Deck the Downtowns Officially Starts In The Quad Cities

The holidays have officially arrived in the Quad Cities, and let me tell you, downtown has never looked more festive. The annual Deck the Downtowns celebration is underway from Nov. 19 through Jan. 1, and it’s basically a holiday buffet of everything fun: dazzling storefronts, ornament hunts, tree lightings, cookie crawls, and endless opportunities to shop local. And yes, I’m already planning to hit every stop like it’s the Olympic finals of holiday cheer.

Holiday Display Challenge

More than 70 businesses across Bettendorf, Davenport, and Rock Island are participating in this year’s Holiday Display Challenge, and they did not come to play. With 20 local artists painting storefronts, the windows look like Hallmark holiday movie sets. Shoppers can pick up a flyer at participating locations and vote for their favorite display. And here’s the best part: voters have a chance to win prizes. That’s right—just walking around and staring at pretty windows could make you a winner. You can’t beat that holiday math.

Davenport Christmas Tree

Ornament Hunts You Don’t Want to Miss

Downtown Davenport is keeping things spirited with the famous German pickle hunt tradition, while Rock Island continues its train ornament hunt, inspired by the city’s railroad roots. More than 30 businesses are taking part in each hunt. Anyone who turns in a completed card by Jan. 1 gets a custom ornament and is entered into a grand prize drawing. It’s like a grown-up scavenger hunt where the prize is pride, prizes, and bragging rights at the family Christmas dinner.

Tree Lightings and Sweet Celebrations

Rock Island kicked things off Nov. 19 with a tree lighting celebration featuring vendors, crafts, and carolers in Arts Alley and Schwiebert Riverfront Park. Davenport’s tree lighting happens Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. in K-Square with hot cocoa, cookies, and music from Voices ByShare Youth Performance Group. Then on Nov. 22, Downtown Davenport hosts the Deck the Downtowns Cookie Crawl from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., following the Festival of Trees Holiday Parade. Over 25 businesses will offer cookie samples, special deals, and holiday fun. Shoppers who make five purchases will be entered to win a grand prize.

Deck the Downtowns runs through New Year’s Day, giving everyone in the Quad Cities a festive reason to get out, explore, and support local businesses while soaking up all the seasonal magic.