Twilight fans looking to enjoy a true howl on December 31 can have one at Davenport's theater The Last Picture House, with the venue hosting a NYE Rowdy Screening of the 2009 smash The Twilight Saga: New Moon, an event for which audience interaction is not only allowed – it's required.

On December 31, holiday celebrants can deck the halls with boughs of bawdy at Davenport's burlesque-themed Ecdysiast Arts Museum, with the venue hosting a night of live performances, delicious cocktails, and the ringing in of 2026 in the QC New Year's Reverie, which will feature special pre- and after parties in addition to the main event.

Court-ing fans in their eagerly anticipated return to Moline, the electrifying athletes of the Harlem Globetrotters bring their “100 Years of Thrills" tour to the Vibrant Arena at the MARK on January 7, thrilling crowds with phenomenal basketball action, comic hijinks, ankle-breaking moves, jaw-dropping swag, and rim-rattling dunks in a fully-modernized amphitheater production.

With the lineup currently boasting the heavy-metal talents of bassist Rudy Sarzo, guitarist Alex Grossi, lead vocalist Jizzy Pearl, and drummer Johnny Kelly, the hard rockers of Quiet Riot bring their tour to Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center for a free concert on New Year's Eve, the group that originally debuted in 1973 currently included among VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock."

Performing from the repertoire of a county icon who boasts two Grammy Awards, 17 American Music Awards, and the RIAA Award for being the U.S.'s best-selling solo-album artist of the century, touring performer Drew Baloh brings his stage spectacular Garth Live! to Rock Island's Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse on December 31, this special New Year's Eve event including such Brooks favorites such as "Friends in Low Places," "The Dance," and "The Thunder Rolls."

With the performer reprising his iconic performance from the Tony-winning Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet, Branson, Missouri’s favorite piano man David Brooks brings On Fire: The Jerry Lee Lewis Story to Maquoketa's Ohnward Fine Arts Center on December 31, the artist and his live band celebrating the country and rockabilly superstar's repertoire through in-your-face talent and unforgettable style.

Going to the cineplex or staying in and streaming this weekend? Every Thursday morning at 8:15 a.m. you can listen to Mike Schulz dish on recent movie releases & talk smack about Hollywood celebs on Planet 93.9 FM with the fabulous Dave & Darren in the Morning team of Dave Levora and Darren Pitra. The morning crew previews upcoming releases, too. Or you can check the Reader Web site and listen to their latest conversation by the warm glow of your electronic device. Never miss a pithy comment from these three scintillating pundits again

Thursday, December 11: Discussion of Hamnet, Jay Kelly, Merrily We Roll Along, Fackham Hall, and Five Nights at Freddy's 2, previews of Ella McCay and (maybe?) Silent Night, Deadly Night, and thoughts on what Netflix's potential acquisition of Warner Bros. might mean for the motion-picture industry. The outlook ain't rosy.

With the independent film's “Roadshow Tour” making its first stop in Davenport, the mystery-drama Jury of Her Peers enjoys a special screening at the Last Picture House on December 16, writer/director William Rock's true-crime feature adapted from a short story by Pulitzer Prize-winning native Iowan Susan Glaspell.

With the December 21 event designed to inspire holiday cheer and nostalgia through the crooning of classics including "O Tannenbaum" and "Stille Nacht," guests of Davenport's German American Heritage Center are invited to join the fun of the German Holiday Sing-Along, a celebration of beloved compositions presented in the final "Kaffee und Kuchen" program of 2025.

A group of dedicated student dancers will bring their talents to Galesburg's Orpheum Theatre on December 19 and 20 when Monmouth, Illinois' Dancer's Studio presents two performances of The Nutcracker, the timeless holiday ballet by composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

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