MUSIC+FILM+ART+COMEDY | QUAD CITIES | AUGUST 14-17, 2025
AC: A FESTIVAL BUILT
ON QC DISCOVERY
Alternating Currents features 200+ performances across 30+ venues with a wide variety of music, comedy film and visual arts. It's also the only bi-state, multi-city festival of its kind and Downtown Quad Cities' annual opportunity to flex its creative muscle for the world to see!
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Nearly all programming is free to attend. The festival welcomes all with a unique and engaging experience that showcases our region's best assets for visitors and residents alike.
PLACEMAKING:
ACTIVATING A REGION
Davenport, IA - Bettendorf, IA - Rock Island, IL
Since 2017, Alternating Currents has brought new and diverse arts and entertainment to the heart of the Downtown Quad Cities region.
AC’s goal is to highlight the vibrant cultural scene, cultivate local creators and showcase businesses that make the region unique. We wanted to create an accessible festival and make a lasting impression on how Quad Citizens and visitors feel about the quality of place in our region.
AC is powered by the Downtown Davenport Partnership and run by a small staff of placemaking professionals and curated in partnership with local creatives and small businesses who host festival programming. Rock Island Downtown Alliance and Downtown Bettendorf Organization collaborate in these efforts and serve as host downtowns.
MUSIC
There’s something for music lovers of all genres at Alternating Currents. From pop and rock to R&B and hip-hop, there’s dozens of bands and artists taking the stage at some of the most historic venues in the Midwest.
Our festival is open to all genres and every music lover can find an artist they connect with at Alternating Currents. This is where you explore vibrant QC downtowns beside the mighty Mississippi River, as you dance from one venue to the next, enjoying great music all along the way.
COMEDY
Are you the type who loves a good laugh? Then you’ve better get ready for this weekend-long laugh fest! Dozens of comedians will be at Alternating Currents, producing chuckles through a wide range of comic styles. AC embraces all comical styles, whether you’re a fan of stand-up, sketch or improv. Alternating Currents is where you can create your own personalized comic experience. Don’t miss the region’s largest live comedy event of the year.
FILM
Alternating Currents is the Quad Cities largest film festival. It features dozens of film screenings from rising filmmakers, showcasing many of the best independent and short films. With a wide array of genres, filmmakers leverage the festival audience to make new contacts and promote their work. Alternating Currents is where film producers and enthusiasts come to connect, while showcasing the best of Midwest and independent filmmaking.
ART
Art lovers converge at Alternating Currents to find awe-inspiring exhibits created by leading regional artists. Get excited for interactive exhibits, where festival-goers can make personal connections that lead to unforgettable artistic experiences. Alternating Currents is where you discover art that speaks to you, while connecting with the artists who poured their hearts and souls into each piece.
Extra thanks to these special sponsors
Feature Stage Sponsor @ MLK Park: Estes Construction
Feature Stage Sponsor @ Stompbox: Nature's Treatment of Illinois
Feature Stage Sponsor @ K-Square: Palmer College of Chiropractic
Feature Stage Sponsor @ Arts Alley: Quad Cities Cultural Trust
Supporting Sponsors: Metronet, MidAmerican Energy, Upper Iowa University, Visit Quad Cities
Small Business Stage Sponsor: Express Employment Professionals
Producing Partner: Hive Event Consulting
Comedy Partner: Schlick Comedy
Media Partners: KWQC, Quad-City Times & Dispatch/Argus, Townsquare Media, Planet 93.9