Tag: Rock Island

Quad Cities Summer Events 2015

Summer events are plenty in Quad Cities which let us enjoy the best outdoors. With the mighty Mississippi by our side, we get to explore the nature and create beautiful memories. With thousands of people attending, these events make living in the Quad Cities interesting.

Summer Events in Quad Cities

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Here are some quad cities events which are my favorites:

Rock Island County Fair: The 146th annual Rock Island County Fair is from July 11th to July 19th at 4200, Archer Drive
in East Moline. Most of the grandstand acts are from July 15th to July 18th that is, Thursday through Saturday. Admission fee is $2 for adults, unlimited wristband for $20 which covers all the rides. If you want to get tipsy you can either get on the rides or the beer tent nearby. The fair food is mouth watering such as the curly fries, funnel cakes, french fries, hot dogs, nachos cheese, cotton candy, and of course the Lemonades!!

The grandstand acts include popular artists such as Charlie Worsham on Saturday and Clayton Anderson and Keith Anderson on Friday. This year the Demolition Derby is on Thursday 7pm unlike last year when they had it scheduled for Saturday evening. Get your spirits high for the racing and dashing. Further, check their schedule for more information and do not forget there is free pizza by Dominoes on Wednesday and Thursday from 10.30 am to 1pm.

 

Mississippi Valley Fair: The 96th annual Mississippi Valley Fair is from August 4th to August 9th at 2815, West Locust St in Davenport. The fair is one of the largest fair in Iowa which costs $10 for the general admission and $45 for fun cards. The fun card lets you in for all the five days including the grand stand acts. Kids 12 and under have free admission on Wednesday Aug 5th. This year the grand stand line up includes Kip Moore, Reba, The Marshall Tucker Band, Styx, The Band Perry, and Big & Rich.

You can visit the Mississippi Valley Fair for the fair food especially the corn and baked potatoes. The rides are $20 from 11 am to 5pm and they have a zip line too. There is also the beer tent and free music. There are some free acts throughout the day which include the alligator show, Dallas the Fire Guy, and Team Rock Karate Show among others.

Citation: http://n.b5z.net/i/u/10002415/i/2015_TugFest_Logo_black.png
Citation: http://n.b5z.net/i/u/10002415/i/2015_TugFest_Logo_black.png

Tug Fest: The 29th annual Tug Fest is from August 13th to August 15th in Port Byron, Illinois or Le Claire, Iowa. Illinois has the most wins 17 over Iowa. You can choose the side depending on which side of the river you are. Thursday night is the family night and is free admission to all. Friday and Saturday admission is $3 per person. Don’t miss Friday night Rumble on the River fireworks over the river at 9pm. The kids tug is at 11 am on Saturday. The actual tug is from 12 to 3pm at the tug site.

Tug fest is a tug of war competition over the Mississippi river between two states Iowa and Illinois. The 2400 feet rope is pulled by tug teams across the river and the state with most points win. Local businesses form teams to compete in the tug. Tug fest is possible with the help of local sponsors and hard working volunteers. Also, the bands are amazing at the Gazebo. I like the music, fireworks,the river, and of course the actual tug. Combine your tug fest visit with the annual Floatzilla  on August 15th to make it even more fun.

River Roots Live: The 11th annual River Roots Live is on August 28th and August 29th at 400 W Biederbecke Dr, Davenport in the LeClaire Park. I like their new website though developed by Nerdwerx! The admission is free before 3pm on both days. Gate admission is $15. River Roots Liveis clubbed with the rib fest. The ribs are open at 11 am on both days. Music starts at 5pm on Friday and runs all day on Saturday.

This year’s line up includes artists such as Kacey Musgraves at Saturday 8.45 pm and Hello Goodbye at Friday 10.15 pm. Visit the River Roots Live for lots of ear popping and heart throbbing music. The Junior Jam for children is sponsored by West Music and RME. There are bouncy house for kids and also a video game tent sponsored by Video Game Etc. Check out all the free stuff given away by local businesses apart from the fair food.

You can also hop on the channel cat taxi and Celebration Belle cruises or checkout the Backwater Gamblers in Rock Island. Attend these events and let me know which one you like the most and share if you find any  more interesting.:)

Backwater Gamblers

Backwater gamblers is a show that can be visited every year and you will not feel bored. It is an excitement right in Quad cities which you can enjoy every weekend Memorial day to Labor day. Best of all, the admission is free but donations are requested.

Some attractions seem the same year after year. Some are the same how many times you watch them. Some are even better because your perspective has changed or they might actually have improved. Backwater gamblers is one such show which will wow you every time you visit. The warm weather coupled with the cold river side views make the show more attractive.

BackwaterGamblersThe non-profit ski show has over seventy people team. The age ranges from as young as five to sixty. You will be surprised  by the perfection of the team members, their agility and flexibility while skiing, their strength and passion to excel. Backwater gamblers team is strong when a member falls and the pyramid is broken, the rest of the team continues as nothing ever happened. One tumble does not effect and the other pyramid continues. The people who have fallen wave their hands to let us know they are safe and swim back to the shore.

The choice of music and commentary of Backwater gamblers adds fun to the show while the ski team is preparing. The costumes are bright and colorful. The commentary is full of humor and making fun of each other but only to entertain the audience. The show has won regional and national awards in the past year. They have different sponsors from around the Quad cities.

The show runs for over hour and half. They have concession stands and cold drinks to keep you cool. The admissions is free but $20 donation is requested per family. The show runs 6.30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays at 5000 44th St, Rock Island, IL 61201. Enjoy the show and let me know how you like it. 🙂

 

 

Dispatch Argus

The largest selling newspaper in the quad cities with the most accurate information is the Quad cities Dispatch Argus. The paper costs less than a dollar a day but is the only source for exclusive news in sports, politics, entertainment, arts, weather, and so on. Dispatch covers local, national, and international news in the area bringing up to date news. The coupons which drop by every other day along with the paper are the most precious.

Dispatch Argus

The Dispatch and the Rock Island Argus are the local newspapers found in 1878 and 1853 respectively. They serve the local areas with both the papers carrying the same news except modifyng the cover page to suit the individual areas. They both were acquired by the Small Newspaper Group in 1986. The news can also be accessed at their website qconline.com.

Dispatch covers local news and all the articles are well researched, written and edited. Pictures accompany some articles to give more details. The different sections of the paper which appear on special days include:

  1. Cover page
  2. Sports
  3. Arts
  4. Faith
  5. Home
  6. Automobile
  7. World
  8. Comics
  9. Teen
  10. Obituaries
  11. Events
  12. Entertainment
  13. Movie Reviews
  14. Crime reports
  15. Politics
  16. Jobs
  17. Finance
  18. Weather
  19. Honor rolls
  20. Education

Local people including friends and families are featured in the newspaper for their special achievements. Special happenings such as births, marriages, engagements, divorces, and deaths are published in the paper to spread the word easily. On request, Dispatch publishes free obituaries up to 25 lines to honor the local residents who passed away. The local crimes and other follow ups can be tracked through the paper. Families and teenagers can write to the paper to ask a specific question they are facing and can get expert suggestions while being anonymous.

Dispatch Argus supports local students by publishing their essays, achievements, scholarships,  and the Regional Annual Spelling Bee. Photo contests are held occasionally and local residents are encouraged to send in the pictures. Frequent job positions in the paper include journalists, writers, editors, home delivery, and so on. 

Dispatch provides exclusive coupons apart from special news. Local stores provide deals and discounts through the newspaper and can be used during the valid period. Dispatch provides great news in simple language for people of all ages. Children are encouraged to read the newspaper to improve the awareness of the world around them and also their reading and comprehension. You can also sponsor the newspaper for a day to a local school through their special partnership program.

To subscribe to the Dispatch Argus, call 309 797 0345 or 800 660 2472. You can also visit their website to check out the different delivery options.

January Events

The first month of the year is packed with events which are getting pretty difficult to manage. With first snow (and storm), January is getting busier. Here are some of the events in the area.

  1. Bettendorf family museum is offering free evening admission on January 16th from 5pm to 8pm on Martin Luther King Jr.’s day. Enjoy the exhibits and explore nature wonders at the museum.
  2. Moline library is offering a range of free programs including Messy Monday on January 16th, Lego club on January 19th, and Contented canines on January 25th. Registration may be required for some programs. Check the timings before going.
  3. Rock Island Center for Math and Science is offering a free STEM program on January 24th 5pm to 7pm in coordination with IMSA. Children can do variety of science experiments and win prizes!
  4. iwireless center is hosting the World’s toughest rodeo show on January 27th and January 28th at 7.30 pm. Admission is from $18 to $35 and a special goody bag for $55 seat tickets.
  5. Rivercenter Davenport is hosting the Quad City Boat and Vacation show this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Special gifts for children visiting early on Sunday.
Visit the programs and be safe in the weather. 🙂

 

 

Scouting – Developing future citizens

Scouting is popular worldwide for nurturing and developing children. The names of the organizations may differ in different pars of the world, but the basic motto of supporting young children in their physical, mental and spiritual development remains same. Girl scouts and boy scouts are active in Quad cities local schools.

What do Scouts do?

Boy scouts or Girl scouts are trained in a wide range of outdoor activities and educational programs. Their leaders teach about multiple skills and topics including the country, God, society, personal safety, sports, aquatics, nature, outdoor adventures, camping, hiking among others. Character development along with life skills is a part of scouting.

Scouts abide by common oath and common principles. They meet weekly once or according to their preset schedules. The scouts are grouped based on the age or grades. So, the kids can relate and learn from each other while learning and having fun.

How much does Scouting cost?

Young children ages five and above can become a member of the scouts for a minimal annual fee of $12 to $15. Additional charges apply for the uniform and camping. If you want to send your child for a camp, you may have to purchase additional camping gear.

Most scouts are self-supporting and raise funds through popcorn sales or the yummy cookie sales.

What can parents do?

Parents can be part of the activities and fun during their children’s meetings. Offer additional information if the child has any queries about their scouting experiences. Parents can help their kids by offering extra support through the scouting.

Back to School Carnival at Rock Island County Fair Ground

This weekend get ready for the rides and games at the Back to School Carnival at Rock Island County Fair Ground.

The fair opens Thursday and Friday at 5 pm. On Saturday and Sunday the fair opens at 1 pm and the rides are 15$ unlimited until 4pm.

You can reach the Rock Island County Fairgrounds, Avenue of the Cities & Archer Drive, East Moline, IL 61244 and can call 309-796-1620 for more information.

With school reopened and kids and parents stressed out, it is the perfect time for a jolly ride. 🙂

Backwater Gamblers – Ski show in Rock Island, IL

Quad cities is home to many popular attractions. Backwater Gamblers is one more must-seeing show for quad city residents and visitors. While I liked the ski show at Wisconsin dells at the Tommy Bartlett show, I am sure people will like the Backwater Gamblers show within the Quad cities itself.

What: Non-proft ski show team
Cost: Absolutely free. Requires your time and presence. That’s it 🙂
Where: 44th Street, Rock Island, IL (309-786-8987)
When: Sundays and Wednesdays 6.30 pm

The Backwater Gamblers are a team of professionals right in the heart of quad cities just for your family entertainment. The team members are volunteers and accept donations. The show lasts for over one hour with ten minutes break in between. I am sure children will like it anyways, but adults will be jumping too. 🙂