BISHOP HILL, Ill. –The 2024 Julmarknad (Christmas Market) in historic Bishop Hill will be held on Nov. 29, Nov. 30, and Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Dec. 1 and 8, with hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year’s Julmarknad will feature plenty of activities and events, all guaranteed to fill shoppers with the holiday spirit. The daily attractions include Swedish folk characters, traditional Swedish holiday decorations, holiday music, craft activities and a wide variety of Christmas gifts for sale. All shops, museums and restaurants will be open.

Be sure to look out for Tomten, the village’s Swedish elves, looking through windows and peeking around corners in their red and gray outfits. If you are lucky, you might see Julbock, the Christmas goat, roaming around town.

A working model railroad will be in the Steeple Building Museum. Transform yourself, your friends and family into Swedish Tomten with Holiday Photo Op located at 1882 Peasant Works Barnyard.

The Vasa National Archives will have Take Home Dala Horse Kits available for purchase. Each kit has a horse, three colors of paint, brushes and a Dala Horse. Supplies are limited and visitors can reserve them by calling 309-927-3898 or emailing vasaarchivist@gmail.com.

In addition, visitors to the Vasa National Archives can participate at the Make and Take Dala Horse Painting Station where people can paint their Dala Horses and let them dry while shopping and exploring Bishop Hill. Ornament-style Dala Horses will be $4 each and standing-style Dala Horses will be for $7 each. All of the above activities will happen every day of Julmarknad.

On Friday Nov. 29 only, the Cookie Walk will be held at the Colony School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Homemade cookies and other baked goods can be purchased by the pound. Also at the Colony School, the Bishop Hill Methodist Church will be conducting an Advent Wreath Workshop where families can make Advent Wreaths to take home.

Tennessee-based performer Lisa Horngren will be performing a free concert of traditional Swedish music on her nyckelharpa (keyed fiddle) at the Steeple Building Museum at 1 p.m. Finally, cookie baking will be done in the historic Bjorklund Hotel kitchen from 1 to
3 p.m.

On Saturday Nov. 30 only, the Cookie Walk will continue at the Colony School. Dee Schroeder Photography will be at the Colony School taking holiday portraits for a fee from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Bishop Hill Methodist Church will continue their Advent Wreath Workshop. Authors Mary Davidsaver and Jannifer Powelson will have book signings at the Prairie Arts Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tennessee-based performer Lisa Horngren will again be performing a free concert of traditional Swedish music on her nyckelharpa at the Steeple Building Museum at 1 p.m. Cookie baking will continue at the Bjorklund Hotel kitchen. Saturday is also Small Business Saturday, so please support your local economy and shop the small businesses of Bishop Hill.

On Sunday Dec. 1 only, Tennessee-based performer Lisa Horngren will be performing her final free concert of traditional Swedish music at the Steeple Building Museum at 1 p.m. Cookie baking will continue at the historic Bjorklund Hotel kitchen from 1 to 3 p.m. At 7 p.m., Rupert Wates will be performing at the Bishop Hill Creative Commons.

On Saturday Dec. 7 only, a Chocolate Walk will be held at the Bishop Hill Creative Commons from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Purchase quality homemade chocolates by the pound. Also, the BHHA volunteers are sponsoring a make it/take it Christmas tree ornament workshop for children ages 12 and under at the Steeple Building Museum. Kids will have a choice of several types of ornaments to make and to take home to put on their Christmas tree. This is a free activity occurring from 1- 3 p.m.

On both Saturday Dec. 7 and Sunday Dec. 8, children are invited to make edible tree ornaments at the Bjorklund Hotel from 1 to 3 p.m. Peanuts will be used. These ornaments may be taken home or left at the Hotel to be placed on the Bishop Hill Park’s Christmas tree during the tree lighting on Lucia Nights. For more information about Julmarknad activities, please view www.visitbishophill.com or call 309-927-3899.

Julmarknad events are financed by the Bishop Hill Arts Council, Community State Bank, Illinois Arts Council, Bill and Susan Sherrard Foundation, Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation and SWEA-Chicago.