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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 10,000 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 20 years of bringing people and plants together in fun and meaningful ways in 2018 and welcome you to the gardens!
Description
The outdoor gardens will be in winter bloom with over 130,000 glowing lights. Showcasing our largest light display yet, new areas of our outdoor gardens will be lit, including the Children’s Garden. Explore the lawns, ponds, and pocket gardens of our outdoor light exhibit. Open Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and the night of New Year’s Day. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Tickets must be purchased online for timed entrance every 30 minutes 4 PM-8 PM. A small processing fee will be added to all tickets.
If you are unable to purchase tickets for a time slot, it may be sold out. We have a limited capacity per half hour. Try purchasing tickets for another time on your same date or another date. If your issues persist, call 309.794.0991.
Masks are required indoors and outdoors.
Winter Nights Winter Lights 2020 Events:
- Member Free Nights, Nov. 20 – Nov. 21, 4-9 pm
- Kids receive a take-home good bag. Free for members.
- Date Nights, Dec. 3, 17, 31, 6-8pm or 7-9pm
- Make it a special night with your sweetheart or your closest friends. Event includes outdoor Winter Nights Garden Stroll and a special date night exhibit guide. RSVP required.
- Nest Café Soup Nights, Dec. 11 – Dec. 12, 4 pm while supplies last
- Purchase soup to go from Nest Café, a local pay-what-you-can restaurant, opening spring 2021
- All events have limited capacity and are subject to change based on state mandates governing public health.
- Visit www.qcgardens.com for more information.
Date & Time
Nov 20, 2020 - Jan 10, 2021
Venue Details
Quad City Botanical Center
2525 4th Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois, 61201
