Prepare for the holidays by attending Julmarknad (Christmas Market) in Bishop Hill.
Hours:
Friday, Nov. 25 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 26 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 27 - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 3 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 4 - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The attractions include Swedish folk characters, holiday decorations, and Christmas gifts for sale. See the tomte, our Swedish elves, roam through the town, shaking hands with tourists, looking through windows, and peeking around corners in their red and grey outfits. A working model railroad and woodcarving demonstrations will be in the Steeple Building Museum.

Each weekend has special activities:
-The November weekend includes a visit from Old World Santa Claus at the VASA National Archives. Cameras are welcomed for special photos.
While visiting with Santa, help the VASA National Archives make a paper mache Dala Horse at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests will be adding layers of paper mache to the Dala Horse. This is a community project that is open to children of all ages.
There is a Cookie Walk will be held at the Colony School, Sweet Annie Primitives will have a Christmas Open House, cookie baking will be done in the 1860's Bjorklund Hotel kitchen and the Prairie Arts Center will host a book signing for Clouds Over Bishop Hill, written by Mary Davidsaver.

-The December weekend includes invitation to children to make edible tree ornaments at the Bjorklund Hotel - they may be taken home or left there to be placed on the Bishop Hill Park's Christmas tree during the tree lighting on Lucia Nights.

For more information call 309 927-3899 or visit www.bishophill.com

Julmarknad events are sponsored in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.