The BHHA is sponsoring the second annual Collectors Weekend on Saturday October 24 and Sunday October 25. What is Collectors Weekend? For one weekend only at the Steeple Building Museum in Bishop Hill, antique and vintage items of all shapes, sizes, and topics will be displayed by local residents. Objects on display will be Depression era glass, pocket watches, spice tins, walking sticks, and much, much more. These items are not for sale but for display only. The Steeple Building Museum will be open Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 103 North Bishop Hill Street. Admission is free but donations are gratefully accepted.
As part of our collectibles theme, the BHHA is also hosting the program Collectibles and You by Jim Folger
of Folger’s Auction Service in Williamsfield, Illinois. This free program will be on Sunday, October 25 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Dairy Building, located at 410 North Erickson Street. Valuable items lying around many homes go undetected. Mr. Jim Folger, an auctioneer for over 50 years, will talk about what objects are collectibles today. Guests are strongly encouraged to bring in small items for identification and discussion.
Besides these weekend activities, there are a host of other events going on in Bishop Hill:
- Starting Friday October 23 at 5 p.m., the BHAC First Annual Photo Show will open at the Welcome Center, located at 207 North Bishop Hill Street. Refreshments will be served and awards to the winning photographers will be given.
- Also that evening, the following businesses will be open till 7 p.m.: PollyAnna’s, Sweet Annie Primitives, Hantverk Galleri, Wire & Woods, Frau Blucker’s, Prairie Arts Center, Mary’s Simple Treasures, Summer Cottage, PL Johnson’s, Filling Station, and the Colony Store.
- To wrap up Friday night, starting at 7 pm, the Twinflower Inn & Fox Tales International present GHOST STORIES Around the Bone-Fire with Brian “Fox” Ellis at the Twinflower Inn, located at 110 North Olson Street. Fox will start with silly scary stories and turn up the heat with scarier stories as the night goes on! Bring a lawn chair, bring a snack, bring a friend! Free will donations appreciated. Call 309-927-3506 for more information.
- On Saturday October 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Dairy Building, there will be a Rug Hook-Inn. Watch and learn more about the craft of rug hooking. Join in if you wish. There is no charge. Call 309 927-3008 for more details.