Prepare for the holidays by attending the 2024 Julmarknad (Christmas Market) in
historic Bishop Hill, IL. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November 29, November 30, and December 7. On
December 1 and 8, the hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The daily attractions include Swedish folk
characters, traditional Swedish holiday decorations, holiday music, craft activities, and Christmas gifts
for sale. All our shops, museums, and restaurants will be open to satisfy your holiday needs. See
Tomten, our Swedish elves, looking through windows and peeking around corners in their red and grey
outfits. If you are lucky, you might see our Julbock, Christmas goat, roaming around town. A working
model railroad will also be in the Steeple Building Museum. Transform yourself, your friends &
family into Swedish tomten with our Holiday Photo Op located in our 1882 Peasant Works barnyard!
Free for all ages! The Vasa National Archives will have Take Home Dala Horse Kits available to
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 on the weekends. 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 November 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 November 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 December 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 December 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 December 7 and Sunday December 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. Regional Media is our major media sponsor.
***Courtesy of Todd DeDecker, BHHA Administrator***
