Our favorite Quad Cities holiday light displays of 2022
We knew that Quad Citizens love holiday lights displays—after all, there are dozens of them running every night between Thanksgiving and Christmas. But we honestly didn’t realize how much they love them until we posted our updated Quad Cities Lights Finder map on Facebook and it got nearly 110,000 views in the first week. (We’re even more excited that more people have reached out and asked for their displays to be added. Send them our way, please!)
Frankly, you could go out light-peeping every night during the holiday season and not run out of new displays to visit. But for those of you who aren’t up to that level of commitment, we’d like to call out some of our favorites.
If you want to be totally overwhelmed by holiday magic
The Quad Cities boasts three public holiday displays with truly staggering numbers of lights. Be prepared to linger to get the full experience.
Holiday Lights at Fejevary Learning Center
City of Davenport Government | Facebook
Where: 1800 W 12th St, Davenport, IA 52804
When: 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., November 26, 2022 through January 8, 2023
Admission: Free
Tune in: 107.5 FM
Shows last 15 minutes and start at the top and bottom of the hour
Park in the lot on the east side of the Learning Center and cross the street to the viewing area (where there’s also accessible parking available for those who need it). Be prepared current hits as well as more traditional holiday tunes, with trees, buildings, fence posts, and even the giant Mother Goose lit up and dancing in time.
Get more information about Fejevary’s Holiday Lights.
Vander Veer Conservatory Poinsettia and Holiday Lights Display
Where: 215 W. Central Park, Davenport IA 52803
When: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturdays (closed Mondays and holidays) | Nov. 26, 2022 to January 13, 2023
Admission: Free
While the entire 33-acre expanse of Vander Veer Park is beautifully decorated for the holidays, you’ll want to visit the Conservatory in particular to see its vast poinsettia collection and get a close-up look at the lights in the greenhouse. Heads up—they'll be giving poinsettias away at the end of the season, on January 14 and 15. (The larger park closes half an hour after sunset. Parking is available at the Central Park entrance.)
Get more information about the Vander Veer Conservatory Poinsettia and Holiday Lights Display.
Quad Cities Botanical Center’s Winter Nights Winter Lights
Where: 2525 4th Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201
When: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday until December 11, then 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily through January 1
Admission: $10 adults/$6 youth under 16, with free admission on Wednesdays for members
In 2022, the Botanical Center is decked out in more than 160,000 lights—good thing the display is sponsored in part by MidAmerican Energy! Organizers caution that it takes about 45 minutes to walk through the entire display, but you can pause to buy cocoa and other warm drinks as you stroll.
Get more information about Winter Nights Winter Lights.
If you want to see a neighborhood display so impressive the designer went pro
Kall Christmas Lights
Where: 1852 Westminster Circle, Davenport IA
When: 5:30 to 10 p.m., November 26, 2022, through December 31, 2022
Admission: Free
Tune in: 100.1 FM
Shows last approximately 7 minutes and start at the top and bottom of every hour
The Kall family has been putting up increasingly lavish holiday light displays for nearly two decades. Several years ago, Aubrey Kall took her interest in music and animation to start choreographing and programming custom light shows, synced in time with some of the banging-est tunes you’ll ever encounter at a Christmas display. Visitors were so impressed with the animated displays that she quickly started getting inquiries from other businesses who wanted her to work for them. She started her own company, Luminous Harmony, and started creating displays for clients across the United States. But her first client is still one of her most important—this year, the Kalls have three different animated shows running on alternate nights.
Get more information about Kall Christmas Lights, including parking information and playlists.
If you’re introducing your little ones to the magic of Christmas
Mickey’s Christmas Yard
Mickey’s Christmas Yard 509 13th Ave Orion | Facebook
Where: 509 13th Avenue, Orion IL 61273
When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays, through Christmas
Admission: Free (though donations are welcome to help cover the cost of providing visiting kids with gifts and goodie bags)
Looking for a display featuring an ample supply of holiday inflatables? Mickey’s Christmas Yard includes an entire receiving line of them, from Christmas Minions to Will Ferrell in his Elf costume. While the lights are beautiful, they’re not the main event. This year, that might be Santa’s Workshop, where the family hopes to provide every young visitor with a gift when they stop in.
Get more information about Mickey's Christmas Yard, including special events.
If you’d rather stay home and have the holidays come to you
EVS Mobile Repair’s Grinch Truck
EVS Mobile Repair | Facebook
Where: Watch their Facebook page for announcements!
When: Tuesdays through Sundays through Christmas
Admission: Free (and you can reach out to them with requests if you’re hoping they’ll come by your neighborhood)
Rock Island’s EVS Mobile Repair spends its days making house calls to diesel engines in need of attention, so it's not surprising they’ve got some pretty substantial trailers in their fleet. This year, they’ve commandeered one to set up a full tableau of Grinch-themed inflatables, added Grinch-green underlighting, and put the actual Grinch behind the wheel to spread cheer across the Quad Cities and surrounding towns. We love this idea and hope it catches on!
If you’d rather stay in your car
Vibrant Nights 2022
Where: Vibrant Credit Union, 3230 Ridge Pointe Drive, Bettendorf IA 52722
When: 4 p.m. to midnight, seven days a week, through December 31, 2022
Admission: Free
Tune in: 87.9 FM
Want to slowly cruise past an extravaganza of flashing, chasing lights without irritating the entire neighborhood while you do it? Our holiday lights display in Bettendorf, back for a second year, is perfect for you. Circle the display as often as you like, or park and enjoy. If it’s not too chilly and you’re feeling inspired by all the festivity, the giant Christmas ball at the building entrance makes the perfect backdrop for your holiday family photos. (Tag #bevibrant if you post any online!)
Chart your own tour of holiday lights
Check out our Quad Cities Lights map (updated as new information becomes available!).