Spelmansstämman
August 16 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Come to Gammelgården Museum for a free family-friendly event featuring Swedish/Nordic and Mexican folk music, dance, and visual arts. There also will be arts and crafts for children and adults; historic building tours; an arts, crafts, and vendors fair; and artist demonstrations. Both Swedish and Mexican food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Spelmansstämman was recognized as one of the best ten summer festivals in Minnesota by TravelMag.com. Read about it HERE.
MUSIC PERFORMANCES
Spelmansstämman is a long-standing Swedish folk music tradition based on outdoor gatherings (stämma) of Swedish musicians (spelman) to share music, friendship, and playing. At a traditional stämma, a small group of musicians share tunes they love and have in common.
Gammelgården’s 35th annual Spelmansstämman will feature multiple musicians performing throughout the day.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Come for the full day – or part of the day. Following is the general schedule of events:
10-12:
- Cross-Cultural Art
- Swedish Craft Project: Create a Dala häst pop-up card with Marie Olofsdotter, a Swedish-born artist and poet –– Welcome House
- Mexican Craft Project: Create a screen-printed poster with Jessica Lopez Lyman/La Luchadora– Museum Grounds
- Swedish and Mexican Weaving Comparison – Welcome House
10-4:
- Historic Building Tours – Docents in Buildings (10-4). Tours for those who are Hearing Impaired (with headphones) or Deaf (ASL interpreter) – Meet at the Reception Desk at the Welcome House
- Artists, Crafters, and Vendors Fair – Museum Grounds
- Artifacts
- Adrienne Quinlan
- Apothecary’s Daughter
- Becky Letecht Felt and Fiber
- Bella Josie Naturals
- Braided Stream Arts
- Carol’s Stained Glass
- Cynthia DeMar Arts
- Donald Fick
- Folkdress Fantasy
- Hunter Panoch Art and Photography
- LB’s Caramels, Candies, and Crafts, LLC
- Marine Maple Syrup
- Eric Nelson – Buckthorn Studio
- Rooted Apricity
- Sara Tennis – Artisan
- Scandia Sister City Council
- Scandinavian Weavers Study Group
- Susan Raes Woodworking
- Swedish Genealogical Society of Minnesota
- T’s Crafts
- Vasa Junior Folk Dancers
- Washington County Master Gardeners – Milkweed, Monarchs, and Pollinators Team
- Scandia Butik Gift Shop – Welcome House
- Do a Scavenger Hunt and Get a Prize – Historic Buildings/Museum Grounds
- Exhibits – Welcome House
- Outdoor Games – Museum Grounds
Food for Sale – 10-4
- Gammelgården Museum Serving Swedish Fika (Desserts and Beverages) and American Snacks – Front of Welcome House
- Food Trucks Serving Mexican and American Food – Front of Welcome House
10:15-10:45
- Waltz Workshop with the North Star Nordic Dancers – Barn Stage 2
10:30
- Children’s Storytime – Museum Grounds (Location TBD)
11:00
- Parade of Performers/Grand March followed by group introductions and Allspell (all groups play) – From the front of the Welcome House, around the west side of the building, and to Barn Stage 1
11:15 – 12:00 (performance) and 12:00-12:15 (meet and greet)
- Kalpulli KetzalCoatlicue (“Precious Mother Earth”) – Aztec and Nahuatl Dance and Culture – Barn Stage 1
Learn symbols of the Meso-American calendar, experience the rhythms of an ancient people, and begin to understand the connections between ritual and daily life. Driving drum rhythms and dazzling costumes hold the audience’s interest, and through each step the dancer in full regalia gives life to the symbols of the dance. Aztec dance performance creates a connection between contemporary dancers and the elders who have preserved this expression of culture. The Aztec symbols of life are reproduced in the dance steps.
Barn Stage 2 – 12:00-3:30
12:15-3:00 – During short breaks between performances, be entertained by Ross Sutter.
12:15 – ASI Spelmanslag and the Northstar Nordic Dancers
1:00 – Mariachi Alma de Mexico
1:30 – Hardingfele
2:00 – Vasa Junior Folk Dancers
2:30 – Ponyfolk
3:00 – Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca
3:25 – Closing Allspel and Nordic Closing Tune: Hälsa Dem Därhemma (led by Ross Sutter)
Old Church Stage – 12:00-2:55
12:00 – Instrument Petting Zoo – See and touch instruments up close, and ask questions about how they are played. Explore the nyckelharpa, pump organ, hardingfele, pipes, cittern, accordion, violin, and guitar.
1:00 – Feleboks
1:30 – ASI Lillelag
2:00 – Ponyfolk
2:30 – Building opens again for self-guided tours. A Gammelgården Museum tour guide is available to provide information and answer questions.
Vendor Fair Stage – 1:00-3:15
12:00 – Vasa Junior Folk Dancers
12:20 – Ponyfolk
1:00 – Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca
1:30 – Mariachi Alma de Mexico
2:00 – ASI Spelmanslag
2:20 – Feleboks
2:50 – Folk Dräkt and Bunad Show
12:30
- Children’s Storytime – Museum Grounds (Location TBD)
2:30
- Children’s Storytime – Museum Grounds (Location TBD)
ASL Interpreter and Hearing-Assisted Listening Devices Available
This event is co-sponsored by Gammelgården Museum and Scandia Heritage Alliance.
This event is made possible by the generous support of the Valley Arts Initiative – St. Croix Valley Foundation, Levitt Foundation,
Twin Cities Nyckelharpalag, and Gammelgården Museum donors.
