The annual 19th century harvest festival Jordbruksdagarna (pronounced yord-brooks-DAH-ga-na) will take place Saturday September 27 and Sunday September 28, 2025 in historic Bishop Hill, IL. As always, there will be a variety of traditional craft demonstrations, food, vendors, and hands-on activities for the children during the 53rd Jordbruksdagarna (Swedish for “agricultural days”) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Demonstrations, hands-on activities, music, and the history skit are all free.
In the village park each day, artisans will weave, carve wood, forge metal, make butter, and more. Vendors will also be selling baked goods, crafts, and much more in the park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Musical performances will include Coffee Creek at noon and 2 p.m., and the Nordic Dancers of Chicago at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. each day at the gazebo.
Jordbruksdagarna is not just in the park but all over Bishop Hill. Uncle Bud’s Apple Cider Slushie and Pop of the Morning will be next to the Carpenter Building serving food and drinks. Nature’s Creations will be selling pumpkins, gourds, and more by the Colony Store. Behind the Bjorklund Hotel from noon to 4 p.m. each day, visitors, especially children, can try their hand at shelling corn, making bricks, pressing apples into cider, and creating a cornhusk doll. You can view sorghum pressing and cooking. 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. Each day at the Henry County Historical Museum and by the Krans Livery Stable, the Bishop Hill Agricultural Association will be conducting 19th century harvest activities. The Colony School will be hosting “Meet the Colonists” display. Author Mary Davidsaver will be doing a book
signing at the Prairie Arts Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tractor people movers will also be available to transport people around town to experience many of the activities, museums, and stores that Bishop Hill has to offer. All the previously mentioned activities will be occurring both days.
On Saturday September 27 only, at the Colony School, the Old Settlers’ Association will be selling their famous Colony Stew from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. At the Steeple Building Museum, the BHHA Acting Troupe will perform their Bishop Hill Colony history skit On the Road Again! starting at 11 a.m. In the southwest corner of the park, TriCo Equestrian Center will have pony rides from noon to 3 p.m. for a fee. Miller’s Petting Zoo will be located in the northwest corner of the park. The traditional Irish music duo “The Ammonites” will be busking outside the Bishop Hill Creative Commons from noon to 2 p.m. Author Jannifer Powelson will be doing a book signing at the Prairie Arts Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. At the Henry County Museum from 1 to 2:30 p.m., there will be a presentation on Illinois Ho-Chuck Native Americans. Finally, the Bishop Hill Methodist Church will be having a bake sale and Operation Christmas Child will be having a pulled ham lunch by the Steeple Building.
On Sunday September 28 only, there will be a Community Church Service in the park at 10 a.m. open to all.
For more details about Jordbruksdagarna activities, call 309 927-3899, email bhha@mymctc.net, or view www.visitbishophill.com. Jordbruksdagarna is organized by the Bishop Hill Heritage Association and supported by the Bishop Hill State Historic Site, Bishop Hill Agricultural Association, and VASA National Archives. The event is also partly funded by the Illinois Art Council, Nature’s Creations, State Bank of Toulon, TerraForm Power, Wilbur and Marilyn Nelson, River Valley Cooperative, Gold Star FS, Peck Farms, and Henry County Independent Insurance Agents Association. WJRE is our major media sponsor. The Cambridge FFA, Galva FFA, and Galva Boy Scouts provided special assistance, along with many other volunteers.
***Courtesy of Todd DeDecker, BHHA Administrator***
