I'm putting together a list of summer events worth traveling 2 and a half hours for, which I plan to post on the AbsoluteDSM website. Obviously this is a subjective thing, because while I may feel that its absolutely worth driving 2.5 hours to see the Quad City Air Show, others may not. Especially those without interests in planes or sunburn.
Here's a quick list of possiblities, which is certainly missing things, in order by date. This mostly comes from the QC CVB website.
Gumbo Ya Ya
Ride the River
QC Air Show
Sturgis on the River (off the river until Centennial Park is done)
QC Pridefest
Blues Fest
John Deere Classic
Bix7
Bix Jazz Fest
Mississippi Valley Fair (although Des Moines folks have their own fair, I hear)
Tugfest
Ya Maka My Weekend
River Roots Live
Rock Island Grand Prix
QC Symphony Pops Concert
QC Marathon
Some of these may not be worth driving 2+ hours for. Others, like the fair or the marathon, are probably worth driving over for, but Des Moines has their own (bigger) version. I don't have any car shows on the list, but many could argue that some of those are regional events. What do you folks think belongs on the list vs what doesn't? If I were directing this towards Chicago folks rather than Des Moines residents, I'd expect it to be a different list.
23 comments:
If the target audience is people in Des Moines, I would say the Tugfest and Bix make the most sense, as they are the most "uniquely" Quad-Cities events.
I also don't believe Des Moines has a regular PGA tour event (I think they have a Senior Tour and maybe an LPGA event) so that might be another one.
The rest of the events listed have a parallel type event of equal or greater attraction in the Des Moines area, IMO.
Don't forget Brew Ha-Ha & Riverssance. They're small, but mighty!
I don't believe Des Moines has an air show to speak of either. That and the 2 things mentioned by 9:52 (Bix and JDC) would be the top 3 on my recommended list for DSMers.
How about a Davenport City Council meeting. Teach Des Moinesers how to make snide remarks about West Des Moines.
The Air Show is the largest in the midwest outside the Chicago Air Show which happens for just one day. Oshcosh isn't an airshow but a Fly-in.
I think you've got it pretty well covered. Viva Quad Cities is about all I can think of not on your list. The Hot Air Balloon Festival in Sept may be another (I think last year was its 1st year). Not sure how many people from DSM would think these two would be worth the trip.
There are probably some concerts coming here this summer that I don't think are going to Des Moines. The one that comes to mind is O.A.R. at the Adler on June 16.
where is Erin Feis in September? www.qcstpats.org
check that- www.stpatsqc.com
Don't forget WQPT's Brew Ha Ha... its a sweet event along the river. But its in September, not so much summer.
Don't forget the Back Water Gamblers Water Ski Show every Wed and Sunday nights. The Gamblers also host regional tournaments that have great draws. The Gamblers' shows get little publicity because they're not an "attraction" open to the public during regular hours, and they're not a one time "event". They are unique. Where's the next closest water ski show?
Chris
Could you go down to the skatepark some Saturday morning and take pictures of the trash and garbage spread out everwhere. This is getting a little old. Thanks
You know, I was just thinking about doing that.
I'm not one that likes to slam on the skatepark or those who use it, but I did happen to drive by this past Saturday morning. It looked like a dumpster was poured out onto the skatepark. Unless there's an issue with not enough trash cans, which I doubt, I don't understand why people can't throw stuff away.
Meyer was right about the litter problem at the skatepark. Even this blog trashed him about it.
Trash is a problem anywhere people gather. The good news is there are people using the park. Either the City will have to hire someone to clean it up after the weekend or, better yet, the users should voluntarily clean it up on Saturday night.
The city does clean the parks 7 days a week. I hear that the Parks Department even has employees working until 8pm down there just to maintain the area. Problem is the kids take no responsibility for the area. They just don't care. Most are latch key kids or come from broken families where there is little or no adult supervision. This is what is killing society today.
Now if the city was to close down the park for 24 hrs at a time as punishment. Maybe the kids would clean up their act and be self govern. Now you ask "how do you do that?" Fence that sucker! Take money from the same slush fund that Malin took $90m from when he decided, on his own, to add more parking to the new ball park he coaches at in Prairie Heights.
People like 11:19 are why the country is going down the tubes. Expect the government to build your park and pick up after you. God and glory. 6:24 is right on target.
$90 million worth of parking at Prairie Heights, eh? I guess I missed that.
I think volunteers clean up some of the skatepark wreckage, as I've run into them down there in the early mornings before. Maybe they gave up...
I meant $90,000.00, my bad.
Those are seasonal parks employees making $7.25 hr. These folks are the ones making a difference in Davenport Parks.
Here's the QCTimes article about the volunteers, but its from 2004.
Litter picker-uppers get a treat for their efforts -QCTimes
I know I've seen these folks down at the skatepark in years past, but maybe they no longer do it.
6:46 - Doesn't the City pick up litter in its other parks? As I said, trash is a problem in well-used public places - you should see the District of RI on a Sunday morning. How about the Bix Street Fest at the end of the night? The Scott County Fairgrounds at the end of each evening? I'm not saying the users shouldn't take responsibility for trash, but I'd rather see a used park that needs to be cleaned up than a vacant park that doesn't.
Well said 6:46 - this is a good problem to be forced to solve.
June 22-25
Quad Cities Senior Olympics is having their 21st Annual Games.
We have 90+ events in over 17 different venues around the Quad Cities area (both sides of the river)for people ages 50 and over -- we also have events available for ages 40 and up. For more information, visit our website at www.qcseniorolympics.org
Hope to see you there!
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