Joe Hill, born in Gävle, lived his first 23 years there before leaving Sweden for the USA in 1902. He was convicted and executed for murder in 1915, despite many believing there was insufficient evidence, according to official sources. Joe Hill-dagarna (Joe Hill Days) in Gävle highlight the themes Joe Hill lived for, official sources said.
The Joe Hill Days program includes a city walk, an author talk with Sanna Ghotbi, Christer Forsberg interpreting Joe Hill, a Walpurgis Night event at Musikhuset, Skottes Musikteater performing 'Joe Hill', a film screening with a director visit, and the Sounds Fair Festival at Gasklockorna, according to official sources. On Walpurgis Night, Musikhuset will host an evening in Joe Hill's spirit with community, live music, and quiz, official sources said. Joe Hill-gården, the protest singer's childhood home in Gamla stan, is a given feature during the days, according to official sources. Gävle kommun organizes the days in collaboration with ABF, Fängelsemuseet, Joe Hill-sällskapet, Joe Hill Visitor Center, Skottes Musikteater, and Teater de Profundis, official sources said.
The Joe Hill Visitor Center opened in September 2024 and is located in the Prison Museum premises. According to multiple reports, Joe Hill's background in Gävle was not talked about much for a long time, but this has been compensated in recent years with the opening of the center and the Joe Hill Days.