Jordbruksdagarna is Swedish for “earth work days.”
And in Bishop Hill, that means a two-day, 19th-century harvest festival in the western Illinois village that was founded by Swedish immigrants in the 1840s.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29.
“We have demonstrators demonstrating wood carving, rope making, basket weaving, so you can see some of the things they had to do in the 1800s in order to survive,” said Todd DeDecker, administration of the Bishop Hill Heritage Association.
BHHA organizes the annual festival, which is supported by the Bishop Hill State Historic Site, Bishop Hill Agricultural Association, VASA National Archives, and numerous other organizations and volunteers.
DeDecker said Jordbruksdagarna includes everything from live music and vendors selling handmade goods to hands-on stations where people can learn to make bricks and corn-husk dolls —and see a sorghum press in action.
Food — including stew and hardtack — will be available at the Colony School. Children’s activities will be offered behind the Bjorklund Hotel from noon to 4 p.m. both days, and all six museums in Bishop Hill will be open.
“What’s unique about this event for Bishop Hill is that it’s not just in the park, it’s all over the town,” DeDecker said. “There are things going on all over the place.”
DeDecker said thousands of people attend Jordbruksdagarna every year, and the event is held rain or shine. A full schedule of events is available on the BHHA website.
Visitors may notice some improvements in progress in the Colony Park.
After years of concern about chipped and broken fence posts around the state-owned park in the center of town, those are being replaced.
DeDecker said a public/private partnership made that happen.
“They have the east side done, but they're still working on the other sides,” he said.
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