A tradition of 40-plus years that has attracted more than 25,000 people each summer to downtown Iowa City, the Iowa Arts Festival, from June 5 through 7, will showcase a wide array of visual artists from local and national levels.

On June 6, the Bettendorf Room at the Bettendorf Public Library will definitely be "the Room where it happens," with the venue hosting a 2 p.m. Hamilton Sing-Along Party in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Hailed by DC Metro Arts as “an exhilarating ride of pride and precision” and by the Chicago Tribune as “superbly and joyously performed,” the touring spectacle Riverdance 30: The New Generation comes to Davenport's Adler Theatre on June 3, this astoundingly choreographed sensation a show that, according to Broadway World, “will appeal to long-time fans and captivate a new audience.”

Presenting a panel discussion on the new Jane E. Simonsen book about Rock Island's Augustana College, the Davenport Public Library's Eastern Avenue Branch, on June 2, hosts a talk on the fascinating nonfiction Called to Reckon: Replacing History & Reclaiming Mission at a Midwestern College.

Presented by the Quad Cities Bicycle Club and returning to the Village of East Davenport, an eagerly anticipated Memorial Day tradition returns for its 59th year in the Quad Cities Criterium – a May 25 event featuring hundreds of adult and youth cyclists from across the U.S., Canada, and Europe participating in a dozen bicycle races, with thousands of dollars in cash prizes awarded throughout the day.

Mercado on Fifth, the Quad Cities’ premier Latino cultural market and small-business incubator, will kick off its 10th Anniversary Season with a vibrant Opening Day Celebration on May 22, the scheduled events including live music, a marketplace, food and beverage vendors, and cultural activities throughout the evening.

Treating literary fans to readings in celebration of the latest chapbook release by the Midwest Writing Center's MWC Press, a pair of lauded poets will take the stage at Rozz-Tox on May 28, the Rock Island venue delighted to host an evening with Jenna Goldsmith and Brittany N. Jaekel.

Delivering a night of prestidigitation that, according to The Bash, "could not have been better," touring artist Jason Hudy brings his show Mesmerizing Magic to Mt. Carroll's Timber Lake Playhouse on May 16, the man's gifts inspiring Studio City Casino's Franz Harary to rave, "To tell you that his professionalism, performance, and overall way of being is outstanding does not give him nearly enough credit."

On May 12, guests of Davenport's Figge Art Museum are invited to a special live dance performance in the Quad City Bank & Trust Grand Lobby, as the first movement of Interwoven Worlds: A Dance Journey Between Three Iowa Cities explores how art, movement, and place connect across communities, turning visual artwork into live performance while honoring each original artist’s work.

Appearing as the final guests in Quad City Arts' 2025-26 Visiting Artist series, a residency that finds the talents leading educational workshops from May 11 through 15, the dancers' area tenure concludes with a Friday-night performance by Ballet Folklórica del Rio Grande, who will demonstrate their astounding athletic prowess and and grace in a full-length program at East Moline's United Township High School.

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