Named one of The Diapason magazine's "20 under 30," an accolade awarded only to the most successful artists in their field, organist James Kealey enjoys an October 15 showcase at the University of Dubuque's Heritage Center, the gifted musician currently serving as the full-time Associate Director of Music and principal organist at Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester, New York.

Appearing locally with familiar traveling companions such as Peanut, José Jalapeño, Bubba J., Sweet Daddy Dee, and a new friend not unreminiscent of a current U.S. president, comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham brings his national "Still Not Canceled" tour to Moline's Vibrant Arena at the MARK on October 19, the performer's comic talent and audience rapport establishing why he holds the Guinness World Record for “Most Tickets Sold for a Stand-Up Comedy Tour.”

Their scheduled mixed martial arts clash fueled by personal animosity and stark ideological differences, the Quad Cities' own Pat "The Croation Sensation" Miletich and Mike "The Truth" Jackson will bring their "Bad Blood" showdown to Davenport's RiverCenter on October 13 and 14, the two-night Caged Aggression XXXVI event promising to be a fight for the ages, pitting skill against youth, experience against speed, and conservative views against liberally minded agenda.

A South Carolina native boasting more than a million InstaGram followers, the red-headed, frequently shirtless comedian Ginger Billy brings his Midwestern tour to East Moline venue The Rust Belt on October 13, his debut video netting the performer nearly a million views on YouTube alone.

A fast-paced romp through the most beloved and classic works of one of history's most prolific authors of children's literature, the one-man show The Magic of Seuss will take place at Davenport's German American Heritage Center on October 17, with favorite tales and rhymes coming to life through the gifts of Los Angeles-based professional entertainer Duffy Hudson.

On October 17, the author of more than two dozen books, all of which are written for young and middle-grade audiences, will be the highlighted speaker when the Rock Island Public Library hosts the virtual Illinois Libraries Present program Food, Family, & Folktales: A Conversation with Grace Lin, with Evanston Public Library children’s librarian Brian E. Wilson joining the lauded and awarded writer in conversation.

With the event held in partnership with Ascentra Credit Union, Hola America, and LULAC, Davenport's Figge Art Museum will house a delightful Día de Los Muertos celebration in the October 15 Day of the Dead Family Fiesta, an afternoon-long tribute honoring the memories of passed loved ones through music, dance, food, and community.

Hailed by the Irish Times as "a dauntingly comprehensive and beautifully filmed study," director Aoife Kelleher's 2014 documentary One Million Dubliners serves as the third screening in the Bettendorf Public Library's Global Gathering Ireland film series, the October 11 screening exposing viewers to the national necropolis that is Ireland's Glasnevin Cemetery, the final resting place for 1.5 million souls.

Founded in 2015 by the Quad Cities Cybersecurity Alliance and presented by the Docent Institute, the ninth-annual CornCon – an event designed to raise community awareness and provide business solutions for dealing with cybersecurity threats – will boast breakout sessions, expert speakers, panels, tutorials, vendors, a tech expo, children's activities, awards presentations, and more on October 6 and 7, this year's Davenport RiverCenter event titled The Rise of AI.

On display at Davenport's Figge Art Museum through January 8, the arresting historical exhibition Art & Activism at Tougaloo College will explore the inception of this distinctive collection at the intersection of modern art, education, and social justice, and in doing so, will highlight Tougaloo’s evolution as a center for vanguard European and American art shaped by interracial collaboration and the pursuit of civil rights.

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