On Saturday May 31 2025, start the summer by enjoying the Bishop Hill Folk Music Festival. Located in the village park in Bishop Hill Illinois, some of the best-known Illinois folk musicians, such as Bucky Halker, the Bucktown Americana Music Show, Chris Vallillo, and more will be performing. Their musical styles span a wide range of folk music including bluegrass, coal mine songs, and Woody Guthrie songs, to name just a few. 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 performing songs from his 10 CDs. At 11:30 a.m., Chicago’s singer-songwriter Buck Halker will be playing songs about American Coal Miners. His program is sponsored by the IHC Road Scholars Bureau. After a lunch break, Chris Vallillo will perform at 1:30 p.m. Chris Vallillo is an award-winning rural singer/songwriter, folk musician and folklorist from Macomb, IL. The Bucktown Americana Music Show will finish off the day by performing at 3 p.m. If you’re a fan of bluegrass, folk, Celtic, Americana, or old-time music, you’ll love the Bucktown Americana Music Show.

This free event is funded in part by the Illinois Arts Council, the Illinois Humanities Council, the Galesburg Community Foundation and the Geneseo Foundation. For more details, you can call 309 927-3899 or email bhha@mymctc.net. 

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