Julmarknad (Christmas Market)

Prepare for the holidays by attending the 2024 Julmarknad in historic Bishop Hill, IL.

Hours are:
on Nov 29, 30 & Dec 7: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
on Dec 1 & 8: 11 a.m.-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, Nov 29 only, the Cookie Walk will be held at the Colony School from 9 a.m.-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.

On Saturday Nov 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.-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.-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. Saturday is also Small Business Saturday, so please support your local economy and shop the small businesses of Bishop Hill.

On Sunday Dec 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. At 7 p.m., Rupert Wates will be performing at the Bishop Hill Creative Commons.

On Saturday Dec 7 only, a Chocolate Walk will be held at the Bishop Hill Creative Commons from 10 a.m.-4 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.

For more information about Julmarknad activities, please view www.visitbishophill.com or call 309-927-3899. Julmarknad events are financed by 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.