Gammelgården Museum

Annie's Jul-Themed Coffee Party
2025-12-06 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Join us for a Jul-themed Annie’s Coffee Party. There will be three courses of food along with coffee and tea. The courses will include:
– Breads – including cardamom bread, scones, and a variety of spreads.
– Meats and cheeses; breads and crackers; and fresh fruit.
– Desserts – including rice pudding and assorted cookies.
New this year: Musicians will be performing holiday music at the 10:30 a.m. coffee party throughout the time (except when mini-presentations on Swedish holiday traditions are being held). At the 1:30 coffee parties, the musicians will perform during the first 15 minutes of each party. Each week, there are different performers:

Darcy Bell-Myers on the harp on December 6th.
Ponyfolk on December 13th.
Renee Vaughan on the nychelharpa on 12/20.

Join us in the upper level of the Welcome House (Välkommen Hus) which will be decorated for the holiday season. Feel free to shop in the museum’s Gift Shop (Butik) while you are there. We have many wonderful products for Jul (Christmas) time and year-round.

Cost: $25 per person

The coffee parties are not appropriate for children under 5 years old.
Be sure to RSVP by calling the Butik. No walk-ins will be accepted. Space is limited to 36 guests. To RSVP, please call the Butik at (651) 433-5053 on Wednesday-Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm and Sunday from 1 pm – 4 pm.
Cancellation Policy: Up to 3 weeks before the event – 50% refund. Under 3 weeks before the event, no refunds.

Annie's Jul-Themed Coffee Party - SOLD OUT
2025-12-06 10:30 - 12:00 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States

Lighting of the Candelabras at Gammelgården
2025-11-30 16:00 - 23:30 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Gammelgården Museum will conclude a festive holiday day on Sunday, November 30th, with the lighting of candelabras in the windows of the Welcome House (the big red building) starting at 4 p.m.

This follows Museum Store Sunday, which runs from 1-4 p.m. and offers discounts on products in the Butik (the museum gift shop), opportunities to sample products, and chances to register for prizes. Adding to the holiday ambiance, DeCantus, an a cappella ensemble, will perform Christmas carols from 2-3 p.m., providing musical entertainment for attendees.
While at Gammelgården, take some time to enjoy the holiday exhibits and displays on the second floor of the Welcome House.
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Also happening in Scandia on November 30th at the Scandia Community Center is Vinterlights which includes:• Artisan Market – 30+ curated artisans and their handmade products available for purchase from 12-5 p.m.• Coffee available and an area to enjoy music and relax between shopping indoors.• Deep Roots Concessions Food Truck available from 12-4:30 p.m.• FREE Dala horse cookies, hot cocoa, and caroling around the firepit from 5-6:30 p.m.• The Tree Lighting countdown at 5:30 p.m. – Lights for the Community Center, Gammelgården Museum of Scandia, and Elim Lutheran Church.

Museum Store Sunday/Lighting of the Candelabras
2025-11-30 13:00 - 16:00 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Museums foster appreciation and knowledge of history, art, culture, nature, and science. When you purchase an item from Gammelgården’s gift shop, you help to sustain the museum’s service to their community and the public.

Products found in museum stores are curated just like the works displayed in their respective institutions, with many items often developed exclusively by the museum, resulting in distinctive and unique offerings.
Be a patron on Museum Store Sunday and all year round.

On Museum Store Sunday 2025, which also is Lighting of the Candelabras, Gammelgården will be offering discounts, entertainment, and samples of products. Come hear DeCantus – an a capella ensemble – sing Christmas carols in the Welcome House (the big red building) from 2-3 p.m.

See the holiday exhibits, shop in the Butik, and take selfies at multiple selfie stations throughout the Welcome House.

All customers receive 15% off products and members receive 25% off products (excluding consignment and clearance items, gift certificates, and memberships).

All proceeds support Gammelgården’s programs, free community events, and restoration and preservation of its historic buildings.

*** After you purchase an item at Gammelgården’s gift shop (Butik) or Christmas gift shop, share a photo online with the hashtags #beapatron #museumstoresunday #iamapatron #patronofculture #shopmuseumstores #gammelgardenmuseumgiftshop #gammelgardenmuseum

Safeguarding the Past: Archival Book Cover Workshop
2025-11-29 10:30 - 12:30 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Learn how to make archival book covers for two of Gammelgården Museum’s historic books in its collection. You will have an opportunity to handle books from the 1800s and early 1900s, and provide an archival-quality book cover for them.
By creating these covers, you will acquire the skills to design covers for your special and historical books at home.
There is no cost for this workshop, as participants will be helping to protect the museum’s book collection.
Registration is required to ensure there are enough supplies and space for participants. (Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/safeguarding-the-past-archival-book-cover-workshop-tickets-1664775080079?aff=oddtdtcreator )
This workshop is for 15+ year-olds and adults.
This workshop is being led by Paige Ewert, one of Gammelgården’s 2025 interns. Paige is a Senior at St. Olaf College with a degree in History and Art History. She has worked at her college’s archives for three years, with a specialization in books and printed materials. Drawing on the methods and knowledge gained from a class with the Minnesota Art Conservation Center, this class focuses on creating boxes and book covers for any book, from your favorite novel to a 100-year-old family heirloom Bible.

Small Business Saturday
2025-11-29 10:00 - 16:00 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Gammelgården Museum’s Butik (Gift Shop) will be open from 10-4 on Small Business Saturday. Customers will receive a 20% discount on purchases in the Butik (excluding sale and consignment items, memberships, and gift certificates).
Gammelgården members will receive an additional 10% discount (30% off!).
Play “Bingo in the Butik” and sample some products so you can try them before you buy them!

Santa & Snowflakes - Online Auction
2025-11-29 - 2025-12-07 | Virtual
Gammelgården Museum will be having an online auction from November 29th-December 7th, 2025! This is your opportunity to bid on a variety of items:
– products, gift cards, books, artwork, tickets to experiences, or services from businesses.
– items that have been previously-used, but are in excellent condition (e.g., Swedish glass, antiques, textiles).
– handmade items (e.g., quilts, embroidered items).
– gift baskets.
All monies raised from the online auction support the museum’s collection which consists of over 3,300 artifacts. Funds from the online auction will help secure museum-quality storage for the artifacts, and be used to restore or repair those artifacts needing immediate attention.
The link to the auction is https://www.32auctions.com/SantaandSnowflakes. You can help support it not only by donating items, but by making a cash donation, sharing the event with family and friends, and bidding when the auction goes live. We are looking forward to a great event!!
Bidding opens at 12:00 noon on November 29th and will close on December 7th at 11:59 pm.

Black Friday Deals & Discounts in the Butik (Gift Shop)
2025-11-28 10:00 - 16:00 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Get special deals and discounts on Black Friday at Gammelgården Museum. The Butik (gift shop) and Jul Shop (Christmas Shop) are open from 10-4.

Thanksgiving - Museum is Closed
2025-11-27 | MN
Happy Thanksgiving from Gammelgården Museum of Scandia!
The museum will be closed today to give our staff and volunteers time to spend with their families, friends, and loved ones.

Museum is Closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday
2025-11-26 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Gammelgården Museum is closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. The museum will reopen on Black Friday at 10 a.m.

Children's Storytime
2025-11-20 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-11-13 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-11-06 10:30 - 11:00 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
New to Gammelgården this year is children’s storytime! This program will be hosted weekly on Thursday’s at 10:30 am in the classroom upstairs.

This is a great opportunity for you and your family to partake in early literacy in your community. Early literacy programs are not designed to teach young children how to read, rather they focus on developing skills through stories.

Storytime is designed to introduce your little one to stories, songs, rhyming, and other kids. Storytime often includes one to two read-alouds with one to two interactive songs, rhymes, or activities.

Storytime will be hosted by Grace Taylor. Grace will graduate with a Master’s in Library and Information Sciences from St. Kate’s in August 2025 and has taken multiple courses in Children’s Materials and Services.

NAMI Minnesota Mindful Creations Support Group
2025-11-19 10:15 - 12:15 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
NAMI MC flyer_Gammelgården Museum of Scandia

NAMI Minnesota Mindful Creations Support Group, is a group that focuses on building resiliency and strengthening mental well-being through education, creative expression through art, and the support of others in a safe and confidential environment.

Each meeting will focus on one mental health topic and include a brief educational session, a hands-on art activity, and group discussion.

There is no cost for the support groups. To register, email your first and last name to sgc@namimn.org

Life Member Event
2025-11-16 13:30 - 15:30 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Life Members are invited to Gammelgården for the annual Life Member Gathering. Following light appetizers, listen to a presentation by Heidi Granke, AIA, Principal, Heritage Architecture Studio, LLC, about the progress being made on the restoration of the Pastor’s House.
Hear updates from Gammelgården’s Board President, Colleen Nora, and Gammelgården’s Director, Ann Rinkenberger, about some of the highlights from the past year and what to look forward to during 2025 and 2026.

Embroidered Christmas Ornament with Alycen Brothen
2025-11-15 13:00 - 16:00 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Create an easy-to-stitch ornament using felt, embroidery floss, and beads for added sparkle. Instructor Alycen Brothen will teach students a few basic stitches, simple beading, assembling, and finishing, so students can leave with a completed ornament.
No prior embroidery experience is necessary. All supplies will be provided. Please bring reading glasses/magnification, if needed.
Students must be 16+ years old.
Register on EventBrite.
** Cancellation Policy: Up to 3 weeks before the event – 50% refund. Under 3 weeks before the event, no refunds. **

Christmas/God Jul Ornaments and Decorations
2025-11-15 10:30 - 12:00 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Join us for a day of crafting! We’ll make four types of decorations in our festive classroom:

A painted wooden Dala Horse
A mischevious Tomte
A winter photo frame with a poloroid photo
A Lucia Crown

$20 per person or $35 for an adult/child pair. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Register on EventBrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holiday-decorations-make-four-fun-crafts-tickets-1661078984959?aff=oddtdtcreator
If you would like to participate but are unable to afford the course fee, please email volunteer@gammelgardenmuseum.org.

Gammelgården is a museum that honors the Swedish immigrants who founded the community and celebrates the story of all immigrants to their new land. While you are here, you can view our holiday exhibits and browse our amazing gift shop!
Cancellation Policy: Up to 3 weeks before the event – 50% refund. Under 3 weeks before the event, no refunds.

History & Heritage Book Club
2025-11-14 10:30 - 12:00 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Gammelgården Museum is launching a new program in 2025, History & Heritage Book Club!

From May through December 2025, we will be exploring 8 books related to Nordic history and heritage; and Swedish lifestyles and traditions. There are both fiction and non-fiction books; and authors from the United States and Sweden.

Join other book lovers every second Friday of the month from 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM. The History & Heritage Book Club will be held at Gammelgården Museum at 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN 55073. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with others in the community who love to read and want to discover some great books!

2025 Book List (for a book description, visit the History & Heritage Book Club group on Facebook:
May – Swede Hollow by Ola Larsmo – *F
June – The Open-Air Life by Linda Åkeson McGurk – *N
July – The Lagom Life – A Swedish Way of Living by Elisabeth Carlsson – *N
August – The Sisterhood of the Enchanted Forest by Naomi Moriyama and William Doyle – N
September – Giants in the Earth – A Saga of the Prairie by O.E. Rölvaag – F
October – My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman – *F
November – The Rocks Will Echo Our Sorrow – The Forced Displacement of the Northern Sámi by Elin Anna Labba – *N
December – The Palace of the Snow Queen – Winter Travels in Lapland and Sápmi by Barbara Sjoholm – N
* – Swedish, Sámi, or Swedish-American author
F – Fiction
N – Non-Fiction

Please let the museum know you will be attending the book club, be emailing: director@gammelgardenmuseum.org
Phone: (651) 433-5053
Facebook Group: History & Heritage Book Club

Fiber Arts Club
2025-11-12 10:30 - 12:30 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
The Fiber Arts Club at Gammelgården Museum will meet from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. Bring a project you’re working on, and join in conversation and community. This is a relaxing gathering for people with projects in progress or in the planning stages.

This is the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and work on your small projects in knitting, crocheting, hand sewing, needlefelting, mending, embroidery, cross stitching, tatting, weaving, needlepoint, lacemaking, macrame, spinning, rug hooking, string art, or any other fiber art.

The club offers people a chance to work on projects, learn new skills, get opinions on projects, and make suggestions to others. It’s a great way to make progress on your creative endeavors.

IMPORTANT FOR THIS GROUP – PLEASE READ:
1. Smaller projects only due to limited room size. So, unless it can fit in your lap (such as the beginning of a project), please leave larger projects like afghans, large sweaters, etc. at home.
2. Small supply totes only. Keep large needlework bags, boxes of supplies, etc. at home. There is not enough table and floor space to support items of that size.
3. Work on a project that you bring to the Fiber Arts Club. Making progress on your project while chit-chatting is the purpose of the group and respect for others’ productivity is important.
4. Any coffee, tea, or soda/pop must be covered.

Fars Dag (Father's Day) in Sweden
2025-11-09 | MN
Fars Dag – or Father’s Day – is celebrated on the second Sunday in November in Sweden, instead of in June. Father’s Day in Sweden was initially celebrated in June, but then various commercial organizations wanted it moved in 1931, so it wouldn’t compete with Mother’s Day (Mors dag) on the last Sunday of May.

They Wore Our Buttons
2025-11-01 10:30 - 12:00 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
They Wore Our Buttons is a presentation illustrating the usefulness of late 19th-century cabinet card photos in identifying and dating collectible buttons from that time period. The program addresses how to research the photo origins, how to utilize additional clues from fashion to date the photos, and how to discover the ways buttons were used on original clothing. It includes a fascinating parade of wonderful cabinet cards and their associated buttons.
Register on EventBrite.
Cancellation Policy: Up to 3 weeks before the event – 50% refund. Under 3 weeks before the event, no refunds.

The author and presenter of the program is Claudia Chalmers. Claudia has been a button collector for over fifty years and has been a member of the Minnesota State Button Society and the National Button Society for more than thirty-five years. She was editor of the Minnesota State Button Bulletin for fifteen years and has authored and presented many articles and lectures at both the state and national level. She is currently the president of the Minnesota State Button Society. Her special button loves are for late 19th-century pictorial buttons.

Museum is Closed - Holiday Set-Up
2025-10-31, 2025-10-30, 2025-10-29, 2025-10-28, 2025-10-27, 2025-10-26 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Gammelgården Museum will be closed from October 26th-31st to give staff and volunteers time to set up for the holidays. Come to the museum starting on Saturday, November 1st to see the holiday displays and exhibits, and to shop in the expanded Butik filled with items perfect for holiday gifts.

The Art of Klippdockor: Paper Doll Making Workshop
2025-10-25 13:00 - 15:00 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Join artist Maya Boo for a hands-on paper doll workshop inspired by Swedish immigrant folk traditions. In the 1800s, immigrant families in Minnesota created “klippdockor” (cut-out dolls) from wallpaper scraps, magazines, and reused household materials.

In this class, participants will learn about the history of these handmade toys while designing and decorating their own paper dolls, complete with clothing and accessories. Each participant will take home two dolls, outfits, and ideas to continue creating at home.

If you would like to participate but are unable to afford the course fee, please email volunteer@gammelgardenmuseum.org.

Cancellation Policy: Up to 3 weeks before the event – 50% refund. Under 3 weeks before the event, no refunds.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Maya Boo is a multidisciplinary mixed media and apparel artist based in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a 2025 Gammelgården Museum Intern. Her work explores themes of identity, culture, healing, and joy through textiles, paint, and found objects. She is a board member of the St. Paul Art Collective and has had exhibitions and organized art events throughout the Twin Cities. Maya is passionate about keeping folk art traditions alive and making creative practices accessible to all ages and abilities.

Trick or Treat at Gammelgården Museum
2025-10-25 10:30 - 12:30 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
We want to cordially invite you and your family to our first annual Trick or Treating at Gammelgården!

Bring your kiddos to test drive those costumes one week before Halloween in the daylight. Walk door-to-door to each of our historic buildings and grab some candy.

Fun and easy Halloween kids’ crafts will be available and hosted by our Librarian as well.

(At 1pm, the museum will also be hosting a traditional paper doll-making class for a small fee for those interested.)

Take photos with your kids in costume with our multiple Dala horses around the grounds, and don’t forget to tag the museum so we see them!

This is a perfect opportunity to step back in time with your family and enjoy the fall air on our historic grounds.
