MOLINE, ILLINOIS (October 22, 2026) — Downtown Moline will come alive with holiday cheer November 20–21 as Moline Centre hosts its annual Holiday Hop, a free, family-friendly celebration featuring local shopping, seasonal activities, live entertainment, and new experiences throughout downtown.
Holiday Hop takes place Friday, November 20, 4-8PM, and Saturday, November 21, 12–4PM.
Visitors can explore more than forty participating downtown businesses offering holiday specials, activities, and opportunities to find unique gifts while supporting local shops and restaurants.
New This Year: The 2026 Holiday Hop introduces several new experiences for visitors to enjoy throughout the weekend.
- Historic Block Courtyard Activities: Stop by the Historic Block Courtyard for festive fun, including a s’mores station, drone experience featuring aerial views, DJ entertainment, and karaoke, plus more festive surprises throughout the weekend.
- Frozen Character Photo Opportunities: Meet beloved Frozen characters and snap a festive photo during your Holiday Hop visit at The University Club, with character appearances made possible by volunteers from The Spotlight Theatre.
- Santa Bike Ride: Grab your Santa suit and decorate your bike for a festive group ride on Saturday, November 21, 1-2PM, in partnership with Wright Cycles. Participants are encouraged to dress as Santa and join fellow Santas for a ride along the Ben Butterworth Parkway. Elves and other holiday-themed costumes are welcome, too!
- Holiday Hop Artisan Market: Hosted by The Gathering Gallery in partnership with the Moline Club, the market will bring local artisans together. Visitors can meet local makers and shop handmade goods and unique gifts. Market hours are Friday, November 20, 4-8PM, and Saturday, November 21, 10AM–4PM, giving shoppers an extra two hours to browse on Saturday before the main Holiday Hop begins at noon.
Holiday Favorites Return: Holiday Hop will once again offer plenty of reasons to spend the weekend downtown. Visitors can enjoy free trolley rides and the returning ADA Holiday Bus, both operating throughout event hours to make it easier to explore participating destinations across downtown. Festivities also include live holiday music, special shopping promotions, photo opportunities with the Grinch, ice carving, and the return of The Snap Wagon photo booth.
Help spread holiday cheer by bringing a new, unwrapped toy to support Toys for Tots. With more than fifteen drop-off locations throughout downtown, it’s easy to give back while enjoying Holiday Hop.
Holiday Windows and Local Art: Local artists will bring the holiday spirit to downtown storefront windows with hand-drawn seasonal artwork, complementing festive window displays created by participating businesses. Visitors can enjoy these creative touches while shopping local and exploring downtown.
Keep the Celebration Going Saturday: The holiday fun continues Saturday with Lighting on the Commons at the John Deere Pavilion, a separate community celebration beginning at 3:30PM. Visitors are encouraged to spend the day shopping and enjoying downtown Moline before heading to the evening festivities.
Supporting Downtown Moline: Holiday Hop is presented by Moline Centre, a program of Renew Moline, with support from local sponsors and participating businesses. Their investment helps bring the community together while encouraging residents and visitors to shop local, dine local and experience all that downtown Moline has to offer.
Moline Centre thanks its Platinum Sponsors, Old National Bank, Renew Moline, and WQAD, for their support of this year's celebration.
For event updates and a list of participating businesses, visit MolineHolidayHop.com or check out the Holiday Hop Facebook event.
About the Moline Centre Program:
The Moline Centre Program is administered by Renew Moline Inc in coordination with the City of Moline to support the downtown business community, develop the business base, and enhance visitor experience in historic and vibrant downtown Moline Centre.
About the City of Moline:
Moline is a thriving community located along the Mississippi River, offering a unique blend of history, culture, and opportunity. The city is dedicated to improving the quality of life for its residents through innovative programs and partnerships.
About Renew Moline:
Renew Moline Inc is the non-profit economic development entity planning for the future, facilitating development, connecting resources and people, and advocating for public policies and programs for the benefit of downtown Moline, Illinois.
