A premier convention for fans of all things horror, the Midwest Monster Fest takes over Moline's Spotlight Event Center on September 14 and 15 – a terror- and fun-filled weekend filled with special guests, vendors, panel discussions, screenings, contests, challenges, and, in celebration of the movie's 45th anniversary, appearances by John Dugan, Teri McMinn, and Ed Neal of Tobe Hooper's 1974 genre classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Appearing locally to discuss her most recent book, 2019's Pulitzer Prize nominee The Great Believers, Chicago-based author Rebecca Makkai delivers a presentation at the Moline Public Library on September 9, the New York Times Book Review having called her latest literary triumph “an absorbing and emotionally riveting story about what it's like to live during times of crisis.”

Alternating Currents is an area celebration of the finest in art, music, comedy, and film. But from August 22 through 25, the weekend festival also has events scheduled in downtown Davenport that don't precisely fit into any of those four categories – including children's activities, sporting entertainments, forums, sales, and more.

Two venues in downtown Rock Island will co-host one exciting literary event when the Midwest Writing Center presents readings and a release party for the annual literary magazine The ATLAS, the latest volume of which will, on August 15, be showcased in a late-afternoon event at the Rock Island Public Library and an evening celebration at the neighboring Rozz-Tox.