• World Ballet Company: “Swan Lake,” October 8

    Widely considered the most popular and influential ballet of all time, composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's legendary Swan Lake comes to Davenport's Adler Theatre on October 8, its presentation the latest touring production by the nationally acclaimed World Ballet Company.

  • Pride Storytelling Night, October 8

    On October 8, the Davenport Public Library and Midwest Writing Center will host the third-annual Pride Storytelling Night at the library's Eastern Avenue branch, inviting the community to hear community members, all local to the Quad Cities, sharing personal stories about their lives and identities as members of the Queer community.

  • Second-Annual Tapestry Farms Harvest Moon Celebration, October 8

    Bringing together Davenport native and New York-based soprano Claire Kuttler, St. Ambrose University’s Dr. Nathan Windt, and Davenport musician Chris Nelson, the Second-Annual Tapestry Farms Harvest Moon Celebration will take place at Davenport's Trinity Episcopal Cathedral on October 8, the event designed to help connect refugees and neighbors in a shared hope of living joyful, healthy lives.

  • Mike Finoia, October 9 and 10

    A popular touring comedian who also hosts the weekly show One More Saturday Night on SiriusXM’s Grateful Dead Channel, funnyman Mike Finoia will headline two nights of standup at Bally's Quad Cities on October 9 and 10, his credits including serving as longtime producer and writer for the comedy ensemble of Impractical Jokers.

  • Midwest Murder Podcast, October 10

    With their popular audio series designed to debunk the phrase “that kind of this doesn't happen in our town,” Jonah Lantto and Dawn Palumbo bring their live Midwest Murder Podcast show back to Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort on October 10.

  • “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” October 9 through 18

    An eagerly awaited revival of the venue's first musical presentation in 2018, the stage version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame returns to Moline's Spotlight Theatre October 9 through 18, this lauded stage adaptation of Disney's Oscar-nominated hit again starring Adam Sanders in his memorable role as Quasimodo.

  • “I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change,” October 9 through 24

    With Variety magazine calling the musical "smartly conceived" and boasting "catchy tunes and witty lyrics," the tune-filled romantic comedy I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change makes its debut at Moline's Black Box Theatre October 9 through 24, Gannett Newspapers raving that the original production was "hilarious ... the most entertaining show on or off Broadway."

  • “Spring Awakening,” October 9 through 18

    From October 9 through 18, Rock Island's youth-theatre venue The Center for Living Arts (CFLA) will present Spring Awakening one final time, closing a chapter with this Tony-winning musical drama that has become part of the organization’s history.

  • Davenport Junior Theatre's “Charlotte's Web,” October 10 through 17

    With its source material named "the best American children's book of the past two hundred years" by the Children's Literature Association, the stage version of E.B. White's beloved Charlotte's Web enjoys an October 10 through 18 run in St. Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Arts Center.

  • A Stitching in Time: “Real Women Have Curves,” at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre through October 10

    It was interesting to see how this script written in 1987 was still thematically relevant nearly 40 years later. You’d think we’d be further along as a society, but from its concerns about the deportation of undocumented workers to the characters' strain in simply make ends meet, Josefina Lopez’s play speaks to issues that feel very current.

  • Diva Bleach, October 7

    With their 2025 debut Can You Keep a Secret? hailed by New Noise Magazine as "full of high-quality production and catchy choruses," the pop/rock/punk outfit Diva Bleach headlines an October 7 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, New Noise adding that the outfit's first LP is a "fully realized creative vision" that "effectively modernizes pop-rock while still maintaining its fun, colorful elements."

  • “When Dylan Met Guthrie,” October 8

    The October 8 event made possible through partnership between the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities and the Rock Island Public Library, a pair of iconic folk singer/songwriters will be saluted when the library's Watts-Midtown Branch hosts When Dylan Met Guthrie, an exuberant two-man show created by award-winning Wisconsin Artists Lil Rev and Will Branch.

  • “Rumours: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show,” October 8

    Delivering everything from period-accurate equipment and costumes to spot-on characterizations and musical performances, the vocal and instrumental artists of Rumours bring The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show to Galesburg's Orpheum Theatre on October 8, sharing memorable takes on “Big Love,” “Don't Stop,” “Go Your Own Way,” and other pop classics of their era.

  • “The Sweet Caroline Tour Starring Jay White,” October 9

    Boasting more than 10,000 worldwide performances and featured on Entertainment Tonight and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, touring tribute artist Jay White brings his Sweet Caroline Tour to Davenport's Adler Theatre on October 9, this stage celebration of Neil Diamond including thrilling renditions of such classics as "Cracklin’ Rosie," "Cherry, Cherry," "Kentucky Woman," "Shilo," "Solitary Man," "Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show," and "Forever in Blue Jeans."

  • Sara Evans, October 9

    With her remarkable career boasting accolades from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association, plus more than 6 million albums sold, acclaimed singer/songwriter Sara Evans brings her national tour to Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center on October 9, her credits including an ACM Award for Top Female Vocalist and 2023 induction into the Grand Ole Opry.

  • “Mystery Science Theater 200 Mil. BCE: Jurassic Park,” October 8

    In a one-of-a-kind movie-riffing experience at Davenport's Putnam Museum & Science Center, one of the biggest hits in Hollywood history will be ribbed for nearly two full hours in the comedy event Mystery Science Theater 200 Mil. BCE: Jurassic Park.

  • Potboilerplate: “Verity” and “Digger”

    In director Michael Showalter's adaptation of Colleen Hoover's Verity, the title figure is a fabulously wealthy celebrity who appears willing to go to psychotic extremes to get a little peace and quiet. Having now appeared in five films over the past six months, and with a new baby on the way, it's no wonder Anne Hathaway is so good in the role. She must relate to Verity Crawford like crazy.

  • Mike Schulz with Dave & Darren on Planet 93.9 FM

    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, October 1: Discussion of Primetime, Heart of the Beast, and Forgotten Island, and previews of Verity, Digger, Rolling Loud: The Movie, and something borderline-unpronounceable with a really big snake. Isn't it just pronounced "Anacomda"?

  • Peacock of the Walk: “Primetime,” “Heart of the Beast,” and “Forgotten Island”

    With Robert Pattinson supplying a demented stare, wicked grin, and one of his signature affected accents, this big-screen Chris Hansen is magisterially icky: sweaty, scary, pathetic, and wholly deserving of the downfall you know is coming.

  • Now Playing: Friday, October 9, through Thursday, October 15

    Now playing at area theaters.

Art

  • “Beyond the Game: A UD Athletic Homecoming,” through October 30

    With the showcased photographs captured by class-of-2025 alumna Hannah Bauch, patrons of the University of Dubuque's Bisignano Aet Gallery are invited to explore the multifaceted identities of student athletes, and the many layers that exist beyond their roles in competition, in the exhibition Beyond the Game: A UD Athletic Homecoming, on display through October 30.

  • Artist Talk: Amanda Burnham, October 8

    On October 8, the Figge Art Museum will host a special Artist Talk with Amanda Burnham, who is creating a site-specific installation of her work in the Davenport venue this fall. Burnham uses acrylic on paper, and an exaggerated, often frantic comic visual language, making three-dimensional drawing installations that both allude to and frustrate traditional pictorial space.

  • “The Monster Under My Bed,” October 9 through December 4

    An arresting and thought-provoking group show featuring 38 pieces of art made by 27 Midwestern artists whose work explores the many forms our “monsters” can take, The Monster Under My Bed will be on display at Rock Island's Quad City Arts Center from October 9 through December 4, this exhibition designed to demonstrate ways in which creativity can help us give shape to experiences that are difficult to put into words.

  • “Amanda Burnham: Everything to Everyone,” October 10 through February 14

    With the acclaimed artist creating a site-specific installment for the Davenport venue, Amanda Burnham: Everything to Everyone will be on display in the Figge Art Museum's Gildehaus Gallery from October 10 through February 14, the Baltimore-based artist a draftsman who uses drawing as the foundation for large-scale pieces that transform her observations into immersive environments.

  • “College Invitational,” October 10 through January 17

    With each piece chosen by the institutions’ art professors to showcase campus talent and creativity, the Figge Art Museum's latest installment of the College Invitational will be on display in the Davenport venue from october 10 through January 17, the artwork from gifted students attending nine area colleges and universities on view in the museum's Mary Waterman Gildehaus Community Gallery.