2026 Schedule of Major Events for the BHHA 

PDF of the 2026 Bishop Hill Visitor Guide:  BH Guide2026 single pg

April 11      Colonial America program by Barry Grove

As part of America’s 250^th Anniversary celebration, Mr. Barry Grove will be presenting a program about Colonial America.  Mr. Grove is a former Cedar Rapids teacher and administrator.  His Colonial America presentation depicts life in the colonies prior to the Revolutionary War.  Topics include daily chores, clothing (audience participation), diet, trades, and much more.  This one-hour free program is open to public and will start a 1 p.m..  The Steeple Building Museum is located at 103 North Bishop Hill Street.  Please call 309 927-3899 or email bhha@mymctc.net for more details.  Sponsored by the Bishop Hill Heritage Association.

May 2 Women’s Baseball in Illinois and the Midwest by Anna Sielaff

This presentation offers an exciting opportunity to explore how Illinois played a significant role in the formation of the AAGPBL. Anna will trace the evolution of women’s baseball from its 19th-century beginnings to the establishment of the league in 1943. She will discuss how the league’s unique rules developed over time and highlight the teams that made history—particularly the Illinois teams: the Rockford Peaches, Springfield Sallies, Peoria Redwings, and Chicago Colleens. This program is one hour long and will start at 1 p.m. at the Steeple Building Museum. The presentation is free and open to the public. Organized by the BHHA and sponsored by the IHC Road Scholar Speakers Bureau.

May 16 Bishop Hill Civil War Day

To honor Bishop Hill’s very own Company D, IL 57th Volunteer Infantry, Bishop Hill is having a Civil War Day on Saturday May 16. There will be a living history encampment in the village park with programs going on every hour. Some of the programs that are scheduled are: artillery demonstration, an appearance by General John Logan, a Civil War Ball, a medical demonstration, an afternoon skirmish, and much, much more. The Steeple Building Museum will also have a special Company D exhibit. Event is free and open to the public. For more information about the schedule of events, contact the Bishop Hill Heritage Association at 309 927-3899 or bhha@mymctc.net.

June 13 Doodle Folk Music Festival

Begin your summer by attending the Doodle Folk Music Festival. Enjoy free music in the park all day long, starting at 10 a.m. Listen to Barry Cloyd, Bucktown Americana Music Show, and other excellent folk musicians. This one-day festival is free and open to the public. Email bhha@mymctc.net or call 309 927-3899 for more information.

Concert Schedule for June 13, 2026
(main stage is located next to the park gazebo in the center of the village park)
10 a.m. Barry Cloyd
11:30 a.m. Taproot Wranglers
1:30 p.m. Bucktown Americana Music Show
3:00 p.m. Lee Murdock

July 12        Dancing Queen:  ABBA Tribute Band Concert   

                                                     
Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute is quite literally the most accurate tribute band on the planet. With painstaking attention to detail, they’ve recreated an ABBA experience that is second to none.  This two-hour concert is FREE and open to the public. It will start at 1 p.m. in the Village Park.   For more information about this concert, contact the Bishop Hill Heritage Association at 309 927-3899 or bhha@mymctc.net. 

This is a listing of BHHA events only.  To view all other Bishop Hill events, please check out https://www.visitbishophill.com/.  Please confirm BHHA events details by emailing bhha@mymctc.net, visiting the Bishop Hill Heritage Association Facebook Page, calling 309 927-3899, or visiting www.bishophillheritage.org

*The programs of the Bishop Hill Heritage Association are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency.