On Saturday May 31, 2025, start your summer by enjoying the Doodle Folk Music Festival.

Located in the village park in Bishop Hill Illinois, some of the best-known Illinois folk

musicians, such as Chris Vallillo, the Bucktown Americana Music Show, and more will be

performing. Doodle was Bishop Hill’s first folk musician. A display about Doodle (Jonas

Danielson) will be located in the park gazebo. All the park concerts are free and open to the

public. Bring lawn chairs and enjoy the music!

Music starts at 10 a.m. and continues throughout the day. Peoria’s singer-songwriter Barry

Cloyd will start off the day playing songs from his 10 CDs. At 11:30 a.m., Chicago’s singer-

songwriter Buck Halker will be performing American Coal Miners and their Songs, 1890-

1960s. At 1:30 p.m., Macomb’s Chris Vallillo will start the afternoon. A master of bottleneck

slide guitar, he weaves original, contemporary, and traditional songs and theatrical narratives

into a compelling and entertaining portrait of the history and lifestyle of the Midwest. The

Bucktown Americana Music Show will then step on stage at 3 p.m. to finish off the day. If

you're a fan of bluegrass, folk, Celtic, Americana, or old-time music, you'll love the Bucktown

Americana Music Show.

In addition, P.L. Johnson’s will be having a dinner party that evening from 4 to 8 p.m. by

reservation only. The menu includes beef bourguignon, Swedish meatballs, cheese tortellini,

and Oskar chicken. The dessert menu includes pavlova and chocolate lava cake. For

reservations, please call 309 927-3885.

This free event is funded in part by the Illinois Arts Council, Illinois Humanities Council,

Galesburg Community Foundation, and the Geneseo Foundation. For more details, you can call

309 927-3899 or email bhha@mymctc.net. Information about this festival is also posted on

www.bishophillheritage.org and the Bishop Hill Heritage Association Facebook page.

Concert Schedule for Saturday May 31

(main stage is located next to the park gazebo in the center of the village park)

10 a.m. Barry Cloyd

11:30 a.m. Bucky Halker

1:30 p.m. Chris Vallillo

3:00 p.m. Bucktown Americana Music Show