Find the Unexpected at Alternating Currents

Alternating Currents is almost here, bringing four days of music, film, comedy, art, culture and creativity to Downtown Davenport, Downtown Rock Island and Downtown Bettendorf from August 13-16. With more than 230 events, representing 600+ individual artists and creatives, 50+ venues and absolutely no admission cost, it's easy to fill your schedule with headline performances and popular attractions. But some of the festival's most memorable moments happen when you discover something completely unexpected.

Whether it's a roller derby mixer, a hidden poem, a wildly entertaining comedy competition or world-class canine athletes, here are a few offbeat experiences worth adding to your Alternating Currents adventure.

One Liner Madness at The Urban Reserve

Urban Reserve, Downtown Rock Island 

Thursday, August 13, 8:00 - 9:45 p.m.

One Liner Madness is a Time Out Critics' Pick comedy competition that travels the country in search of the nation's best joke writers. Comedians compete in a March Madness-style bracket, delivering their best one-liners in rapid-fire fashion as the field narrows from 64 competitors to one champion in just 100 minutes. Audience applause determines who advances and who takes home the trophy, cash prize and title of One Liner Madness Alternating Currents 2026 Champion.

Pop-Up Poetry | Presented with Quad City Arts

Throughout the Alternating Currents Festival Footprint 

Thursday, August 13, through Sunday, August 16

Poetry will appear in some of the most unexpected places during Alternating Currents. In partnership with Quad City Arts, Pop-Up Poetry showcases original work from young artists in the Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program. Festivalgoers can discover lines of poetry displayed on signs throughout the festival footprint, transforming everyday spaces into moments of reflection, connection and creativity. Keep an eye out as you explore. You never know where a poem might find you.

Quad City Rollers Mixer

City of Rock Island Parking Lot, 304 17th St. 

Friday, August 14, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Experience the speed, strategy and excitement of flat-track roller derby as the Quad City Rollers host an energetic mixer in Downtown Rock Island. Featuring hard hits and hometown talent, the event spotlights the Quad Cities' premier female and gender non-conforming roller derby league, which proudly represents the region on an international stage.

Purina Incredible Dog Team Performance

Pershing Avenue & East 2nd Street, Davenport 

Saturday, August 15, 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. 4:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Watch some of the nation's most talented canine athletes showcase incredible agility, speed, precision and teamwork. This family-friendly performance delivers plenty of high-flying entertainment as dogs and handlers demonstrate the remarkable skills that have made the Purina Incredible Dog Team a crowd favorite across the country.

VHS in the Midwest at The Last Picture House

The Last Picture House Rooftop

Davenport Thursday, August 13, 9:00 - 10:30 p.m.

VHS in the Midwest is a live screening and comedy show that explores the strange, hilarious and unforgettable world of Midwestern VHS. Join returning AC Fest guests Joe Pickett (Found Footage Fest), Scott Miller (Strange Tapes Zine) and Justin Beahm (Reverend Entertainment) as they take audiences on a state-by-state road trip through the heartland, uncovering everything from local TV oddities and homemade commercials to regional celebrities, forgotten instructional videos and unexpected pop culture connections.

The FAQ!?

Skellington Manor, Rock Island Friday, August 14, 7:00 - 8:15 p.m.

The Last Picture House, Davenport

Saturday, August 15, 3:15  - 4:20 p.m.

Hosted by Andrew King, The FAQ!? has been described as an antagonistic version of Jeopardy! where contestants test their knowledge through trivia, unexpected challenges and even a little varmint spotting. Equal parts game show, comedy and community competition, it's unlike anything else you'll encounter during the festival.

Red, White & Boom Fireworks

Mississippi River between Downtown Davenport and Rock Island 

Saturday, August 15, 9:30 p.m.

One of the Quad Cities' favorite summer traditions found a new home at Alternating Currents this year. The Red, White & Boom fireworks spectacular, rescheduled from its original July 3 date, will light up the night sky from barges anchored between Downtown Davenport and Rock Island. The display will be synchronized to music broadcast live on 97X, creating a memorable cross-river festival finale.

Big Head Mode

Kaiserslautern Square Park, Davenport 

Saturday, August 15, Noon - 1:30 p.m.

What happens when a love of video games meets live jazz fusion energy? You get Big Head Mode. The Davenport-based band draws inspiration from artists and composers such as the 8-Bit Big Band, Koji Kondo, Casiopea and T-Square, creating an energetic performance that celebrates gaming culture through live music.

Heatbox

NTI Stage at Stompbox Brewing, Davenport 

Friday, August 14, 8:30 - 10:00 p.m.

Professional beatboxer, loop artist, singer and voice actor Heatbox, has built an international career using nothing but his voice. The Davenport native has performed across nearly every U.S. state and around the world, creating full-band sounds, rhythms and musical textures entirely with his mouth in a performance that's as impressive as it is entertaining.

These are just a few of the hidden gems waiting to be discovered during Alternating Currents 2026. Sometimes the best part of AC isn't the event you planned to see. It's the unexpected one you found along the way.