaying their work, food trucks, and live music throughout the beautiful gardens. Bring the whole family because there’s fun for all... Read More

Calling all Quad Cities Area college students! Classes will begin shortly, so why not enjoy a night out with friends while knocking out some of those summer cobwebs? Quad City Botanical Center (2525 4th Ave Rock Island) is hosting an after-hours College Night on Tuesday Aug 7 from 6-9 p.m. The main event will be an unconventional tour (this is an uncensored, adult tour so expect some raunch, puns, and plant facts that will make you blush) of the gardens led by Augie interns. You’ll also have time to enjoy some lawn games and relax outdoors before you’re stuck in the library studying again.... Read More

Whether you already have a health-conscious family, or you want to start making healthier lifestyle choices for yourself and young ones, you will not want to miss this event! The Healthy Happy Families Foundation is hosting their Healthy Happy Families Fun Day! The event will take place on Saturday April 30 from 11am-3pm at the Quad City Botanical Center (2525 4th Avenue Rock Island). This event is FREE admission! Family fun, mixed with plenty of learning, will be the focus for the day. Healthy Happy Families Day will feature bounce houses, healthy snacks, drawings and much more. Happy the Dog,... Read More

The Rock Island Public Library Foundation will host a “Books for Kids” Trivia Night on Thursday, Oct. 20, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Avenue, Rock Island. The trivia night raises funds for the Lorene Evans Watts Fund for Children’s Materials, which supports purchases of children’s items at Rock Island Libraries. Cost to play is $10 per person. Participants may increase their chances to win by purchasing mulligan stickers, doubler round stickers or bidding to win answers for a round from the night’s celebrity genius. Snacks are... Read More

If you have a child in your life that loves Thomas the Tank Engine, Chuggington or any other train related character, you’re going to want to chug on down to the Quad City Botanical Center from 11 to 4 p.m. Sunday for Little Conductors Day! The event features garden train related activities, refreshments, crafts, train characters, an all-gage sale and swap meet and more. Admission is $8 youth 2-15 years, $6 adults, free for children younger than 2 years/members. The newly renovated outdoor railroad area features an elaborate diorama of tracks, miniature landscapes and moving engines as well as... Read More