Kicking off the third season of virtual Illinois Libraries Present (ILP) programs boasting fascinating guests of national and international fame, the Rock Island Public Library will host The Power of Story with Colson Whitehead on September 6, the best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author's 2023 novel Crook Manifesto lauded by Kirkus Reviews as "not just crime fiction at its craftiest, but shrewdly rendered social history."

On September 9, Davenport's Putnam Museum & Science Center will host a night of vibrant, cultural fun featuring music, food, and dancing in the LULAC Fiesta Night, with the League of United Latin American Citizens' celebration preceded in the day by the venue's magical butterfly extravaganza Monarchs & Mariachi.

Combining beautiful examples of German artwork with local art created by German immigrants and their descendants, the exhibition Art from the Archives will be housed in the German American Heritage Center's third-floor gallery through February 18 – a showcase of pieces from the Davenport venue's own collection, many of which haven't been on display before.

A beloved local tradition designed specifically for seniors continues into its 24th year when River Action, on September 7 and 8, hosts two days worth of self-guided Senior Citizen Golf Cart Tours, with six separate tours available for those enthusiastic to travel riverfront trails on both sides of the Mississippi, and those wishing to gain knowledge on the past, present, and future of the Quad Cities' mighty river.

The largest and most realistic dinosaur exhibit in North America is back, bigger and better than ever, in Jurassic Quest, a thrilling interactive exhibit boasting photorealistic dinosaurs and activities for all ages that enjoys an August 25 through 27 engagement at Coralville's Xtream Arena and GreenState Family Fieldhouse.

A Labor Day-weekend tradition once again blasts into the District of Rock Island in this year's Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the September 2 and 3 event in which thousands will cheer as hundreds of racing-kart drivers traverse the tree-lined streets at speeds close to 100 MPH.

For the first presentations in the company's 2023-24 season, the professional talents of Ballet Quad Cities will, for the fourth straight year, open with an outdoor celebration at Davenport's Outing Club, treating patrons to another series of thrilling vignettes in Ballet on the Lawn. This year, however, the dancers are doubling down on their family-friendly fun by preceding the August 27 productions with Children's Day at the Ballet, a youth-centric event culminating in the half-hour stage party Giraffes Can't Dance.

With more than 250 Corvettes from across the county expected to attend the eagerly awaited event, the city of LeClaire's annual Vettes on the River: Vettes Supporting Vets will be held at the LeClaire Levee on August 26, the day-long happening boasting raffle drawings, a color guard ceremony, an awards presentation, and much more.

Two venues in downtown Rock Island will co-host one exciting literary event when the Midwest Writing Center presents readings and a release party for the annual literary magazine The ATLAS, the latest volume of which will, on August 17, be showcased in a late-afternoon event at the Rock Island Public Library and an evening celebration at the neighboring Rozz-Tox.

An eagerly awaited day of outdoor fun culminating in an attempt to break a pair of Guinness World Records is set for August 19, when River Action hosts the 14th-annual celebration of paddle sports Floatzilla, with participants and spectators gathering at Rock Island's Sunset Park to see if the Quad Cities can boast the world's “Largest Raft of Canoes and Kayaks” and “Largest Simultaneous Kayak Launch.”

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