Season Opening Day
2025-05-03 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Season Opening Day marks the first day of the 2025 season. This family-friendly, free event will feature many exciting activities and exhibits!
From 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.:

· View new exhibits in the Welcome House (Välkommen Hus): “Explore the World of Immigrants,” “Scandinavian Fish and Fishing,” and “Birch: Art & Function.”

· See the historic buildings and look for some artifacts that have not been displayed before.

· Visit Little Blue’s Traveling Zoo by Gammelgården’s barn, and see and touch a variety of farm animals.

· See and touch popular nineteenth-century games, hosted by costumed interpreters from the Living History Society of Minnesota.

· Do hands-on historical activities by each of the buildings.

· Shop at the Arts, Crafts, and Vendor Fair. Participating vendors include:
– Apothecary’s Daughter
– Carol’s Stained Glass (Carol Eggers)
– J&K Legacy Art
– Marine Maple Syrup
– My Inspired Memories
– Sara Tennis – Artisan
– Scandia Butik (Gammelgården’s gift shop – inside the Welcome House)
– Scandia Sister City Council
– Susan Rae’s Woodworking
– T’s Crafts

· Watch artists do demonstrations throughout the day including:

– Kim Garrett – Rosemaling – Kim has studied with several Vesterheim Gold Medal-winning rosemaling instructors. She also studied with master artists in Norway and Sweden. Kim’s goal is to bring together a blend of traditional Scandinavian folk art with modern techniques and point of view.

– Laila and Kate from Knit & Gather.

– Minnesota Lace Society.

– Natalie Norman – Embroidery – Natalie will display samples of needlework on kjolsackor as well as demonstrate embroidery work.

– Scandinavian Weavers Study Group.
– Ronna Thorson – NorskAtelier – Rosemaling.

· Visit with organizations that have displays and information about immigrants and pioneers who were in Minnesota at the same time that Swedish immigrants were moving and settling in the state:

– French-American Heritage Foundation of Minnesota.

– Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery.

– Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesota.

· Shop in Gammelgården’s gift shop (Butik) and see all the new products for 2025!

· Visit with the Minnesota Genealogical Society and learn how to research your family’s ancestors.

· Toddler dance party hosted by Loon Holistic Health at 11 a.m.

· Historic fashion show by the Living History Society of Minnesota at 1 p.m.

· Learn about volunteer opportunities at Gammelgården.

· Temporary tattoos for kids.

· Tasty treats – taste a sample of what food in the 1800s would have tasted like!

· Learn about the many restoration and accessibility projects happening at Gammelgården this year.

· Food and beverages on site for purchase.

· Play-to-Win Games sponsored in part by Envoy and Scandia Electric.
· Check out a sensory kit, if needed. (The museum has kits for both children and adults.)

History & Heritage Book Club
2025-05-09 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-06-13 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
2025-05-14 10:30 - 12:30, 2025-06-11 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.

Drop Off Items for the Garage Sale
2025-05-15 11:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-16 11:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-17 11:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-18 13:30 - 15:30 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Gammelgården is accepting high-quality new and used items to sell during the Community-wide Garage Sale that will be held on May 29th-31st. Proceeds from the items sold will be used to support the museum’s restoration projects and events. Items can be dropped off on May 15th, 16th, and 17th from 11-3 and on May 18th from 1:30-3.

Introduction to Crocheting
2025-05-17 12:30 - 15:30 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
This beginning-level course is wonderful for those who want to learn how to crochet, but need some guidance about how to start. It also is a great class for those who have crocheted many years ago and need a little encouragement to get back into it.
First, you learn about the best hooks and yarn and then you work on a simple square pattern of single crochet stitches that you can be made into a dishcloth, hot pad, or cup cozy. Cara helps students troubleshoot any issues and learn to make those perfect edges. Once the basic stitch is understood, students may move on to other stitches and projects.
Materials that are supplied:

Cotton blend yarn
Crochet hook
Stitch markers
Printed pattern

Age Requirement:

Students ages 10 and older may attend this class. Ages 10-15 must register with another registered adult.
Registration:
Sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/crochetingatGG
Cancellation Policy:
Up to 3 weeks before the event – 50% refund. Under 3 weeks before the event, no refunds.
About the Artist:
​Hello! I’m Cara. I started my career as a features writer for newspapers and magazines, but eventually realized I wanted to expand my work into my lifelong passion for crafting. I have always been inspired by my crafty and thrifty grandmother, Mary Marie Mason, who taught me how important it was to take time out to make something with your hands. Now I design patterns, teach classes, and sell my handmade items.
In my knitting and crochet classes, my goal is to build confidence in beginners by starting with chunky knit projects you can finish in one class. Once you’ve mastered that project, you can move on to smaller and smaller needles and yarn. I love the moments when it clicks for students.
More fun facts: I grew up in Kansas, then lived in Des Moines, IA, Boulder, CO, and the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Saint Paul, MN with my husband, Mike. We have two great kids, Harper and Max.

Gammelgården Museum Silent Book Club
2025-05-18 13:30 - 15:30, 2025-06-15 13:30 - 15:30 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
The Gammelgården Museum Silent Book Club meets on the third Sunday of each month from May through November from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Bring your favorite book from home to read, choose one from Gammelgården’s non-lending library (there are books in English and Swedish), or purchase a book in the Butik (the museum’s gift shop).

There will be 30 minutes to choose your book/get settled, 1 hour of reading time, and then 30 minutes to talk with one another, continue reading, look at the museum’s exhibits and displays, shop in the gift shop, or leave and go home to recharge.

Visit the Gammelgården Museum Silent Book Club Facebook Group to be a part of the club.

NAMI Minnesota Mindful Creations Support Group
2025-05-21 10:15 - 12:15, 2025-06-18 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

Mors Dag (Mother's Day) in Sweden
2025-05-25 | MN
Glad Mors Dag (glawd mohrs dawg) or Happy Mother’s Day!
In Sweden, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the last Sunday in May. Mothers in Sweden prefer to receive fresh flowers or gifts, and breakfast in bed.
Spend Mother’s Day honoring or remembering your mother by walking the museum grounds, seeing what’s in bloom, going on an afternoon tour of the historic buildings, or seeing the current art exhibit (Swedish Folk Painting – Tradition and Innovation).

Community-Wide Garage Sale
2025-05-29 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-30 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-31 10:00 - 16:00 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Gammelgården Museum will be participating in Scandia’s Community-Wide Garage Sale. This is your opportunity to purchase items that have been donated to the museum. Proceeds from the sale will be used to support Gammelgården’s events and restoration projects.

Children's Storytime
2025-06-05 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-06-12 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-06-26 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-07-03 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.

National Day in Sweden
2025-06-06 | MN
National Day is a day when Swedes celebrate the memory of the election of the nation’s founding father, Gustav Vasa, on June 6, 1523.
It was also on this day that a new constitution was adopted in 1809. The name was changed to Swedish Flag Day in 1983, but it wasn’t until 2005 that it became an official public holiday.
On National Day in Sweden, people enjoy Fika with friends, sing, dance, and attend village events in the town square.

Contemporary Tapestry Weaving
2025-06-07 10:30 - 12:00 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Learn the basics of tapestry weaving to create a small wall hanging from Sandra Brick. Use a variety of colorful, textured materials like bulky yarn and wool roving. Get fancy with fringe, loops, and color blocking to create a weaving that is as unique as you are!
Sandra Brick is a trainer, coach, and educator with over 21 years of experience with the Textile Center both as an instructor and former Board member. She has designed and developed 35+ workshops and courses in a diverse range of workshop topics such as fabric dyeing, design theory, beading, creative problem solving, and technology workshops for artists. Brick’s explorations in new materials and techniques have inspired her innovative body of work in surface design, stitching and mixed media, which has been widely exhibited. facebook.com/TE.SandraBrick/
Register HERE for the Contemporary Tapestry Weaving class.

Crocheted Granny Squares
2025-06-07 12:30 - 15:30 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Get inspired by the fiber arts trend that’s always in style: Crocheted Granny Squares! These simple-to-make crocheted squares can be used alone or multiplied to make everything from small purses to sweaters to large shawls!
Cara Corey will teach you basic crocheting skills needed to create a Granny Square. Once you learn the pattern, see where your creativity takes you. All are welcome – no crocheting experience is necessary.
Class fee $50, supply fee $15
Register through EventBrite at https://tinyurl.com/grannysquares2025
Cancellation Policy:
Up to 3 weeks before the event – 50% refund. Under 3 weeks before the event, no refunds.

Meet the Author & Illustrator of "Making Minnesota" - With Hands-on Activities for 7+ Youth & Adults
2025-06-14 10:30 - 12:00 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Enjoy hands-on activities while learning about the great state of Minnesota! Pat Bauer (author) and Dave Geister (illustrator) will share “Making Minnesota,” an activity book published by the Minnesota Historical Society.
NOTE: Although the event is free, there is limited seating. Please register on Eventbrite if you plan to attend to guarantee your spot.
The book will be available for free at this family event, thanks to generous funding from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment.
The activity book explores Minnesota’s history, people, landscapes, wildlife, and culture. It is full of information and activities for kids and celebrates all things Minnesota. The book offers activities to help young readers engage with Minnesota’s history, people, and places by encouraging them to make their own illustrations, maps, lists of favorite places, and other ways to make Minnesota great.
Patricia Bauer is the author of “B for Battle Cry: A Civil War Alphabet.” Dave Geister provided the illustrations for Bauer’s book, as well as for many other historically-themed picture books.
The program at Gammelgården is geared towards children ages 7 and up, as well as families that have newly immigrated to Minnesota.

Museum Closed for Juneteenth
2025-06-19 | MN
Gammelgården Museum will be closed in observance of Juneteenth.
What is Juneteenth? From Wikipedia:
Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States.
The holiday’s name is a portmanteau of the words “June” and “nineteenth”, as it was on June 19, 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War.
In the Civil War period, slavery came to an end in various areas of the United States at different times. Many enslaved Southerners escaped, demanded wages, stopped work, or took up arms against the Confederacy of slave states.
In January 1865, Congress finally proposed the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution for national abolition of slavery. By June 1865, almost all enslaved were freed by the victorious Union Army, or abolition laws in some of the remaining U.S. states. When the national abolition amendment was ratified in December, the remaining enslaved in Delaware and in Kentucky were freed.

Puppet Making with In the Heart of Beast Puppet Theater
2025-06-21 10:30 - 12:30 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (HOBT) will be at Gammelgården Museum with two teaching artists who will provide a 2-hour puppet making workshop on the theme of celebrating Midsummer, Summer, and/or flowers. This is a workshop for participants of all ages – from children in Kindergarten through adults. Participants younger than 16 years old should be accompanied by an adult.
Registration is required as there are a limited number of spots available. Registrations will be accepted through EventBrite and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
INFORMATION ABOUT HOBT
You will start with water, flour, newspaper, and paint. Add a large measure of imagination and a dollop of artistry to make stories about our world come alive through puppets. This is in the Heart of the Beast’s 50-year-old puppet recipe.
Since 1973, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre has helped to create and cultivate the puppetry community in the Twin Cities.
HOBT is a community of artists working within the larger community to create magic together. They make puppets large and small, monstrous, beautiful, silly, human, plant, and animal.
You can see many of their puppets at their Free Puppet Library every first and third Saturday of the month; and they often visit community spaces to engage with neighbors around the Twin Cities Metro and beyond!
They use gestures, voice, form, and color, giving life to puppets that help tell stories to represent the world as it is and as we dream it could be.

Bluegrass & Lemonade in the Shade
2025-06-22 14:00 - 15:45 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
Come on down for an old-time bluegrass jam session at Gammelgården Museum from 2-3:45 p.m. on four Sundays – June 22, July 27, August 24, and September 28!
Bring your banjo, fiddle, guitar, cello, dulcimer, harmonica, mandolin, ukulele, or bass, and learn new tunes! Play along, or just relax and listen in a welcoming atmosphere.
There are experienced and new musicians, and people of all ages.
Best of all…Bluegrass & Lemonade in the Shade is free!
*** Remember to bring your chair or blanket. ***
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jam Etiquette

Be polite, welcoming, and friendly.
Be kind to beginners and new jammers – it takes courage to join in and play along!
Put your instrument cases off to the side and out of the way.
Please minimize noodling around between tunes.
Step out of the circle to tune your instrument or chat with someone.

Midsommardagen
2025-06-28 10:00 - 16:00 | Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia, 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN, 55073, United States
This Swedish festival is perhaps the most popular one of the year. Join us at Gammelgården Museum for this outdoor festival celebrating the beauty of the Summer Day. Dating back to ancient times, Midsommardagen marks the longest day of the year and welcomes back warm weather.
Enjoy traditional Swedish music, group folk dancing, hands-on activities, arts, crafts, and vendor fair, demonstrations by artists, and, in the center of it all, the Majstång/Midsommarstång (May/Midsummer Pole), freshly decorated with spring greenery.
This year we have new special features during the morning from 10:00-12:00:
– In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre – do a make-and-take floral crown project that celebrates summer, flowers, and Midsommardagen. (This make-and-take activity is available until supplies run out.) Try on large masks from In the Heart of the Beast and take your photo in them. See four large, puppets dressed as birds or with a summer theme roaming the museum grounds.
– COMPAS Teaching Artist Anne McFaul Reid – make a beautiful paper flower with Anne. This make-and-take activity is available until supplies run out.
– Children’s Passport to Midsommardagen – have your photo taken in one of the children’s costumes and place it in your “Midsommardagen Passport.” Travel to different activities throughout the museum grounds and buildings to have your passport stamped.
Enjoy a picnic lunch with the wide array of food offered for sale at the museum. Bring a chair and a blanket to enjoy your picnic on the museum grounds. Note that alcohol is not allowed on museum property.
Menu:
– Swedish Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Lingonberries, and Crunchy Onions
– Loaded Swedish Meatball Sandwich (Swedish Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Lingonberries, and Crunchy Onions all served on a bun)
– Fresh Salad with Choice of Dressing
– Fresh Fruit Cup

– Pickled Herring with Crisp Flatbread
– Chips
– Midsommar Cake with Strawberries
– Chokladbollar
– Cookies
– Beverages (Sodas, Water, and Coffee)

Schedule of Events:

Historic Buildings Open to the Public: 10:00-1:00 and 3:00-4:00
Artists, Crafters, and Vendors Fair: 10:00-4:00
– Adrienne Quinlan
– Apothecary’s Daughter
– Bella Josie Naturals, LLC
– Bluebird Recovery Program of Minnesota

– Butik (Gammelgården Museum of Scandia’s Gift Shop)
– Chickadee Forest

– Carol’s Stained Glass
– Community Homestead
– Cynthia DeMar Arts (also demonstrating copper pipe cuff making)
– Donald Fick
– Erika Knits
– Hunter Panoch Art and Photography
– Jerry Berg
– LB’s Caramels, Candies, and Crafts, LLC
– Lisa Rydin Erickson
– Marine Maple Syrup
– Eric Nelson/Buckthorn Studios (also demonstrating tintype photography)
– Ron Nelson Carvings (also demonstrating wood carving)
– Sara Tennis – Artisan
– Scandia Sister City Council
– Scandinavian Weavers Study Group/Lisa-Anne Bauch (also demonstrating weaving on the museum’s floor loom)
– STITCHES by Carin
– Susan Raes Woodworking
– Swedish Genealogical Society of Minnesota
– Three Little Kittens Creations
– Three Rivers Fibershed
– Vasa Jr. Folk Dancers
– Washington County Master Gardeners – Milkweed, Monarchs, and Pollinators Team
Demonstrations by Artists: 10:00-4:00
– Copper Pipe Cuff Making – Cynthia DeMar Arts (as time permits)
– Tintype Photography – Eric Nelson/Buckthorn Studios
– Weaving on the Museum’s Floor Loom – Lisa-Anne Bauch – Scandinavian Weavers Study Group
– Wood Carving – Ron Nelson/Flat Plane Figurative Carvings

Butik (Gammelgården’s Gift Shop) Open: 10:00-4:00
Hands-on Activities for People of All Ages: 10:00-12:30
– Make a Paper Flower with COMPAS Teaching Artist Anne McFaul Reid (until supplies run out)
– Do a make-and-take mask project that celebrates summer, flowers, and Midsommardagen with In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (until supplies run out)
– Make a Fresh-Flower Head Wreath (until supplies run out)
– Make a Mini-Majstång/Midsommarstång (until supplies run out)
– Swedish Coloring Sheets
– Summer Scavenger Hunt. Print the scavenger hunt sheet from Gammelgården’s website and bring it to the front desk in the Welcome House (the big red building) to receive a free children’s book about Midsommar.
– Temporary Tattoos

See ArtReach’s Mobile Art Gallery: 10:00-4:00
Music by the Scandia Community Band: 12:15-1:00
Raising of the Majstång/Midsommarstång, May/Midsummer Pole: 1:00
– Folk Music by the ASI Cloudberries (Women’s Chorus Based out of the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota)
– Folk Dancing by the Vasa Junior Folk Dancers (Children Ages 3-18 Years Old who Preserve Swedish Dance, Traditions, and Heritage; and Share Swedish Culture with the Community)
** Although Midsommardagen is a free event, it is helpful for Gammelgården to know how many people plan to attend. RSVP on Eventbrite. Again, there is no charge to do this or attend Midsommardagen. **
NOTE: Midsommardagen will be held rain or shine. If there is a thunderstorm, the program will be held indoors at Elim Lutheran Church at 20971 Olinda Trail North. Elim is within a short walking distance from Gammelgården.
Watch the museum’s Facebook page or call the museum at 651-433-5053 for more information.
