For those wrestling with the stress of the holidays, Moline's Vibrant Arena at the MARK is offering seasonal decompression via some actual wrestling, as the touring amphitheater presentation WWE Live Holiday Tour Supershow, on December 17, treats fans to thrillingly physical confrontations including the United States Championship Triple-Threat Match between Matt Riddle, Seth “Freakin'” Rollins, and Austin Theory.

A local author, entrepreneur, and retired combat veteran hosts a special December 7 presentation at the Davenport Public Library's Eastern Avenue Branch, with Dr. Burl Randolph Jr. speaks on Hard Work: The Mind of an Author, describing the differences between being a writer and an author, and whether hard work is a factor in success for being either.

In a special Illinois Libraries Present event designed for the holiday season, acclaimed cookbook author and television and radio personality Shauna Sever will be sharing her love of food and baking - as well as providing tips to make your holiday gatherings delicious - in the virtual program Midwest Baking with Shauna Sever, hosted by the Rock Island and Moline Public Libraries on December 13.

An avidly anticipated holiday tradition returns to Augustana College from December 10 through 16 when the John Deere Planetarium hosts the week-long presentation Season of Light, a fascinating and beautiful holiday presentation hosted by the college's planetarium director and professor of physics and astronomy Dr. Lee Carkner.

Admired for his current half-hour comedy special on season three of The Standups that's now streaming on Netflix, Los Angeles-based comedian Brian Simpson brings his national tour to Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort Rhythm Room on December 11, the hilariously uncensored standup having recently made his television debut on Comedy Central's Lights Out with David Spade.

On December 10 and 11, one of the Quad Cities' most adored holiday traditions returns to Davenport's Adler Theatre when the professional talents of Ballet Quad Cities perform Tchaikovsky's holiday dance classic The Nutcracker, this eagerly awaited family experience boasting choreography by Artistic Director Courtney Lyon, live musical accompaniment by Orchestra Iowa, and the return of popular guest artist Domingo Rubio, the longtime portrayer of the company's dancing Dracula.

For those fascinated by German folklore and its connection to the holiday season, a devilish good time is sure to be had in the German American Heritage Center's December 6 presentation of Krampus: The Roots & Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil, the Davenport venue's virtual program in which historian Al Ridenour will recount the origins and resurgence of this fabled figure in Germany, Austria, and throughout the world.

For the first time since 2019, visitors can experience the wonders of a traditional Victorian holiday season in Moline's unique Deere-family homes through 19th Century Christmas, the Butterworth Center's and Deere-Wiman House's eagerly anticipated December 4 event boasting litany of yuletide treats including live music performances, interactive tours, make-and-take activities, refreshments, and, of course, a special visit by Santa Claus.

In a beloved seasonal tradition, family audiences are invited to the Vibrant Arena at the MARK from December 1 through 4 to experience the wonderful world of Disney – on Ice – in the brand-new touring sensation Into the Magic, with the Moline venue transformed into an enormous skating rink and some of the studio's most beloved characters joining Mickey Mouse and friends for an unforgettable adventure.

A seasonal followup to the popular exhibit housed at the Putnam Museum & Science Center this past summer, Build! Create! Innovate! Winter Edition will, through February 28, introduce visitors of all ages to matters of problem solving and abstract thinking using mathematics, physics, and design with the fun, simple building materials known as KEVA blocks.

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