Opening Weekend celebrates Gammelgården Museum of Scandia’s focus in its 51^st year: Swedish Folk Painting Tradition and Innovation.

Tours will be held on Friday at 10:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:30 PM; and on Sunday at 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM. On Saturday, there are self-guided tours with a docent at each historical building.

On Friday during Opening Weekend, tours are free. Starting on Sunday, tickets are $10 per person ($9 Admission/Tour for Military). Gammelgården Members, ASI Current Members, and Children under 12 are free. Reservations are not required.

On Saturday, May 6^th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., there are free tours of Gammelgården’s historic buildings. In addition, visitors of all ages can experience what life was like for immigrants and early settlers by packing a steamer trunk for America just like Swedish immigrants would have done in the 1800s, make homemade butter, weave on large looms, “milk” a cow, haul water with a yoke, shuck corn, lift real straw- and hay bales, and write on slates as children did in one-room schoolhouses.

People of all ages can do make-and-take activities: create a paper quilt, make wildflower seed balls, color Swedish-inspired coloring sheets, and go on a Spring scavenger hunt.

Many artists and crafters will have their work available for sale including Benelson Design (sterling silver jewelry), Josie Cooke (birch bark stars and knitted items), Minnesota Metalsmiths (metal work), Nordic Scents (all-natural soy candles), and Ronna Thorson (rosemaling and dalmålning on horse sculptures, plates, ornaments, and plaques).

Demonstrators on Saturday, May 6^th include:

• Brad Nelson from Benelson Design who will be doing chain making, Viking knitting, chip carving, and “Tramp Art”
• Josie Cooke will be spinning on the spinning wheel and spindle, knitting, and doing basket making
• Minnesota Metalsmiths will be doing metal work
• Ronna Thorson will be doing rosemaling

The Bluebird Recovery Program of Minnesota will be at Gammelgården on May 6^th to answer questions about bluebird nest boxes, trail placement, and monitoring techniques. Also, visitors can see Gammelgården’s new Bluebird Trail with ten Gilwood Slot bluebird nest boxes.

Also on Saturday, May 6^th, costumed members of the Living History Society of Minnesota will demonstrate popular nineteenth century games for adults and children. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a nineteenth century game with members of the Society.

On Saturday from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Gammelgården Museum of Scandia will be hosting a 51st Birthday Supper Picnic Party, served at the museum for people of all ages in the community…just make a reservation.

The menu includes: Pulled pork on buns with assorted Swedish toppings (Lingonberry sauce, Swedish mustard, mayo with dill and horseradish), potato salad, coleslaw, mixed fresh fruit salad, and beverage.

The program includes:

5:00 p.m. – Dinner (sponsored by TST Catering and The Nordlys Foundation)r

5:45 p.m. – Sing-a-long music with the Good Neighbors Uke Circle, Osceola, Wisconsin

6:30 p.m. – Dairy Queen Birthday Cake

Reservations are $10/person and are required by Sunday, April 30th. Go to https://tinyurl.com/51stbirthdayparty to purchase tickets. Rain location: Elim Church Fellowship Hall.