Free Family Fun

Free Family Fun Banner

Spend time with the family enjoying free events and activities throughout Davenport!
Do you have an event you want to add? Email Becca.Niles@davenportiowa.com

Activity and event details are listed below! Check back often as we are always updating the page as new events or activities are added.

Holiday lights display
CITY OF DAVENPORT & DAVENPORT PARKS AND RECREATION

Every third Saturday Fejervary Learning Center will host a free family activities. Each day will have a special theme to make each one different and unique. We will be hosting family activities, local vendors, nature crafts, and more!

Saturdays: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
10/16 | Harvest Fest
Location: Fejervary Learning Center

The two-hour events are anticipated to run 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. on select Thursdays July 8 through September 23.

Party in the Park attendees can enjoy food, entertainment, and a variety of activities for the kids! These events are a great opportunity to meet your neighbors, learn more about surrounding neighborhoods, and engage with your local elected officials. Members from city staff will be in attendance to discuss concerns and opportunities facing the community and how you can get involved in your neighborhood.

Community agencies will be on hand with information, resources and family activities. Agencies include: Girls Scouts Mississippi Valley, Salvation Army of the Quad Cities, Iowa State Extension, Iowa Total Care, Safer Foundation, Humane Society of Scott County, One Eighty, Downtown Partnership, Waste Commission of Scott County, YMCA, Neighborhood Associations, and more.

Date	Park	Address
September 23	Junge Park	3250 Western Ave.

A Davenport Junior Theatre favorite, Winnie-the-Pooh is Christopher Robin’s “bear of very little brain” who would like to drift peacefully through life, humming tunes and stopping frequently to eat “a little something.” However, he finds himself involved in all sorts of frantic adventures, assisted by such friends as Eeyore, Piglet and Rabbit. Pooh’s intentions are always the best, but his passion for honey and condensed milk keeps getting him into trouble! A.A. Milne’s wit and special understanding of young people make this story of a “silly old bear” an enduring classic.
To celebrate their 70th year, Junior Theatre shows are Free for All to See.

Multiple Dates to Choose From:
Saturdays, 10/16 & 10/24 | 1-4PM
Sundays, 10/17 & 10/24 | 3PM
Location: Davenport Junior Theatre

Learn more about the Main Stage Productions by visiting davenportjuniortheatre.org/mainstage

Davenport Junior Theatre’s Junior Board is hosting its annual Halloween Bash! Free admission, carnival games, costume contest, festive stories, candy, prizes, haunted house, and more! All activities will be held outside on the grand lawn and a small play will be performed in main theatre onstage at various times. Come in your costume and be ready to have some fun!

Friday, 10/22 | 5:30-7:30PM
Location: Davenport Junior Theatre

Mark your calendar for this year’s Halloween Parade through downtown Davenport!

Saturday, 10/30 | 6:30PM

Register your business or organization, sports team or scout troop, family, youth group, club, etc. for a shrilly fun evening! All entries must be Halloween themed. Dress up in festive costumes, decorate floats/vehicles, and hand out candy or items alongside the street to all the little ghouls and goblins.

Registration to participate in the parade is required. Download and submit the Parade Application. Want to join the fun, but not in the parade, volunteers are needed too! Email halloweenparade@davenportiowa.com to learn how you can help.

Shows last approximately 15 minutes. A new show starts every 30 minutes beginning at 5 PM with the last show starting at 9:30 PM. Parking and viewing areas will be updated on our website by mid-October.
Stop by for Throw-back Thursday when we rewind to our 2019 and 2020 shows (occurring every Thursday through the duration of the show).

Every night, Saturday, 11/27 – Sunday, 01/02 | 5-9:30PM

Please note: This is a park and watch event, not a drive or walk through event.

Warning: This show may potentially trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.

This winter the Vander Veer Conservatory will be transformed into a scrumptious place!

It may be a winter wonderland of snow outside, but the holidays are incomplete without the annual building of the Gingerbread House! The best part is that you can visit the Conservatory to see others’ unique take on the traditional gingerbread house. All the fun and wonderment without the icing everywhere.

The Vander Veer Conservatory Winter Theme is sponsored by the Friends of Vander Veer.

Every day, Saturday, 11/27 – Sunday, 01/09 |Self-guided tour through park and Conservatory

Vander Veer Conservatory Winter Hours
Extended until 7PM: Saturdays, November 27-December 18
Closed 11/25-11/26, 12/24-12/25, and 01/01 in observance of the holidays.

staff sit outside library van
DAVENPORT PUBLIC LIBRARIES

The Davenport Public Library and the Davenport Parks and Recreation have joined forces to provide Reader’s Trail for the second year! This program would not be possible without funding from the Bi-State Literacy Council. Visit any of the three locations to read a story while taking in the beautiful views of Davenport. Each location has a different story, visit all locations and make sure to tag the Davenport Public Library on social media.

Reader's Trail available until mid-October.
Locations: Prairie Heights & Lindsay Park

Get outside this September by doing our Outside Activity Bingo! Either pick up a Bingo card in the library or print it online from LibCal. Instructions are on the card.

Looking for an easy craft? Each week during August and September, we will have new take and make adult crafts available. No registration necessary. Kits available first come, first serve.

Every Tuesday, 8/3-9/28 | Library Operating Hours
Locations: All three Davenport Public Libraries

Preschool Storytime

Preschool Story Time is a free, entertaining opportunity for preschoolers to come and hear stories, sing songs, and play with instruments to develop reading skills that will help them be ready to start school.

Location: Eastern Avenue Library

Every Tuesday in September |10AM

Learn more

Dance Party Storytime

Dance your wiggles out! All ages welcome, but songs and stories will appeal to children ages 2 to 5 years old.

Location: Fairmount Children's Garden (in case of inclement weather, it will be cancelled)

Every Wednesday in September |10AM

Learn more

Young Artist Storytime

Stories, music, dancing, books and art projects! What a great start to your Thursday morning. This outdoor storytime program is geared toward children 2-5 with their parents. Participants will be notified via email of any weather cancellations on the morning of the event. Registration is required.

Location: Eastern Avenue Library

Every Thursday in September |10AM

Learn more

Storytime

Join Miss Christie in the new children's area for stories, songs, and play!

Location: Main Street Library

Every Saturday in September |10AM

Learn more

Choose Your Own Adventure Book Club (Virtual)

Have you ever wanted to change the ending of a book? Thought things might have gone better if the protagonist had chosen a different path? Then this is the club for you! Every week we will read (or finish) a Choose Your Own Adventure book, voting for how the story progresses as we go along. Since we will be meeting via Zoom, you can bring your own snacks and get as comfy as you'd like! Titles will be prechosen. This group is appropriate for children 6-11 years old. Registration is required.

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Every Wednesday in September | 6:30PM

Learn more

Big/Little Book Club

A book club for Littles (kids in 3rd through 5th grade) and their Bigs (adults or older siblings) to read a book together. We will discuss the book and do some book-related crafts and activities. Registration is required. September's book club selection is Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed. Copies of the book can be picked up at the service desk at the Eastern Avenue branch library or checked out from the other libraries.

Location: Eastern Avenue Library

First Thursday October-December, 10/7, 11/4, 12/2 | 6:30PM

Learn more

Party like it's 1989. Pop in and post the best time/score each month on a classic game to take home QC bragging rights and a prize. We kick off our first month of NES @ Night with Contra.

Location: Fairmount Library

Every Thursday in September | 6PM

Learn more

Try your hand at whatever ridiculous challenge the library has put together for the week! It could be as simple as stacking marshmallows, or as challenging as painting a self-portrait – blindfolded. Each week is a surprise - be ready for anything. This program will be held outdoors, participants will be notified via email on the day of the event if there is a cancellation due to weather. Perfect for thrill-seekers aged 5-11. Registration required.

Location: Eastern Avenue Library

Every Tuesday in September | 4PM

Learn more

Join us for the first annual Trunk-or-Treat!

Location: Fairmount Library

Wednesday, 10/27 | 5-7PM

RIVERFRONT EVENTS

Mercado en el Rio (Market on the River) hosts vibrant markets every second Saturday evening in the summer in Quinlan Court along the banks of the Mississippi River. The family-friendly events feature food trucks, mobile boutiques and retail vendors, children's activities, and live music and entertainment.

Saturdays, 10/9 | 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Location: Quinlan Court (River Drive and Brady Street)

The QC Empowerment Network's "Open Air Market" looks to make real change for Black owned businesses! This monthly event aims to create connections for business owners. Our commitment is to help Black business owners move forward and encourage everyone to support, in their own way. Whether you're a Black business owner or a shopper looking for Black-owned businesses to support - at the QC Empowerment Open Air Market - you're in the right place!

Sunday, 9/26 | 4 p.m. -7 p.m.
Location: Quinlan Court (River Drive and Brady Street)

Free, family entertainment with the Mighty Mississippi as our backdrop! Grab your favorite people and a blanket and join us for some food and a free movie with a breathtaking riverfront view!

Friday, 10/8 Monster's Inc.
6:00 p.m. Food/Vendors/Activities | 7:25 p.m. Approximate movie start time
Location: LeClaire Park