Historic Bishop Hill IL invites you to join our 2025 Lucia Nights (Festival of Lights) celebration on Friday
December 12 and Saturday December 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. This Swedish tradition is based on a legend of Saint
Lucia, Queen of Light. During a famine in Sweden, on the longest and darkest night of the year, Lucia
appeared wearing a long white robe and encircling her head was a crown of candles. Legend has it that Lucia
appeared on a ship laden with food. When the ship was unloaded, both it and Lucia vanished. Girls in Sweden
today wake their families on December 13th carrying a tray of Lucia buns while dressed in a white robe and
wearing a crown of candles.
On both nights, businesses and museums will have Lucia Girls to greet guests. Around the village, each
building will have a single candle in each and every window, and sidewalks will also be illuminated by candles.
Restaurants will be open both evenings. Special Christmas gifts will also be on sale at all the stores.
Lucia Nights officially begins in Bishop Hill with the Lighting of the Park Christmas Tree at 6 p.m. on
Friday, December 12. The public is invited to bring edible ornaments to hang on the tree. After the tree
lighting, the fun continues in Bishop Hill with a wide variety of free Christmas activities. At the Steeple
Building, Coffee Creek will be playing a variety of Christmas and folk music from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Vasa
National Archives will have a pop-up display Donald and Lucia: a Swedish Holiday Classic, with readings of
short Christmas stories. At the Prairie Arts Center, Deirdre and Fiona Light will be performing holiday music
with their harp and accordion from 6 to 7 p.m. At the Creative Commons, The Tucked in T’s will perform
from 6 to 9 p.m. The Galva High School Choir will be going from building-to-building singing Christmas
carols. Finally, the Peoria Cooperative Academy Madrigal Singers will be singing at the Bishop Hill
Methodist Church from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
On Saturday, December 13, Coffee Creek will be performing at the Steeple Building starting at 6:30 p.m. At
the Bishop Hill Creative Commons, The Tucked in T’s will be performing from 6 to 9 p.m. The Vasa
National Archives will have a pop-up display Donald and Lucia: a Swedish Holiday Classic, with readings of
short Christmas stories. At the Prairie Arts Center, Deirdre and Fiona Light will be performing holiday music
with their harp and accordion from 6 to 7 p.m. The Peoria Cooperative Academy Madrigal Singers will once
again be singing at the Bishop Hill Methodist Church from 6:30 to 7 p.m. The Cambridge High School Choir
will be going from building-to-building singing Christmas carols. Finally, there will be an Old-Fashioned
Barn Dance at the Colony School, starting at 7 p.m. The Sangamo Stemwinders will be performing. Dances
will be taught and called by Gail Hintze. Beginners are welcome and no partner is necessary. All of these
activities are free.
Both Friday and Saturday, the Bishop Hill Community United Methodist Church will be hosting a Soup and
Chili Supper, beginning at 4:00 p.m. A free-will donation is appreciated to cover the cost of the meal. A selfie
station featuring Lucia and Tomte costumes will be in the Colony Church. Finally, there will be carols around
the campfire at J. Goard Pottery.
Lucia Nights is organized by the Bishop Hill Heritage Association. Activities are partly funded by
Community State Bank, Illinois Arts Council, and the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation. Regional
Media is our major media sponsor. For more details about Lucia Nights, view www.visitbishophill.com
or call 309-927-3899.