“Julmarknad” in Bishop Hill

Prepare for the holidays by attending Julmarknad, or Christmas Market, in Bishop Hill. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. November 23, November 24 and December 1. On November 25 and December 2, the hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The attractions include Swedish folk characters, traditional Swedish holiday decorations, and Christmas gifts for sale. All our shops, museums, and restaurants will be open to satisfy your holiday needs. See Tomten, our Swedish elves, roam through the town, looking through windows, and peeking around corners in their red and grey outfits. Guests will also enjoy the Julbock, the Christmas Goat. This trickster from Scandinavian entertains young and old with its antics. A working model railroad will also be in the Steeple Building Museum. At the Peasant Works, there will be a festive Julmarknad DIY Photo Booth in the barnyard, featuring tomten and julbock attire. In addition, on Friday, November 23, help the Vasa National Archives make a paper mache holiday craft from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests will be adding layers of paper mache to the holiday craft. This is a community project that is open to children of all ages. A Cookie Walk will be held at the Colony School from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Homemade cookies and other baked goods can be purchased by the pound. Tim Pletkovich, author of Civil War Fathers, will be doing a book signing at the Steeple Building Museum. Finally, cookie baking will be done in the historic Bjorklund Hotel kitchen from 1 to 3 p.m.

On Saturday, November 24, the Cookie Walk will continue at the Colony School. The paper mache holiday craft project will also continue at the VASA National Archives from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with painting and other personal touches being added. Mary Davidsaver, author of Clouds Over Bishop Hill, will be doing a book signing at the Prairie Arts Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tim Pletkovich, author of Civil War Fathers, will be doing a book signing at the Colony Store. Saturday is also Small Business Saturday, so please support your local economy and shop the small businesses of historic Bishop Hill. Cookie baking will continue at the Bjorklund Hotel kitchen on Saturday and Sunday. Sample freshly baked cookies from 1 to 3 p.m.

On Saturday December 1 only, Mary Davidsaver, author of Clouds Over Bishop Hill, will be doing a book signing at the Prairie Arts Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tim Pletkovich, author of Civil War Fathers, will also be doing a book signing at the Steeple Building Museum. On both Saturday December 1 and Sunday December 2, children are invited to make edible tree ornaments at the Bjorklund Hotel from 1 p.m. 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. A Chocolate Walk will also be held at the Dairy Building from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. Purchase quality homemade chocolates by
the pound.

For more information about Julmarknad activites, please call 309-927-3899 or visit us at www.bishophill.com. Julmarknad events are sponsored, in part, by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency.