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Music lovers, mark your calendars for Saturday, May 31, 2025, as the Doodle Folk Music Festival returns to Bishop Hill, Illinois. The village park will be alive with folk sounds from some of the state’s most celebrated artists, including Barry Cloyd, Buck Halker, Chris Vallillo, and the Bucktown Americana Music Show. A special exhibit on Bishop Hill's own Jonas "Doodle" Danielson will be featured in the park gazebo. Admission is free, and guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Evening festivities continue at P.L. Johnson’s with a dinner party, available by reservation. More information can be found at bishophillheritage.org.

P.L. Johnson’s is hosting a special dinner party this evening, open exclusively to guests with reservations from 4 to 8 PM. Highlights from the menu include hearty beef bourguignon, flavorful Swedish meatballs, cheese tortellini, and Oskar chicken. Dessert options are sure to tempt guests with choices like pavlova and rich chocolate lava cake. Those interested in securing a table are encouraged to call 309-927-3885 to reserve a spot. With a menu offering a variety of savory and sweet dishes, this event promises an indulgent experience for diners in the area tonight.

The event kicks off at 10 AM with Barry Cloyd performing songs from his ten albums. At 11:30, Buck Halker brings American Coal Miner songs to the stage, covering more than seven decades of music history. After lunch, Chris Vallillo’s afternoon set promises a blend of Midwest tales and masterful bottleneck slide guitar. At 3 PM, the Bucktown Americana Music Show closes out the festival, offering a lively mix of bluegrass, folk, and more.

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.