Davenport's New Quinlan Court the Site of Empower House Quad Cities Spooktacular 5K and Fall Festival

Davenport, IA. The Empower House’s Spooktacular 5K and Fall Festival on October 23rd at Quinlan Court in Davenport, Iowa is shaping up to be an amazing first annual event. The overwhelmingly positive response from the Quad Cities community has been phenomenal. The fun kicks off Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. in downtown Davenport's new Quinlan Court. With food, live music, crafts, awards, children's activities, and dozens of vendors, the 5K run/walk and festival promises a fantastic day for the whole family. Admission to the festival is free and open to the public. The race itself is for registered participants and registration for children 10 and under is optional. Registration fee is $30 per participant. There is also a team challenge for the race, with trophies awarded for the largest registered team, as well as for first place finish and for best Halloween costume. To register go to getmeregistered.com/EmpowerHouseSpooktacular. Registration for the race will be open through October 21st.

Davenport's venerated River Music Experience has arranged the day's live entertainment, the local classic rock band The Blackstones. Event goers will find a variety of food options to satisfy their appetites. LeClaire's What BBQ and Bar will be providing the day's lunch fare, along with a tasty selection of sweet treats from Lagomarcino's, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and Michelle's Sweet Treats, among others.

Modern Woodmen of America, Doug Grenier, has enthusiastically stepped up as Spooktacular's title sponsor. Steve Ahrens, Davenport's Executive Officer for the Riverfront Improvement Commission, will welcome event goers just prior to race start. Davenport's Quinlan Court, inaugurated in June of 2021 and located along River Drive between Brady and Perry streets, is the Quad Cities' newest outdoor event venue. The Spooktacular Festival will showcase Quinlan Court's dynamic role in the QCA's busy event calendar. Empower House is eager to partner with the City of Davenport to highlight their shared commitment to improve and strengthen our community, and to educate the public about the important work done by the organization and the accomplishments of its members.

Empower House co-founder Missey Heinrichs is thrilled to offer a live event to the community. "Empower House is a new organization in the area," she explained. "We were only operating a month before covid hit and we had to put all our in-person plans on hold." Occupational therapist and St. Ambrose professor Kami Holst added: "It's so exciting that our members can contribute to this event. Teams have been signing up to represent them, and the energy they create reminds us of all our successes." Executive Director Claire Motto Steil emphasizes Spooktacular's cooperative and festive nature: "We're really excited to utilize the city's new event space and introduce the agency to the public. In a nutshell, the public can expect fun. The goal is fun."

Located in downtown Davenport, Empower House is a community organization that provides empowerment for a more purposeful life after brain injury. It is part of a network of 30+ clubhouses specializing in this field, and the only one in the state of Iowa. Organized around a structured system known as the work-ordered day, Empower House helps its members learn work and life skills, socialize, engage in the community as well as providing guidance and support to families and caregivers. Membership at Empower House is open to all brain injury survivors age 18 and over.

Go to getmeregistered.com/EmpowerHouseSpooktacular to register for the race. Follow the event of on Facebook at Empower House Spooktacular (facebook.com/events/884850372390292)

You can message Empower House on Facebook (www.facebook.com/EmpowerHouseQCA), or email hello@empowerhouseqca.org.

For more information on Empower House's Spooktacular 5K and Fall Festival please contact Claire Motto Steil at 563.232.1002 or hello@empowerhouseqca.org.

EVENT SCHEDULE
7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. — Vendor Setup
9 a.m. — Festival Opens
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Vendor/Craft Show Open
9 a.m. - 10 a.m. — Race Packet Pickup
9:30 a.m. - 9:55 a.m. — Zumba Warm-Up and Team Challenge Recognition
Presented by Kami Holst,
President of the Board, Empower House
9:55 a.m. - 10 a.m. — Welcome
Presented by Steve Ahrens, MBA
Executive Officer, Riverfront Improvement Commission
City of Davenport
10 a.m. — Race Start
10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Lunch Served
Food by What BBQ and Bar
10:55 a.m. — Award Presentations
5K Unofficial First Place Finish
Team Challenge Winner
Costume Contest Winner
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. — Live Music
Presented by The Blackstones
Organized by River Music Experience
2 p.m. — Festival Closes
2 p.m. - 3 p.m. — Vendor Take Down