Summer is the season for fairs and festivals! The Mississippi Valley Fair in Davenport, Iowa, is one of the longest running fairs in Iowa, going strong for 95 years. It's open Tuesday through Sunday, July 29 - August 3. The fair has a great line-up of Grandstand shows each night, including Eli Young Band, Lady Antebellum, Craig Morgan, Cheap Trick, Alan Jackson, Jerrod Niemann, and carnival games and shows throughout the grounds every day.
The awarding winning and nationally recognized Quad City Air Show will be in flight August 9-10 at the Davenport Municipal Airport. After being named the Best Large Civilian air show in 2011 by the United States Navy, the Quad City Air Show is proud to the first time appearance of the United States Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, the fifth-generation fighter aircraft and the finest aviation performers in the world. There are also airplanes on display giving an opportunity to talk to the pilots, and over 200 ground exhibits with activities such as: Army Challenge course, flight simulator, games, and more.
The annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival in Davenport, Iowa, is from July 31st-August 3rd. The Bix Jazz Festival continues to celebrate the life and musical contributions to jazz by Leon "Bix" Beiderbecke in his birthplace city alongside the Mississippi River. LeClaire Park continues to be the outdoor music venue, along with two indoor venues for the festival that include the RiverCenter and Adler Theatre in downtown Davenport, Iowa. Bix fans come from all over the world to enjoy the music and visit some of the places where Bix played and lived.
It's a huge tug of war across the Mississippi River during the Great River Tug Fest. At 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, boats and barges yield the right of way to a 2,400-foot, 680-pound rope that stretches between Port Byron, Ill., and LeClaire, Iowa. The events leading up to the big tug include a parade and fireworks on Friday night, carnival, 5K walk/run, and live music.
Chill out in The District of downtown Rock Island, Ill. for Ya Maka My Weekend on August 8-9. This island-themed event features reggae music, steel drums, Caribbean food, an open air marketplace, and a giant sand beach complete with palm trees and tiki torches. Ya Maka My Weekend starts at 5 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday.
The annual River Roots Live Music Festival in LeClaire Park in downtown Davenport, Iowa, on Aug. 15-16 combines the hottest music acts on the road today with great up and coming acts. Numerous bands are taking the stage, including Los Lonely Boys, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, North Mississippi Allstars, ZZ Ward, Ben Kweller, and more. There will also be great food including BBQ ribs from national ribateurs. Hours are 11 a.m. to midnight.
Floatzilla 2014 is the Quad Cities 5th Annual paddle sports festival on Saturday, August 16 that culminates with a Guinness World Record attempt at 2 p.m. at the largest flotilla of kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards on the protected backwaters of Lake Potter, at Sunset Marina in Rock Island, Ill. The festival will include guided launches at 8 a.m. for all skill levels on the Quad Cities Water Trails and beginner-friendly paddling lessons and programs. Registration includes one Floatzilla t-shirt per paddler, commemorative boat sticker, registration wrist bands, free music and rib fest at 'River Roots Live', free parking, and free shuttle to off-site parking for 'floats.'
