“Oh, What Fun” Festival of Trees is Back to Usher in the Holiday Season in the Quad Cities

“Oh, What Fun!” The Kwik Star Festival of Trees is BACK in person this year! Returning to the River Center in downtown Davenport, Iowa, on November 20-28, this year’s Festival brings the magic of the holiday season to life in the NEWLY designed Festival Village, complete with the Tree of Lights as the focal point of the main town square.

In its 36^th year as the annual fundraiser for Quad City Arts, over 30,000 people experience the 10-day Festival of Trees each year and an additional 45,000 watch the Holiday Parade, making this event one of the largest attractions in the Quad Cities.

Festival of Trees features a spectacular display of over 150 designer trees, rooms, hearth & homes, wreaths, gingerbread creations, and other holiday gift shop items that are all sold to raise money for Quad City Arts in support of local arts programs through the Quad Cities.

This fun-filled event for all ages, will continue to feature all the familiar attractions and special events that many have come to know and love with some new twists, including designer selfie stations throughout the event, online bidding for designer displays, a silent disco after party and a new Mad-Hatter style Sunday brunch.

NEW this year, Festival of Trees is going cashless and general admission tickets are now available for purchase online at: www.qcfestivaloftrees.com. To streamline admission gates there will be a FAST PASS lane for all prepaid admission. Tickets can still be purchased at the door with credit/debit card.

The 29^th Annual Holiday Parade will take place in downtown Davenport, Saturday, November 20^th at 10:00am. 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! The procession will begin at 3^rd Street & Pershing Ave. going west to Scott Street, then turning left to make its way back east on 2^nd Street, finishing at 2^nd Street and Iowa Ave. Don’t forget to stop by the free Hot Cocoa and Coffee tent sponsored by MetroNet before you make your way down the parade route! Co-title sponsors of the holiday parade are: Arconic, John Deere, Regional Development Authority and KWQC-TV6.

General Admission Days and Hours:

November 18 • Santa’s Special Stars Private Tours

November 19 • Silver Bell Social Senior Event, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

November 20 • Festival Opens to Public 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

November 21 • 10 a.m.-8p.m. Military Day-$2 off admission tickets for military families with military ID

November 22 • 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

November 23 • 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

November 24 • 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

November 25 • CLOSED Thanksgiving Day

November 26 • 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

November 27 • 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Family Day $1 off all admission / Festival After Dark 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. ($10 upcharge with paid admission)

November 28 • 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Tickets:

Tickets available for purchase at the doors during Festival hours.

$10 Adults

$3 Children (2-10)

$6 Seniors (60+)

Special Events:

November 19 • Premiere Party

November 20 • FREE Holiday Parade

November 21 • NEW! A Rather Curious Brunch / Teddy Bear Tea

November 23 • SugarPlum Ball

November 24 • Celebrity Lunch

For more information or to purchase tickets visit: www.qcfestivaloftrees.com or call 309.793.1213. You can also check out the latest Insider’s Guide to Festival blog at: https://www.quadcityarts.com/blog/november-01st-2021

In accordance with CDC recommendations, masks are highly encouraged for all visitors at this event. We continue to keep the health and safety of our community at the forefront, and any updates can be found on our website, www.qcfestivaloftrees.com.

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Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

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