“It’s all there in LeClaire” is a tagline that has been used by the City of LeClaire for years and for good reason. This small town, established in 1834 and situated on the Mississippi River just off Exit 306 on Interstate 80 in eastern Iowa, is a popular destination for locals as well as for tourists to eat, drink, shop, stay and play.
Explore Our Historic Downtown
LeClaire, which also plays off the slogan “A past with a future,” features a historic downtown with charming boutiques and places to eat or drink coupled with key attractions from the Buffalo Bill Museum and the Riverboat Twilight sightseeing cruises to Antique Archaeology, the shop owned by Mike Wolfe, the star of the “American Pickers” TV show that has been running on The History Channel since 2010.
Around 60 structures create the Cody Road Historic District in downtown LeClaire. This nine-block stretch of U.S. Highway 67 provides an opportunity to experience the shops and restaurants where you can enjoy the unique finds from the local businesses and the hospitality that keeps residents and visitors coming back time and time again.
Local Flavors and Scenic Cruises
The events, shops, eateries, cultural venues, and outdoor activities all contribute to the appeal of LeClaire as a great place to live as well as visit to experience the eclectic and authentic “Iowa Nice” experience of this river town. For example, since 1985, the Riverboat Twilight has delivered one of the most exceptional cruise experiences in the Midwest where you can reconnect, relax and renew in style aboard a stunningly replicated Victorian riverboat. The 140-passenger vessel has ample indoor and outdoor seating on all three decks with wrap-around windows. The 2024 season offers one-day, two-day and 90-minute sightseeing cruises departing from LeClaire and Dubuque.
LeClaire also is home to the Mississippi River Distilling Co., one of the first micro-distilleries to open in the State of Iowa in 2010; the Green Tree Brewery, a microbrewery that opened Aug. 2, 2015; the Wide River Winery Tasting Room; 129 Coffee, Martini and Wine Bar; and the Olathea Creek Vineyard and Winery that started production of wines in 2020.
Year-Round Events and Traditions
The LeClaire Levee on the Mississippi River includes a ramp for boaters and is the site of several events throughout the year including Tug Fest, which happens the second full weekend of August each year.
Established in 1987, this one-of-a-kind event pits tug-of-war teams from LeClaire against those in Port Byron, Ill., in a series of 11 contests as 20-member teams pull 2,700 feet and 680 pounds of rope to see who can gain the most rope to their side in a grueling three-minute tug. The side that wins six or more tugs then claims the traveling alabaster statue of a bald eagle in flight.
Tug Fest in LeClaire includes a traveling carnival with games and rides, a Friday evening parade, entertainment, and a stunning Friday night fireworks show over the mighty Mississippi River before the tug-of-war contest on Saturday.
Other events happen throughout the year, including Eagle Fest in January, the annual Shops with Hops in May, Patriot Fest in June, Vettes on the River in August, Fall Fest in October, Witches Walk in October and the annual three-day Christmas in LeClaire celebration that happens the first weekend in December.
