Free Family Fun

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Spend time with the family enjoying free events and activities throughout Davenport!
Do you have an event you want to add? Email [email protected]

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

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.

Download a PDF of the Informational Map
Fej Holiday Lights Information and Map

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, 12/24-12/27, and 01/01 in observance of the holidays.

Battle of the High Schools:
Multiple Quad Cities area high schools designed and built the gingerbread houses at the Conservatory. Vote for YOUR favorite! Vote in person at the Conservatory or virtually here.

Between November 1 through January 9, the holiday lights at Vander Veer Botanical Park will be on daily 24 hours per day in the Rose Garden area and along the Grand Allee.

Vander Veer Botanical Park's holiday lights are the perfect backdrop for photos that last a lifetime! Take stroll and enjoy the glow of lights on a chilly evening.

staff sit outside library van
DAVENPORT PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Mindfulness and Movement Storytime

This brand-new storytime has everything to help you build a strong mind and body. Miss Holly, a Kidding Around Yoga certified instructor, will lead you through fun yoga poses and songs, breathing exercises, stories, and mindfulness activities. All ages are welcome, but this storytime is best for those ages 2 and up. Please bring a yoga mat or towel. Registration is required.

Your family’s safety is important to us. Masks are required for all participants ages 2+ regardless of vaccination status at indoor programs. This program is subject to COVID-19 safety protocol updates. Please check back here or our Facebook page for updates.

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

Every Monday in November (except 11/8) |10AM

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. This program is hosted outdoors. In case of inclement weather this program will move indoors. Your family’s safety is important to us. Masks are required for all participants ages 2+ regardless of vaccination status at indoor programs. This program is subject to COVID-19 safety protocol updates. Please check back here or our Facebook page for updates.

Location: Eastern Avenue Library

Every Tuesday in November | 10AM

Storytime @ Main

Enjoy stories, dancing and more at the newly remodeled Main Library Friday mornings at 10 am! Perfect for children birth - 5 and their parents. This program is hosted indoors. Your family’s safety is important to us. Masks are required for all participants ages 2+ regardless of vaccination status. Please observe social distancing and follow local COVID-19 safety recommendations. This program is subject to COVID-19 safety protocol updates. Check back here or our Facebook page for updates. Registration required.

Location: Main Library

Fridays in November (except 11/8) |10AM

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

Choose Your Own Adventure Book Club

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

Wednesday, 11/10 | 6:30PM

Little Makers

Come get creative! We'll have plenty of craft supplies and a special project each week. This program is best suited to school-age kids. Registration is required. This program is hosted indoors. Your family’s safety is important to us. Masks are required for all participants ages 2+ regardless of vaccination status. Please observe social distancing and follow local COVID-19 safety recommendations. This program is subject to COVID-19 safety protocol updates. Check back here or our Facebook page for updates.

Location: Eastern Avenue Library

Every Wednesday in November | 3:30PM

Teen Advisory Board Meeting

All teens (ages 11-19) are invited to join the Library's Teen Advisory Board! TAB Members volunteer, organize & participate in teen programming, and give their opinions on how to make the Library awesome by attending monthly meetings and filling out online surveys. Currently, TAB is meeting in-person at the Fairmount Library and by Zoom (zoom details are emailed/texted to members before each meeting.) Contact Amber Carlson, Youth Services & Programming Librarian, if you are interested in joining the Teen Advisory Board. Reach out to Amber ([email protected]) for more information or pick up a TAB application in the Library's teen areas!

Location: Fairmount Library and Virtual

Tuesday, 11/9 | 6:30PM

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Pushout Book Discussion

Join the Davenport Civil Rights Commission and the Davenport Public Library for a discussion of the book 'Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools' by Monique W. Morris. Limited copies of the book will be available at the Main Library's service desk for patrons to check out. Registration is required. This program is hosted indoors and virtual. Please observe social distancing and follow local COVID-19 safety recommendations. This program is subject to COVID-19 safety protocol updates. Please check back here for updates. Masks are recommended.

Location: Main Library and Virtual

Wednesday, 11/17 | 6:30PM

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DIY Teen: Origami Kawaii Tissue Box

Miss Amber invites all teens (ages 11-19) to join her for a DIY session to itty bitty Kawaii Tissue Boxes that are fun to make and perfect as gifts for those friends who have adorable tiny sneezes. Masks encouraged and registration required.

Location: Main Library

Friday, 11/19 | 4PM

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DIY Teen: Clay Agate Ornaments

Does your space need a bit more colorful crystal vibe? Do you like to DIY and make cool things? Join Miss Amber for some more FIMO Clay fun as we learn to make stunning faux Agate ornaments. Teens only (ages 11-19). Masks encouraged and registration required.

Location: Fairmount Library

Tuesday, 11/23 | 6PM

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RIVERFRONT EVENTS

Like traditional holiday street markets around the world, the Quad Cities Christkindlmarkt is an artisan craft and gift market with German music, European foods, international beets, Gluhwein, as well as artist demonstrations and performances. This is the perfect event to begin the holiday season!

Friday, 12/3 | 5-9PM St. Nicolas Dinner (Paid admission required)

Saturday, 12/4 | 10AM-9PM Market open, free public admission. Performance by Polkaholics.

Sunday, 12/5 | 10AM-5PM Market open, free public admission. Performance by Bolsen Beer Band.