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. on Saturday December 7 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday December 8 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 each day of Julmarknad.
On Saturday December 7 only, a Chocolate Walk will be held at the Bishop Hill Creative Commons from 9 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.
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.
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