The 54th annual 19th-Century harvest festival Jordbruksdagarna will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26 and 27, in Bishop Hill, but due to the recent weather, the location of some activities will change.
The event features a variety of traditional craft demonstrations, food, vendors, and hands-on activities for the children from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.
Demonstrations, hands-on activities, music and dancing are all free.
But activities in the park will be relocated. The 19th-Century demonstrators will be behind the Carpenter Building (post office) across from the east side of the park.
Vendors will be on the street in front of the Colony Store, and musical performances will still be at Coffee Creek at noon and 2 p.m.
The Nordic Dancers of Chicago will perform at 1 and 3 p.m. behind the Steeple Building Museum. The corn shelling station, cornhusk doll making station, brick making station and Steve’s Mobile Petting Zoo will be behind the Carpenter Building as well.
Due to the rainy weather, TriCo Equestrian Center will not be having pony rides this year.
Other Jordbruksdagarna activities include Uncle Bud’s Apple Cider Slushie and Pop of the Morning, next to the Carpenter Building. Visitors can explore Henry County’s agricultural heritage at the Henry County Historical Museum, where a variety of antique tractors and implements will be on display outdoors.
The Bishop Hill Agricultural Association will also be conducting 19th-Century harvest activities as well.
Tractor people movers will also be available.
All of these activities will be held both days.
On Saturday only at the Colony School, the Bishop Hill Old Settlers’ Association will offer a Swedish meatball meal from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Also, that Saturday, the Bishop Hill Methodist Church will have a one-day bake sale by the Steeple Building. On Sunday only, author Jannifer Powelson will sign books at the Prairie Arts Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
More information is available at 309 927-3899, bhha@mymctc.net, or www.visitbishophill.com.
Jordbruksdagarna is organized by the Bishop Hill Heritage Association and supported by the Bishop Hill Fire Department, Bishop Hill State Historic Site, Bishop Hill Agricultural Association and VASA National Archives. The event is also partly funded by Calmer Corn Heads, Illinois Art Council, Nature’s Creations, State Bank of Toulon, TerraForm Power, Wilbur and Marilyn Nelson, River Valley Cooperative, Gold Star FS, Peck Farms, SWEA-Chicago and Henry County Independent Insurance.
The Galva FFA and other volunteers provide assistance.
