Events & Programs

The new year kicks off with many new exciting programs, events and exhibits at the German American Heritage Center & Museum! Explore our calendar below, and check back often as new programs will be added throughout the year.

Zither Ensemble Practice: Every Saturday except holidays
Enjoy watching and listening to our zither ensemble practice every Saturday at 10 am on the fourth floor of the museum. Free with museum admission; Free for members.

AUGUST
German-Wends Cultural Festival
Saturday, August 21
Cost: Free with museum admission; Free for members
Join us for a full day of Wendish cultural demonstrations, music, dancing and more! In addition visitors can explore the museum’s 4,000 square feet of exhibits where you will enjoy an interactive experience as they learn about immigrants’ journey by sea, train and foot, to their final destination at the German American Heritage Center building, which was originally a very busy hotel for thousands of immigrants in the 1860s.

SEPTEMBER
Book Discussion
Tuesday, September 21 at 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Title and leader: Nick Pitz leads: Measuring the World by Daniel Kehlmann

Oktoberfest German Biergarten
September 23rd
Cost: TBA
The German American Heritage Center is excited to debut this fun and cultural German tradition of the Biergarten. The Quad Cities Chamber Network group of Young Professionals is partnering with the German American Heritage Center in our new Oktoberfest German Biergarten. The network is a growing network of over 2,300 young professionals in their 20’s and 30’s from the Iowa and Illinois Quad Cities.

Terrorism: A Topic in German Film
Saturday, September 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Presented by Therese Grisham
Cost: Free with museum admission; Free for members
Terrorism has become an all too familiar topic in recent years. Germany too has dealt with terrorism both foreign and domestic. Therese Grisham, from the Columbia College Chicago Film & Video Department, will explore how this unsettling topic has been dealt with by German film makers. Clips will be shown from selected films leading to the viewing of a full length feature film at the Bettendorf Public Library.

OCTOBER
Christmas Ornament Workshops
October Dates TBA

Trip to Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wisconsin
Saturday, October 16
Cost: TBA

NOVEMBER
Book Discussion
Tuesday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m.
Title and leader: Michael Hustedde leads: Oberammergau: A Troubling Story of the World’s Most Famous Passion Play by James Shapiro

DECEMBER
A German Christmas Evening Event
Wednesday, December 1,2010
Cost: TBA
Outing Club in Davenport, Iowa
This new annual dinner event celebrates the christmas traditions that originated in Germany. Attendees will enjoy traditional wines and German Christmas dinner. Entertainment includes German Christmas carols sung by a choir, zither performance, and piano. In conjunction with this event is our exhibit “German Christmas Traditions” that will be on display November through December.