Held in conjunction with his new exhibition A Room That One Is In (And All Things In It), beloved local artist and the Paul A. Anderson Chair in the Arts at Augustana College Peter Xiao will deliver a public artist talk at the Figge Art Museum on December 14, the night designed to celebrate Professor Xiao's very first solo exhibition of work at the Davenport venue.

On December 9 and 10, 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, a cast of 60, and the return of popular guest artist Domingo Rubio, the longtime portrayer of the company's dancing Dracula.

A Broadway-style presentation centered around an infusion of contemporary circus arts, the touring sensation Cirque Dreams Holidaze lands at Davenport's Adler Theatre on December 13, delivering an exciting seasonal production filled with new sets, scenery, and storylines sure to put a twinkle in the eye of every member of the family.

Delivering a blend of comedy, music, and improv that's both familiar and like nothing seen before, entertainer Michael Leahy brings his alter ego Clownvis to Davenport's Raccoon Motel on December 13, this singular figure having toured with Insane Clown Posse, Neil Hamburger, and Mac Sabbath, and boasting a stage act that was lauded by L.A. Weekly as "better than the real Elvis."

An avidly anticipated holiday tradition returns to Augustana College from December 9 through 15 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.

Delivering a a thought-provoking conversation about mental health in anticipation of the winter holiday season, a New York Times bestselling author and co-host of the Dear Therapists podcast will present a special virtual program on December 6 presented by the Rock Island and Silvis Public Libraries, with Surviving the Holidays with Lori Gottlieb made possible by the statewide collaboration Illinois Libraries Present.

An original, critically acclaimed love story that explores the boundaries of artificial intelligence and the evolving nature and risks of intimacy in the modern world, writer/director Spike Jonze's Her will enjoy a special Free Film at the Figge screening on December 14, with the Davenport art museum's patrons invited to socialize and discuss the Oscar-winning movie afterward with a complimentary glass of wine.

An unforgettable holiday experience led by former Mannheim Steamroller keyboardist John Blasucci, the immersive touring event Luminare Christmas lands at Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center on December 10, bringing to audiences a singular fusion of reimagined holiday classics, high-energy symphonic rock, and cinematic magic.

On December 9 and 10, music fans are invited to ring in the holiday season with members of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra's brass and percussion sections in the yuletide delight Holiday Brass, an uplifting repertoire of classical and seasonal favorites being performed at Rock Island's Second Baptist Church and Davenport's St. Paul Lutheran Church.

With his pair of 2021 releases both earning raves from Blues Blast magazine – the studio recording Resurrection deemed "an excellent album" and the live LP Blues for the Southside described as "a high-flying, straight-ahead blues love letter" – acclaimed singer/songwriter and guitarist Mike Zito plays Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort Rhythm Room on December 8, Rock & Blues Muse having called Resurrection “as good as modern blues gets.”

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