We call our downtown The District; it’s short for The Downtown Rock Island Arts & Entertainment District.

The District is a downtown neighborhood located along the banks of the Mississippi River in Rock Island, Illinois. Beautiful historic buildings, modern residential living, outstanding art galleries, vibrant nightlife, innovative dining options, and a jam-packed festival calendar have made The District synonymous with fun.

Downtown’s renaissance started in 1992, when a new casino was coming to town. At that time, there was a live music club, a dinner theatre, and an arts center. It only made sense to create a new identity for Downtown Rock Island - one based on arts & entertainment. The goal was to encourage people to come Downtown, to have fun, to visit the businesses, and to return for some more fun. The first festival produced by The District was Ya Maka My Weekend, held in the summer of 1992 with only six weeks of planning.

Since then, vacant store fronts have been filled, long dormant upper floors have been transformed into loft apartments, and new businesses have opened. The renaissance is still not complete and plans are well underway to continue to improve Downtown.

Look at these pages to learn more about our arts, entertainment, dining, riverfront, and event options.

Download a map of downtown businesses.