Bishop Hill- Swedish folk characters, traditional Swedish holiday deocrations, music, crafts and Christmas gifts can all be found at the Bishop Hill Julmarknad or Christmas Market set for the next few weekends.
The event will be held Nov. 24-25 and Dec. 2 with the hours of 10 am to 4 pm. On Nov. 26 and Dec. 3, the hours will be from 11 am to 4 pm.
All shops, museums and restaurants will be open and if they are lucky, shoppers and diners could see Totem, the village’s Swedish elves, dressed in gray and red outfits, looking through a window or peeking around a corner. Attendees might also catch of a glimpse of Julbock, a Christmas goat, roaming through the town.
During the Christmas Market, there will be plenty of attractions to get shoppers into the holiday spirit. A working model railroad will be set up in the Steeple building Museum along with a Christmas display. The Vasa National Archives will have take-home Dala Horse kits available for purchase. Each kit has a horse, paint and brushes, and can be reserved 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. Dala Horses at the station are $5 each. All of the above activities will happen each and every day of Julmarknad.
On Friday Nov. 24 only, the Cookie Walk will be held at the Colony School from 9 am to 3 pm. Homemade cookies and other baked goods can be purchased by the pound. Also at the school, the Bishop Hill Methodist Church will also be conducting an Advent Workshop where families can make Advent wreaths to take home. On Saturday Nov. 25 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 am to 3 pm.
Authors Jannifer Powelson and Mary Davidsaver will have a book signing at the Prairie Arts Center from 10 am to 3 pm. Saturday is also Small Business Saturday, where people are asked to support the local economy and shop the small businesses of historic Bishop Hill.
On Sunday Nov. 26 only, author Mary Davidsaver will have a book signing at the Prairie Arts Center from 10 am to 3 pm. In addition, Kongero, a touring Swedish Folk’appella group, will conduct a workshop on Swedish folk and Christmas songs from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Dairy Building. The free walk-in workshop is open to all ages and attendees will learn how to sing a variety of holiday songs. Later at 7 pm, a Kongero’s concert will be held at the Bishop Hill Creative Commons.
On Saturday Dec. 2 only, a Chocolate Walk will be held at the Bishop Hill Creative Commons from 10 am to 3 pm. Shoppers can 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.
For more information about Julmarknad activities, please call 309-927-3899 or visit www.visitbishophill.com. Julmarknad events are sponsored, in part, by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency, and the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation. American Rescue Plan Funds from Henry County, approved by the Henry County Board, were used to partially support this event.
***Photos courtesy of Lou Lourdeau.
