In the eagerly awaited return of a seasonal Quad Cities tradition, visitors can experience the wonders of a classic Victorian holiday season in Moline's unique Deere-family homes through 19th Century Christmas, the Butterworth Center's and Deere-Wiman House's annually beloved December 1 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.

Boasting more than 25 years of experience dazzling audiences across the Midwest, a homegrown talent will amaze guests of Moline's Sound Conservatory with two presentations of David Casas: An Evening of Magic & Wonder, the November 23 and 24 events filled with mind-bending illusions, masterful sleight-of-hand, and plenty of interactive fun.

On November 24, Dave Meier, curator for the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum in Walcott, Iowa, will share local history, industry connections, innovation, and engineering feats of the last century in Trucking: A Lifeline Across America, a program in the German American Heritage Center's popular "Kaffee und Kuchen" series boasting discussion on trucking in America through the years and the impact of the Interstate Highway System.

Created in partnership with the Smithsonian Institute’s Traveling Exhibit team, the illuminating and engaging immersive exhibition Hubble Telescope: New Views of the Universe will be on display at Davenport's Putnam Museum & Science Center through January 26, this fascinating, family-themed exhibit designed to be constantly updated with the newest imagery and technology coming from the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes.

You may think blending the exquisite classical beauty of the Nutcracker ballet with the gritty urban energy of hip hop would be like oil and water. Yet The Hip Hop Nutcracker making its Quad Cities debut at Davenport's Adler Theatre (136 East Third Street) on November 27 – has entertained audiences nationwide since 2013. The beloved holiday story and enchanting music, paired with staggeringly limber breakdancers, will be performed as part of a tour to more than 25 U.S. cities.

Ideally programmed to take place before Thanksgiving and the holiday season, the virtual Illinois Libraries Present program Holiday Tips & Tricks with Chef Art Smith will find the two-time James Beard Foundation Award winner in online conversation on November 20, this event sponsored by the Rock Island and Silvis Public Libraries inviting viewers to learn about Smith's culinary journey and receive some welcome culinary inspiration.

Star-crossed lovers. Palace intrigue. Mistaken identities. Patricide. A dude turning into a donkey. Just another Saturday night in the realm of William Shakespeare. But on the Saturday night of November 9, these and many other Bard-ian tropes will be affectionately spoofed in the return of Shakespeared!, an hour of long-form improvisational comedy taking place in Moline's Spotlight Studio Theatre.

Coupling the intentional carved marks of 15th-century wood engravings with the bold shapes and composition of early-20th-century expressionist woodcuts, Joseph Lappie's art exhibition Die Hoffnung der Pflanzen: The Hope of Plants will be on display at Davenport's German American Heritage Center through February 23, delivering a hand-colored contemporary portrayal of personal herbology, or the assumed language of a plant and its individual meaning to a person.

A winner on the competition program Ed McMahon’s Next Big Star also beloved for his frequent radio appearances on the syndicated The Bob & Tom Show, Greg Hahn brings his unique comedy stylings to Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort Rhythm Room on November 14, his Web-site biography stating than in addition to being a TB&TS hallmark, "he is also a stalwart, another word he doesn’t know."

Led by Whispering Souls Paranormal, a family team of investigators based in Rock Island, the German American Heritage Center's November 9 event Geisternacht Night at the Museum invites patrons of the Davenport venue to enjoy a spooky evening of paranormal investigation whether guests are skeptics or full believers.

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