Adjacent to the Mississippi River in downtown Rock Island, Illinois, the Quad City Botanical Center is comprised of an indoor tropical atrium, outdoor gardens including a Children’s Garden with water feature, a G-Scale garden train exhibit (seasonal), educational greenhouse, a three-season event canopy, indoor banquet facility and gift shop.
As a public garden we maintain hundreds of plants ranging from tropical varieties to regional Zone 5 perennials. A garden for all seasons, our tropical atrium is splendid throughout the winter months and has been turned into a sandy beach on occasion, and our rare conifer collection is unique to the Quad Cities. In spring, flowering bulbs enliven the garden, including a stunning iris collection. Other special collections include day lilies, mums and ornamental grasses. Our outdoor butterfly garden attracts pollinators by the hundreds, and is lively from early spring to late fall when the monarchs start their migration.
As an educational resource we offer staff-guided tours of our gardens, grounds and greenhouse, serving 15,000 students annually. In addition, we participate in outreach programs at school campuses and set up educational booths at various community events. Our expert staff is on hand to answer questions and help interpret the garden and exhibits.
As a banquet facility we serve thousands of guests throughout the year and host events for affinity groups, service clubs, businesses, brides and grooms, birthday and anniversary party honorees, and classmates seeking a unique backdrop for a memorable event.
We support local artists by providing gallery space to exhibit works of art from various mediums and our gift shop offers many one-of-a-kind handcrafted items.
The Quad City Botanical Center is a 501 c 3, non-profit organization. We celebrated 25 years of bringing people and plants together in fun and meaningful ways in 2023 and welcome you to the gardens!
Description
WINTER LIGHTS POWERED BY MIDAMERICAN ENERGY FOUNDATION
ADVANCED TICKETS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, POPULAR DATES AND TIMES MAY SELL OUT
DATES AND TIMES
11.21 – 12.14 WED - SUN | 5-9 PM
12.17 – 12.31 DAILY* | 5-9 PM
Last Entry 8:30PM
*Open: New Year’s Eve
*Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas
ADMISSION
$11 Adults | $7 Youth 2-15 | Free Under 2
Members $9 Adults | $5 Youth 2-15 | Free Under 2
Botanical Center members and FunBundle members will enjoy free admission Wednesday nights during the exhibit. Memberships can be purchased on qcgardens.com.
Step into a dazzling scene of over 315,000 glowing lights adorning over 5 acres of garden grounds at the Quad City Botanical Center for Winter Lights Powered by MidAmerican Energy Foundation.
Explore the Crawford Company Tropical Sun Garden, Children’s Garden, the glistening pond, lawns, and pocket gardens of our light exhibit as you experience our largest fundraiser of the year. New additions include the Culture Bright Neon Forest, an immersive neon installation, newly themed areas of the garden, more lighted nature motifs, and outdoor fire tables with s’mores stations.
Visit the new indoor cocoa room for hot drinks, cocoa and treats for purchase. Enjoy the new indoor decor as you warm up inside. Kids can enjoy making scratcher art and winter coloring sheets.
Advanced ticket purchase highly recommended at qcgardens.com. For more information on the exhibit, visit: https://www.qcgardens.com/winter-nights-winter-lights.html#/
SPECIAL EVENTS
OPENING NIGHT: EXHIBIT LIGHTING
11.21 FRI | 6PM LIGHTING | 5:45-9PM EXHIBIT
Cost: Exhibit Admission
Be amongst the first to experience this year’s light display. Guests will gather around the pond for the first lighting of the season after a short introduction of our presenting sponsors, MidAmerican Energy Foundation. Advanced ticket purchase highly recommended.
LIGHTS & LEASHES
11.21-12.31 SUNDAYS | 5-9PM
Cost: Exhibit Admission
Experience the decorated gardens with your furry friends by your side. Bring your pups for a nighttime stroll every Sunday night. To ensure safety for all visitors and pets, all dogs must be on a leash and under control at all times. Please note: Dogs are not allowed in the cocoa room on Lights & Leashes nights.
IMPACT LIFE BLOOD DRIVE
11.23 SUNDAY | 3-6PM
You have the power to help. By giving blood you’ll provide a lifesaving resource used by patients in the Quad Cities. Donate blood at the donor bus in our parking lot on November 23 to receive four free tickets to the light exhibit plus a pair of light glasses. Schedule and appointment at bloodcenter.org or call 800-747-5401. Hosted in collaboration with Visit Quad Cities.
MEMBERS FREE WEDNESDAYS
11.21-12.31 WEDNESDAYS | 5-9PM
Cost: Free for Botanical Center Members and FunBundle Members
Members must show membership card upon entry. Advanced tickets not required.
LIGHTS & FLIGHTS
12.4 and 12.18 | THURSDAYS | 6-8PM
Cost: $35 per person | $21 non-drinking Tickets: https://bit.ly/47BCUaL
Experience the light display and sample beer and pizza from three local businesses, featuring Bent River Brewing Company, Wake Brewing, and Huckleberry’s Pizza. Bent River and Wake Brewing will be serving up sample flights of their locally brewed beer, and Huckleberry’s will dish out an artisanal pizza sampler. Each ticket includes one beer flight from each brewery, one flight of food, admission to the display, and access to the Lights & Flights room. Enjoy a vinyl dj set by Just Let Go.
Must be 21+ to enter the Lights & Flights room. Must show valid ID. Advanced ticket purchase highly recommended. The non-drinking ticket includes a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage, Huckleberry’s flight, admission to the light display and access to the Lights & Flights room.
KRAMPUS NIGHTS
12.5 FRIDAY AND 12.6 SATURDAY | 6-8PM
Cost: Exhibit Admission
Meet the infamous Krampus and take your own photos. Visit with the German American Heritage Center & Museum to learn the folklore of Krampus. Krampus will be stationed in a designated area and will not be roaming the gardens.
SANTA & THE MRS. VISIT
12.12 FRIDAY AND 12.13 SATURDAY | 5-8PM
Cost: Exhibit Admission
Visit Santa and Mrs. Claus and take your own photos. Advanced ticket purchase highly recommended. Early time slots may sell out.
Thank you to our sponsors: MidAmerican Energy Foundation, The Cultural Trust, Valley Construction, Boyler’s Ornamental Iron, Family Credit Union, Crawford Company, Sunbelt Rentals, BankOrion
YOUR MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
Purchase a membership for FREE ADMISSION for one year, including entrance to Winter Nights Winter Lights on Wednesdays. Or make gift-giving easy and surprise loved ones with a membership. Go to qcgardens.com/memberships to start your holiday shopping now. Winter Lights Information
Know Before You Go:
The majority of our exhibit is outdoors, we recommend wearing weather-appropriate outdoor gear to best enjoy the exhibit. The terrain will be a mix of lawns and pathways. Based on recent weather (snow, melting ice, rain, etc), the ground may be soft or muddy – appropriate footwear recommended. If the grounds are deemed unfit for exploring, some lawn areas may be limited. Our gardens feature a new, paved pathway making our gardens accessible for wheelchairs, strollers, and others.
Tips:
Stop in to the indoor cocoa room to purchase hot drinks, cocoa, and treats. Enjoy the indoor decor as you warm up inside. Kids can enjoy making scratcher art and winter coloring sheets.
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram for a chance to be featured on our social media: @qcgardens
Become a Member! Members get in free to Winter Lights each Wednesday of the exhibit. Members must show membership card upon entry. Sign up to become a member here: qcgardens.com/memberships
Map:
View our map: https://www.qcgardens.com/winter-nights-winter-lights.html#/
Winter Lights Powered by MidAmerican Energy Foundation
For all events and information, visit www.qcgardens.com/winter-nights-winter-lights.html
Date & Time
Nov 21 - Dec 31, 2025
Venue Details
Quad City Botanical Center
2525 4th AvenueRock Island, Illinois 61201
