In-Person Events

There are three types of registration for this year’s conference – Virtual Only, Virtual + Single Day, and Virtual + In-Person. No matter which one you selected, you may purchase tickets for add-ons like pre-conference tours, pre-conference workshops, and evening events.

Quad Cities West End Museum Hop

Wednesday, July 30

Featuring the German-American Heritage Center and Museum (Davenport), Putnam Museum and Science Center (Davenport), and Quad City Botanical Center (Rock Island)

6:00-9:00 PM (5:30-9:30 PM, including travel time)

Build your own adventure on opening night during the West End Museum Hop! Catch a ride with AMM to explore three awesome museums in the western Quad Cities.

Enjoy guided or self-guided tours of the German-American Heritage Center and Museum’s new All Aboard! Children’s Activity Space, the German Immigrant Experience gallery, and a print exhibition featuring masterworks of German Expressionists. Sample 5 styles of German beer and shop unique German crafts and gifts in the museum’s shop.

During your stop at the Putnam Museum & Science Center, join staff on behind-the-scenes tours of their weird and wonderful collection, check out the brand new Vault visible collection, and explore any of their nine indoor and outdoor gallery spaces – from the Common Ground: Our Voice, Our Stories regional history exhibit and Quad City Innovators to the recently enhanced natural history exhibit Black Earth | Big River and the Putnam’s Pollinator Garden.

Explore the Quad City Botanical Center gardens and around 300 pieces of hand blown glass in their Hot Glass exhibit. Take a tour of the Tropical Sun Garden or Children’s Garden, featuring a mini version of the Mississippi River (just longer than a football field!) surrounded by native plants. While onsite, you can also check out the Botanical Center’s new mobile program, the Plant Discovery Bus, and the Freight Farm Hydroponics container, a partnership with Flash Talks featured organization, Tapestry Farms.

Food and Beverages: A selection of food and beverage options will be available at each destination, some complimentary and some for purchase. 

  • German American Heritage Center and Museum – Complimentary beer tasting and light snacks. Additional beer, wine, and soda available for purchase.
  • Putnam Museum and Science Center – Local food trucks and a cash bar.
  • Quad City Botanical Center – Local brews and eats for purchase from Wake Brewing and Hangry Haven food truck, located across the Botanical Center parking lot.

Getting Around: You have options! 

  • Bus transportation is recommended as the most efficient way to visit the museums on the Museum Hop during the event. If you wish to use bus transportation, choose the ticket option “West End Hop, 7/30 – Riding Bus ($25)” during registration. Bus(es) will depart the RiverCenter South Building (3rd Street Entrance) at 5:45 p.m. and arrive at their first stops at approximately 6:00 p.m. Buses will start at different locations on the Museum Hop route and rotate between all museum stops until 9:00 p.m. At least one bus will stop at all partner hotels during their rotation for the entire evening. All buses will make their final pickup around 9:00 p.m. and make drops at all partner hotels by approximately 9:30 p.m. 
  • Attendees may choose to drive themselves between destinations on the Museum Hop. If you do not wish to use bus transportation, choose the ticket option “West End Hop, 7/30 – Driving Self FREE” during registration. Free parking is available at all three destinations. 

Capacity: 150

Ticket: $25 if riding the bus; Free if driving self (Conference badges and tickets required for both options.)

Your ticket fee for this event covers the cost of transportation per person. A small portion of ticket revenue directly supports AMM. Thank you!

Light up the Night! An Evening at Figge Art Museum

Thursday, July 31

Featuring the Figge Art Museum (Davenport)

Sponsored by Flying Fish

6:00 – 8:30 PM

This community-centered museum is a gathering place for residents and visitors alike to experience and enjoy the visual arts. The Figge’s landmark glass building, designed by British architect David Chipperfield, is home to one of the Midwest’s finest art collections and presents world-class exhibitions, art classes, lectures and special events that attract visitors of all ages.

During Light up the Night!, we will celebrate the Figge’s 100th anniversary in a private reception overlooking Davenport’s Mississippi Riverfront. Feast your eyes on the dazzling Evanescent Field installation by internationally acclaimed light artist Leo Villareal that will illuminate the four exterior walls of the museum, explore the summer exhibition Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks, and view Modern and American works on display from a major donation received in 2024. Take part in behind-the-scenes tours of the Evanescent Field installation, Studio School, and of course the museum Vault!

A TASK party will take place in the museum lobby for all to enjoy. Inspired by New-York based artist Oliver Herring, a TASK party is an event in which party members draw tasks from a bucket, perform the task, write a new one for the next person, and continue. This encourages participatory, open-ended fun where creativity rules!

The Figge Art Museum will be open to the public for free from 5-8 PM for those who prefer to pop in on their own time. Tickets are required for accessing the reception and behind-the-scenes tours. The TASK party will be open to all.

Food: Ticket holders will have access to a private reception featuring a complimentary selection of hors d’oeuvres and a signature cocktail or mocktail, with additional beverages available for purchase.

Getting Around: 

  • Due to the short walking distance between the conference center/hotels and the Figge, bus transportation will not be provided for this event. AMM will be able to assist with rides for attendees who are unable to walk the distance. Please note any accessibility needs during registration.
  • Attendees may choose to drive to the museum. Regular and handicap accessible parking is available in the Figge Plaza parking lot located on Second Street by the front entrance of the museum. Street parking is available on Second Street and Harrison Street, and is currently free for up to 2 hours.

Capacity: 150

Ticket: $25

Your ticket fee for this event contributes to the cost of producing the event, such as our host museum’s staff time, food and beverages. A small portion of ticket revenue directly supports AMM. Thank you!

Home Grown Fun! Quad Cities East End Event

Friday, August 1

Featuring the Family Museum (Bettendorf), John Deere Pavilion (Moline), and Mercado on Fifth (Moline)

6:00-9:00 PM (5:30-10:00 PM, maximum, including travel time)

Join us for a night of food and fun at the Family Museum and John Deere Pavilion, plus a bonus opportunity to check out the popular night market Mercado on Fifth! During this progressive evening event, we’ll traverse the eastern Quad Cities, from Bettendorf, Iowa, to Moline, Illinois.

Be a kid again at the Family Museum and have some Home Grown Fun! Enjoy a performance by the Family Museum Youth Dance Company, make and toss your own parachute over the balcony, see how far you can launch Items with our mini catapults, and try your hand at our most popular Inertia experiments, Including the magic tablecloth trick! 

Join us at the John Deere Pavilion for Home Grown MOLINE Fun! Moline is the location of the John Deere world headquarters, where John Deere himself relocated his company from Grand Detour, IL in 1848. The Pavilion showcases the past, present, and future of the company. Discover 100 Years of John Deere toys, see vintage equipment and sit in and on current machines. Learn about how John Deere equipment simplifies the lives of four customers in the Building for Generations room, and test your dance moves on ‘Stomp the Weeds’.

A short walk from John Deere Pavilion along 5th Avenue is Mercado on Fifth. This outdoor, summer night market features taco trucks, live Latin music, local craft boutiques, and retailers. Attendees are invited to take part in the fiesta at any point before 10:00 PM, when the final bus will depart John Deere Pavilion and return to conference hotels.

Food: A selection of food and beverage options will be available at each destination, some complimentary and some for purchase.

  • Family Museum – Heavy appetizers will be provided by local establishments as well as a cash bar. All participants will receive a free drink ticket upon entry (with a chance to win more!)
  • John Deere Pavilion – Heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, one drink ticket provided at entry
  • Mercado on Fifth – This night market features a variety of food and beverage vendors.

Getting Around: 

  • Bus transportation is included in your ticket. Bus(es) will depart the RiverCenter South Building (3rd Street Entrance) at 5:30 p.m. and arrive at the Family Museum by 6:00 p.m. Buses will depart the Family Museum at 7:30 p.m. and arrive at the John Deere Pavilion at 7:45 p.m. Return trips to the DoubleTree, Hotel Blackhawk, and The Current will begin at 8:00 p.m. The final return trip will depart the Pavilion at 10:00 p.m., for anyone staying late to explore Mercado on Fifth.
  • Attendees may choose to drive themselves between destinations. Limited free parking is available at both museums.

Capacity: 150

Ticket: $50

Your ticket fee for this event contributes to the cost of producing the event, such as our host museum’s staff time, food and beverages, and transportation. A small portion of ticket revenue directly supports AMM. Thank you!