Jordbruksdagarna in Bishop Hill -- September 27 and 28.
Saturday, September 27, and Sunday, September 28, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Bishop Hill IL
A variety of traditional craft demonstrations, live-music performances, food options, vendors, hands-on children's activities, and much more will be enjoyed in Bishop Hill, Illinois, during the 2025 agriculture-days celebration Jordbruksdagarna (pronounced "yord-brooks-dah-ga-na"), the September 27 and 28 event that will also boast a petting zoo, a book signing, a bake sale, and Swedish music in the Village Park gazebo.
Each day in Bishop Hill's Village Park, artisans will weave, carve wood, forge metal, make butter, and more. Vendors will also be selling baked goods, crafts, and other offerings in the park, with the gazebo's musical performances including Coffee Creek at noon and 2 p.m., and the Nordic Dancers of Chicago at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on both September 27 and 28.
Jordbruksdagarna is not just in the park but all over Bishop Hill. Uncle Bud’s Apple Cider Slushie and Pop of the Morning will be next to the Carpenter Building serving food and drinks. Nature’s Creations will be selling pumpkins, gourds, and more by the Colony Store. Behind the Bjorklund Hotel from noon to 4 p.m. each day, visitors, especially children, can try their hand at shelling corn, making bricks, pressing apples into cider, and creating a cornhusk doll. You can view sorghum pressing and cooking. Visitors can explore Henry County’s agricultural heritage at the Henry County Historical Museum, where a variety of antique tractors and implements will be on display outdoors. Each day at the Henry County Historical Museum and by the Krans Livery Stable, the Bishop Hill Agricultural Association will be conducting 19th century harvest activities. The Colony School will be hosting a Meet the Colonists display. Author Mary Davidsaver will take part in a book signing at the Prairie Arts Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tractor people movers will also be available to transport attendees around town to experience many of the activities, museums, and stores that Bishop Hill has to offer. All the previously mentioned activities will be occurring both days.
On Saturday, September 27 only, at the Colony School, the Old Settlers’ Association will be selling their famous Colony Stew from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. At the Steeple Building Museum, the BHHA Acting Troupe will perform their Bishop Hill Colony history skit On the Road Again! starting at 11 a.m. In the southwest corner of the park, TriCo Equestrian Center will have pony rides from noon to 3 p.m. for a fee. Miller’s Petting Zoo will be located in the northwest corner of the park. The traditional Irish music duo “The Ammonites” will be busking outside the Bishop Hill Creative Commons from noon to 2 p.m. Author Jannifer Powelson will be featured in a a book signing at the Prairie Arts Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. At the Henry County Museum from 1 to 2:30 p.m., there will be a presentation on Illinois Ho-Chuck Native Americans. Finally, the Bishop Hill Methodist Church will be having a bake sale and Operation Christmas Child will be having a pulled ham lunch by the Steeple Building. On Sunday September 28 only, there will also be a Community Church Service in the park at 10 a.m. that is open to all.
Jordbruksdagarna is organized by the Bishop Hill Heritage Association and supported by the Bishop Hill State Historic Site, Bishop Hill Agricultural Association, and VASA National Archives. The event is also partly funded by the Illinois Art Council, Nature’s Creations, State Bank of Toulon, TerraForm Power, Wilbur and Marilyn Nelson, River Valley Cooperative, Gold Star FS, Peck Farms, and Henry County Independent Insurance Agents Association. WJRE is the major media sponsor. The Cambridge FFA, Galva FFA, and Galva Boy Scouts provided special assistance, along with many other volunteers.
For more information on this year's Jordbruksdagarna taking place on September 27 and 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, call (309)927-3899 and visit VisitBishopHill.com.
