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June 30, 2006
Midsummer's 2006: Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers
It's always a treat to watch the Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers perform, and this year's Midsummer's proved to be no exception! They infuse their dancing with a spirit and vigor that is refreshing and joyful to watch. As usual, click any of the images to see the full set of Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers at Flickr:
Posted by mike at 10:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 29, 2006
Midsummer's 2006: Leikarring Dancers
At the 2006 Midsummer's Festival in Lindsborg we were fortunate to have not one, but two visiting dance groups. I've already posted images of the Mora Folkdanslag, from Mora Sweden, and here's a set of images of the Leikarring, a Scandinavian dance group representing the Norwegian Society of Texas. As usual, click any of the image to see the full set of Leikarring dancers at Flickr:
Posted by mike at 11:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Midsummer's Photo Update: Mora Folkdanslag
I'm making great progress and have almost finished processing the 930 photos I took at last weekend's Midsummer's celebration. I've cut the number of keepers down to a little under 300. That's still high, but when one considers there were 4 different dance groups, plus other activities such as the raising of the Maypole, there are not too many photos in any one category.
Below is a small sample of the images I just uploaded to Flickr. These images are of the Mora Folkdanslag, a Swedish folk-dance group who traveled all the way from Mora, Sweden to perform at this year's Midsummer's Festival in Lindsborg, Kansas. As usual, click any of the image to see the full set of Mora dancers at Flickr:
Posted by mike at 11:02 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 24, 2006
Midsummer's Swedish Fashion Review
One of the highlights of the weekend's Midsummer's celebration was the Swedish Fashion Review. A nice variety of costumes were modeled, including both modern costumes as well as vintage designs that included pieces of costumes brought over from Sweden by the early settlers of the Smoky Valley. One of the highlights of honoring our Swedish heritage at times like Midsummer's and Hyllningsfest is seeing so many folks dressed in their Swedish costumes, and this weekend was no exception.
Of the 900 some odd pictures I took Saturday, around 100 of them were taken at the fashion show. The setting presented a bit of a challenge, as I wasn't able to use a flash, but overall I got a number of reasonably nice images. There's a bit of blur in a couple of them; handholding in such low light is a minor challenge. The color balance was also off, and though it's not perfect now, I'm pretty pleased with what I was able to do via white balance adjustments using Adobe Camera Raw.
I've posted the complete set of 42 images of Swedish costumes at Flickr, and to encourage you to view the whole set, I've posted a few below (click on any image to see the entire set at Flickr):
These outfits are modeled by one of the families representing the Mora, Sweden dancers.
::
Mrs. Karstadt taught generations of Lindsborg youth the joys of Swedish dancing.
::
Emily models a traditional costume including the peaked hat and special shoes.
::
Posted by mike at 1:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Midsummer's Day 2006
One week ago Lindsborg celebrated the annual Swedish holiday known as Midsummer's. For the second year in a row, I provided publicity for the event, and once again it was a wonderful, challenging and rewarding experience. You can read more about the details of Midsummer's at Little Sweden, USA.
For now, I've posted a couple of Midsummer's images on my photoblog, luminosity.
I'll close this post with a photo of the Swedish folk dance group from Mora, Sweden: the Mora Folkdanslagen, dancing under the Maypole on a beautiful Midsummer's Eve in Lindsborg, Kansas:
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June 16, 2006
Lindsborg Update 15 June 2006
Hello everyone,
It’s a Swedish tradition celebrated around the world, especially in Little Sweden, USA! It’s the Midsummer’s Day Festival, this Saturday during the day at Lindsborg’s Swensson Park and in the evening at Heritage Park near the Old Mill.
Enjoy
Swedish folk dancers from Mora Sweden,
Scandinavian folk dancers from Texas,
the Lindsborg youth and adult Swedish dancers,
and children’s activities throughout the day.
At the adjoining Bethany Church there will be
a Swedish costume review, featuring a wide variety of costumes from throughout the ages,
and a performance by the Bloomington Minnesota Covenant Church Adult Choir.
Back in Swensson Park, enjoy a preview of this year’s Broadway RFD production of South Pacific, followed by more Swedish Dancing as well as children’s activities.
At 5pm there’s the smorgasbord dinner at the Pihlblad Union on the Bethany campus; tickets are available at the Swedish Dancer’s Dala Van at Swensson Park during the day. They are $17.50 for adults and $10 for kids.
In the evening the celebration continues in Heritage Park near the Old Mill. The raising of the Maypole is certainly one of the highlights of every Midsummer’s celebration! More Swedish and Scandinavian folk dancing will follow the raising of the Maypole.
finish the day with the midnight swim, from 10pm to midnight at the Lindsborg municipal pool.
On Sunday, there is a Vesper’s service followed by a potluck dinner, starting at 4:30 at the Bethany Lutheran Church. There will be Swedish Dancing following the dinner.
Midsummer’s Day is full of fun and delicious food for the whole family, so don’t miss it, Saturday in Lindsborg. Tickets are just 3 dollars for adults, 2 dollars for children.
Plus, visit downtown Lindsborg merchants for a chance to win with Midsummer’s Madness. After visiting 4 participating merchants, drop off your entry form for a chance to win a fine piece of artwork by local artist Carla J Wilson. The drawing will be held Saturday evening, and you need not be present to win.
Till next week, this is Mike Rodriquez with the Lindsborg update.
Posted by mike at 11:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 8, 2006
Midsummer's Madness
Downtown Lindsborg Merchants are hosting their Midsummer’s Madness event the day of Midsummer’s. On Saturday, June 17th, Midsummer’s attendees are encouraged to take the short walk from the park to downtown where they can both experience more of what Lindsborg has to offer as well as enter into a drawing for a fine piece of artwork made by a local artist.
The Midsummer’s Program has an entry coupon that needs to be marked by 4 participating merchants and then deposited at the Swedish Country Inn, downtown Lindsborg. The lucky winner of the drawing will receive a fine piece of Swedish Folk Art: a hand painted tray of Kurbit design by Carla J Wilson (www.flipartlindsborg.com).
Carla’s art may be purchased at both the Swedish Country Inn and the Old Grind, both in downtown Lindsborg, or from her website. An image of the piece being awarded as the prize this year is available: www.littleswedenusa.com/images/kurbit_design_tray.jpg
Here's a smaller version for your enjoyment:
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Lindsborg Update 8 June 2006
Hello everyone,
It’s barely one week till Lindsborg welcomes summer with the annual Midsummer’s Festival, held the weekend of June 17th.
But before we turn to that, Lindsborg is having a fairly big day Sunday June 11th from noon to 8pm. That’s the day of Jam in the Park, an all day musical extravaganza held in Swensson Park. Featuring 14 different bands, the music will range from country and pop to ragtime and Christian rock. Admission is free, and food will be available for purchase. Johnny Western will be the guest announcer from noon to 4pm, and Brother Ray and Roxanne, from the Zoo, will keep the crowd excited from 4pm to 8pm.
On Saturday, June 17th, prepare for a full day as Lindsborg celebrates Midsummer’s. There will be Swedish folk dancing, featuring many special guest dancers, including a group from Mora Sweden, plenty of food, a wide variety of arts and crafts, and much more.
As promised last week, here’s a look at what’s available for the kids this year. Children’s activities have been enhanced and expanded this year. The young ones will be sure to enjoy games such as the Lutefisk toss and Swede ball. There will also be miniature Maypole decorating, face painting, the crafting of dala horse name tags, and more. This year truly promises fun for the whole family!
And speaking of food, there something new this year, a special Swedish delicacy known as Varm Korv med bröd, which translates to warm sausage with bread, otherwise known as a hotdog on a bun. But these aren’t just any hotdog! They’ve been specially created for this event by a local meat processor and are based on an old traditional Swedish recipe for hotdogs.
On Sunday, the weekend concludes with a 4:30 pm Vesper’s service at the Bethany Lutheran Church, followed by a potluck dinner.
Till next week, this is Mike Rodriquez with the Lindsborg update.
Posted by mike at 12:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Lindsborg Update 1 June 2006
Hello everyone,
On June 17th, Lindsborg celebrates the traditional Swedish event known as the Midsummer’s Festival with a full day of activities that you won’t want to miss!
Swedish Folk dance performances are one of the highlights of every Midsummer’s, and this year will be no exception. Every year Midsummer’s audiences are treated to dancing by the youthful Lindsborg Swedish Dancers and the adult Folkdanslag dancers. This year, some very special guests from Texas, the Norwegian Society of Texas, and Mora, Sweden, the Mora Folkdanslag, will be performing their interpretations of Swedish Folk and Scandinavian dancing. This is a rare treat, so make your plans now to be in Lindsborg on June 17th.
Of course, there’s a lot more to Lindsborg’s Midsummer’s Festival than just dancing. As mentioned last week, there is a Swedish Costume Fashion show at Bethany Church, starting at 11am. In addition, there is a preview of this summer’s Broadway RFD presentation: South Pacific, starting at 1pm. This year there is a renewed emphasis on children’s activities; I’ll have more details in a future broadcast, but want everyone to know that kids and grownups a like will enjoy the children’s lutefisk toss.
Midsummer’s weekend also marks the 3rd Annual Bethany College Auxiliary Garden Tour will be held the afternoon of Midsummer’s Day. This event is a fundraising effort to benefit the Auxiliary Bethany College Student Scholarship Fund, and tickets will be available at the park the day of Midsummer’s.
The home garden tour is wonderful opportunity to see a few of the many fine gardens in Lindsborg and will conclude with a Nibble Table at the Hemslojd, 201 N. Main Street.
Be sure to tune in next week for more information about the Lindsborg Midsummer’s Festival on June 17th.
Posted by mike at 12:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 7, 2006
Celebrate Midsummer's June 17th 2006
Here's the latest press release I'm sending out regarding this year's Midsummer's Day Festival in Lindsborg.
Press Release
Available in doc (Word), PDF and .txt formats. Please feel free to share this info with other interested parties. The address for this page is: http://www.littleswedenusa.com/archives/2006/06/celebrate_midsu.html
CONTACT:
Mike Rodriquez
(785) 227-2928
msd06@littleswedenusa.com
http://www.lindsborg.org/midsummers.htm
June 1st, 2006 For Immediate Release
"Midsummer Festival to be held on Saturday, June 17th."
Updates: new Swedish foods, children's activities, vendor list, garden tour details
LINDSBORG, KS - Midsummer's Day, a traditional Swedish festival celebrated worldwide, returns to Lindsborg: Little Sweden USA, the weekend of June 17th 2006. This festival, held to celebrate the beginning of summer, is one of the most popular of all Swedish celebrations. Lindsborg is proud to host this fun-filled family oriented Swedish-American festival, this year featuring special guest performers from Sweden. Now in its 35th year, Lindsborg's 2006 Midsummer's Day promises to be a fun-filled day for everyone in the family, so be sure to join us in Lindsborg's Swensson Park on Saturday, June 17th!
This year, very special guests will be performing at Midsummer's. From Mora, Sweden, the Mora Folkdanslag, a Swedish Folk dance group, will be joining the celebration. Also performing will be the Leikarring, which is a Folk dance group whose members belong to the Norwegian Society of Texas. Of course, the high school group Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers and the adult Lindsborg Folkdanslag dancers will also be performing the weekend of Midsummer's.
On Saturday numerous local Midsummer activities will be held throughout Lindsborg - Swedish Folk Dancing, crafts, food and more in Swensson Park during the day, on to the Bethany College student union for the early evening smörgåsbord, and down to the Old Mill Heritage Square historical complex for evening Swedish folkdancing and maypole (majstång) raising. There is even an afternoon garden tour featuring a few fine Lindsborg homes for those seeking a change of pace. The day concludes with a midnight swim at the Lindsborg pool from 10pm until midnight.
*New* Children's activities have been enhanced and expanded this year. The young ones will be sure to enjoy games such as the Lutefisk toss and Swede ball. There will also be miniature Maypole decorating, face painting, the crafting of dala horse name tags, and more. This year truly promises fun for the whole family!
*New* New this year at Midsummer's is a special Swedish delicacy known as Varm Korv med bröd, which translates to warm sausage with bread, otherwise known as a hotdog on a bun. But these aren't just any hotdog! They've been specially created for this event by a local meat processor and are based on an old traditional Swedish recipe for hotdogs
Admission for the day's events (not including the Smörgåsbord) is $3 adult, $2 children ages 4 to 12, and youth under age 4 will be admitted free. For the second year in a row the first 200 paid attendees dressed in a Swedish costume will receive a commemorative pin. This price includes the evening's entertainment at the Old Mill.
Midsummer's Activities & Events Details
While the Swedish Folk Dances are a large part of what makes Midsummer's enjoyable for the whole family, there's much more happening at Lindsborg's Midsummer's Day Festival. For the little ones, there's a full slate of activities planned, including games such as the lutefisk toss as well the always popular face painting. In addition, there will be a vending area featuring a wide variety of arts & crafts, as well as a food court where a number of food vendors will provide food and drink, including some local Swedish treats. In addition, a number of local dining establishments are located nearby in Lindsborg's downtown.
There will be other entertainment throughout the day, including a Swedish Costume fashion show, family games and a preview of Lindsborg's premiere outdoor theatre, Broadway RFD, who will be performing South Pacific this summer. Throughout the day, many Lindsborg residents will be dressed in traditional Swedish costumes, adding to the atmosphere of Midsummer's Day.
The Midsummer's Day celebration continues in the evening, moving from Swensson Park to the Old Mill Heritage Complex. There, visitors will experience the traditional raising of the maypole, followed by traditional Swedish dances. For those still left standing, the day will conclude with a midnight swim at the Lindsborg swimming pool.
Friday, Sunday & Monday Activities & Events
The activities around Midsummer's aren't limited to Saturday. On Friday evening, at the Old Mill Heritage Complex, there is an informal Dance Exchange amongst all the members of the dance groups performing during Midsummer's. Also on Friday evening, the Bloomington Minnesota Covenant Church Choir will be performing at the Lindsborg Covenant Church.
On Sunday, the traditional Vesper's Service at Bethany Lutheran Church will start at 4:30, followed by a potluck dinner, and ending with Swedish folk dancing.
And finally, on Monday, the 2006 Swedish Jenny Lind winner, soprano Malin Nilsson, will give a concert that evening at the Sandzen Gallery.
Midsummer Information
_ Festival contact:
MIDSUMMERS COMMITTEE, c/o Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce
104 E. Lincoln St.
Lindsborg, Kansas 67456.
Phone 785-227-3706, 1-888-227-2227. Fax (c/o City): 785-227-4128.
Website:
_ Midsummer Festival chairperson:
Margo Lysell
_ Mid-summer Festival PR chairperson:
Mike Rodriquez
msd06@littleswedenusa.com
785-227-2928
_Midsummer Sponsors:
Erik Peterson, DDS
Bethany Home
Special Guests
Mora Folkdanslag
During the later parts of the nineteenth century the interest for maintaining our cultural heritage in dancing and music was awakened. In order to keep in remembrance the traditions from the countryside, a work of inventory and documentation was started.
On initiative of the great painter Anders Zorn the "Mora Lekstuga" was started in 1904. The purpose of "Lekstugan" is to "promote a sound lifestyle and through sober and proper behavior be a good example for others; also to revive the clothing of our forefathers and with dancing and plays keep up our senses from the daily duties."
It was very important that the members were dressed in folklore dresses during meetings and practicing. If they did not they had to pay a small amount of money.
The "Lekstuga"-activities were held under protest from many people in Mora, they thought it was immoral. At last it was anyway accepted, much thanks to the influential Anders Zorn.
1927 the Mora Folkdanslag was founded and they had their activities at the adult education school of Skeriol.
Todays "Mora Folkdanslag" was founded in October 1961 and we are 10 - 12 couples practicing once a week. We meet once a week to practice, most old traditional dances. But we also meet with other groups to learn new variants. These dance-evenings are a nice form of social meeting and exercise.
Norwegian Society of Texas Leikarringen
The Norwegian Society of Texas is a statewide organization founded on March 25, 1975 with the objective "to enjoy, preserve and promote our Norwegian heritage". The Norwegian Society of Texas Leikarring, "play-ring" was founded as a state-wide folkdance group of N.S.T. Currently the N.S.T. Leikarring has dance groups in Amarillo, Dallas-Fort Worth and El Paso. We are one of the many groups of Norwegian folk dancers in the United State. Folk dancing is the easiest of all dancing and requires just the sense of rhythm and the willingness to learn. Basic steps used, you probably already know, for instance: the waltz, polka, schottische and just the walking step. We welcome anyone whether a couple or single and of any age to join the fun. Only requirement is that you join the Norwegian Society of Texas. We are always glad to perform our Scandinavian dances which use polka, waltz, schottische, and hambo steps, some of which are special to a specific region of Norway; others portray an occupation or tell a story. Names of some of the dances are Eikerril, Seksmannsril, Reinlender Med Turer, Giljerosen, Veva Vedmel, Snus Polka, Holt-Ril, Attetur Med Mylne, Jamstpolska, Sjynmyrvals, Stockholm Schottisch, and many more. The NST Barneringen (children's group) is an opportunity for the younger ones to participate. If interested in joining please contact state coordinator and director Eudoris Dahl.
http://www.norwegiansocietytexas.org/Leikarringen/Leikarringen.html
Schedule
Friday Events
On Friday evening, at the Old Mill Heritage Complex, there is an informal Dance Exchange amongst all the members of the dance groups performing during Midsummer's.
Saturday Events
On Saturday start at the park - which will have an air of summer celebration with music, arts, crafts, food concessions, attractive booths, storytellers and humor. Swedish costume is the dress of the day for many. At the park don't miss:
_ The main stage area: (dancing, etc)
_ Arts and crafts booths (fine art, folk art, crafts)
_ For the kids: Craft activities, Games and Face Painting
_ Food court in the park
_ Scandinavian Folk Dress style show, Bethany Church (adjacent to park) (11:00-2:30)
Also on Saturday, from 1 to 4 p.m., there is a garden tour planned at several Lindsborg residential locations. The tour includes a Nibble Table at the Hemslojd, 201 N. Main Street. The garden tour is sponsored by the Bethany College Auxiliary's in support of their Bethany College scholarship fund. Tour tickets are $5 and more information is available at the Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce or gusenius@cox.net. Tickets will be available the day of Midsummer's at the Chamber booth.
At 5 p.m. a festive Swedish Midsummers Smörgåsbord feast will be served in Bethany College's Pihlblad Memorial Union, sponsored by the Lindsborg Swedish Folkdancers high school youth and families. Smörgåsbord advance tickets at $17.50 adult, children ages 4-12 $10 (under age 4 free), are recommended; order from the Lindsborg Swedish Folkdancers, P.O. Box 242, Lindsborg, KS 67456.
Starting at 6:30 PM, the gates will open at the Old Mill Heritage Park. There, visitors will experience the traditional raising of the maypole, followed by traditional Swedish dances. For those still left standing, the day will conclude with a midnight swim at the Lindsborg swimming pool.
Sunday Events
The June 19th Sunday events include a Swedish Vespers church service followed by a community potluck supper at Bethany Lutheran Church. This has been a traditional part of Lindsborg Midsummer's since the festival was revived in the community more than thirty years ago. The potluck supper is co-sponsored by American Scandinavian Association of the Great Plains and Bethany Church. The Vespers service is at 4:30 and the potluck starts at 5:30 PM. The evening will conclude with Swedish folk dancing.
Monday Events
On Monday, the 2006 Swedish Jenny Lind winner, soprano Malin Nilsson, will give a concert that evening at the Sandzen Gallery. The award is given in honor of the famous 19th century Swedish soprano, Jenny Lind, who was first brought to America's attention by none other than P.T. Barnum.
SCHEDULE as of 1 June 2006
FRIDAY EVENING, 16 JUNE 2006
7:00 Dance Exchange/workshop (participants 4 performing dance groups)
MIDSUMMER'S DAY, 17 JUNE 2006
Swensson Park, 400 BLK North Main
9:00 - Park opens GATE ADMISSION $3 ADULT $2 CHILDREN 12 & UNDER
9:30-10:05 Opening Procession
National Anthems
Mayoral Welcome - John Magnuson
10:10-10:40 Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers
10:45-11:15 NST Leikarring (Norwegian Folk dance group)
11:20-11:50 Mora Folkdanslag (Swedish Folk dance group from Mora Sweden)
11:55-12:25 Lindsborg Folkdanslag
12:30-12:50 Family Games (audience participation Swedish dance games)
12:55-1:25 Broadway RFD Preview- South Pacific- Director Lisa Christopher
1:30-2:00 Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers
2:05-2:35 Lindsborg Folkdanslag
2:40-3:10 Family Games
3:15-3:45 NST Leikarring
3:50-4:20 Mora Folkdanslag
OPTION TO MAIN STAGE
BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 320 N. Main
11:00- 12:00 Scandinavian Folkdress style show
2:00- 3:00 Bloomington Covenant Church Adult Choir
EVENING EVENTS
OLD MILL HERITAGE COMPLEX, 120 Mill St. (South Park)
6:30 GATES OPEN GATE ADMISSION $3 ADULT $2 CHILDREN
7:00-10:00 Raising of the May Pole - Lindsborg Folkdanslag
Blowing of the Birch Horn - Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancer
Opening Procession
Dance Performances
Mora Folkdanslag
NST Leikarring
Lindsborg Folkdanslag
Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers
10:00-12:00 Midnight Swim - Lindsborg Swimming Pool - (South Park)
SUNDAY, 18 JUNE 2006
4:30 Vespers Service, Bethany Lutheran Church
5:30 Potluck
6:30 Dance Performance
Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers
Mora Folkdanslag
NST Leikarring
MONDAY, 19 JUNE 2006
7:00? Jenny Lind concert, Sandzen Gallery
*New*
Arts / Crafts Exhibitors
* Alpha Group Log birdhouses & feeders, painted resin stepping stones & "sayings" blocks
* Ashcraft Creations Hand cut and polished free-formed jewelry artistry
* Barbware Creations Barbwire with floral arrangements, old barnwood frames with barbwire
* Blue Sterling Boatworks Wood and epoxy spa touring kayaks
* The Clock & Frame Village Rosemaling and woodcarving
* CR Crafts Wood rockers, gliders,inlaid card tables, painted saw blades. Decorated sunvisors and flip-flops
* Designs by Diane Original & traditional wheat weavings & wheat crafts
* Gayla's Country Loft Fabric lined baskets and hand knitted purses
* Andrew Janzen Instant photography. Landmark and tourist snapshots.
* jmw jewelry Sterling & gold jewelry, gemstones and pearls
* Kahler baskets and functional pots
* Irene's Teas & Stockholm Restaurant Tea and accessories
* Local Authors: Donna Opat, June Fuentes, Alice Nelson, Bev Barbo
* Delcie Malcom Handiwork-Crocheted Kitchen Towels, baby afghans, potholders, etc.
* Shirley Malm Swedish style folk art
* Lan Nelson Christmas Ornaments Tin Stars
* John Presley Carving demonstrations, only. NO SALES
* R & M Gems Lapidary; Indian (flint) pictures & crafts
* Schale Co Personalized wood and ceramic crafts and ceramic kitchenware
* Steve Sell Leathercraft and ink drawings
* Smoky Hill Bison Company buffalo jerky, toys information about the Smoky Hill Bison Co
* Wanda Stallings Original watercolors and "Washi" (collages of watercolor and handmade paper)
* Straw & Lace Suncatchers and wheat weaving
* Swensson Gallery & Studio Watercolor paintings and laser prints
* Tubbs clay instruments and whistles
*New*
Bethany College Auxiliary
2006 Garden Tour Press Release
How beautiful can the functional be? The 2006 Bethany Auxiliary Garden
Tour demonstrates that it can be very beautiful indeed. This year's Lindsborg
tour includes five stops, plus a "nibble table" at the Hemslojd, from 1
to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 17, Midsummer's Day. Tickets are available at
all the stops and the Chamber of Commerce Swensson Park booth.
The garden at the Rosberg House bed-and-breakfast, 103 E. State Street, serves
several functions. Besides beautiful for the inn's guests, there is
also an herb border, with a variety of mints, including chocolate and
orange mint, mixed in with flowering plants. The white garden area,
with white roses and white iron arch with seats, would make an ideal
spot for an intimate wedding. In fact, the garden, which surrounds the
swimming pool, offers several private niches for relaxing among the
pink, purple and white blooms, the theme that innkeeper Sabrina
Spellman uses throughout. And speaking of relaxing, the Spellmans now
offer a sod couch in front of their conference center facing Main
Street. The Spellmans had professional help from Gary Shogren and Diana Fanning.
On perhaps the other end of the spectrum, Kathleen Powers, 203 W.
Garfield, designed her front yard for her children to play in. The dogs
took over the fenced-in back area, so she worked with the front. "It
all started with the drainpipes," she said, which were extended away
from the house. So she cleverly used them as borders. She brought in
dirt for a small mound, and put in a dry creek bed of rock.
Another yard children would obviously love is at Tammy Oborg's house,
932 Pheasant Run. The house is surrounded by a large, wedge-shaped yard,
ideal for playing after supper. But Oborgs have taken the edges of the
yard and surrounded the house itself with a variety of plantings. Oborg
finds her garden ornaments at auctions and sales, including wheels and
wagons. The pond is tucked among the herbs and flowers surrounding the
house.
Jim and Margie Beck have are turning their entire yard on a corner lot at 202 S. 2nd
into a showcase of flower and vegetable garden. Tomatoes are planted
between the sidewalk and the street, as is an oriental-inspired area,
with a miniature cherry tree. There are two goldfish ponds, one in the
yard and one in the greenhouse. Yarn ornaments, including a collection
of birdhouses made by their grandchildren, are tucked in among the
plants throughout the backyard.
Like the Becks, Elly Ostlind, 301 S. Washington, has turned almost her entire backyard
into garden space. But the Becks have spent more than 10 years working
on theirs; while Ostlind is only in her third year. She has laid out her yard
in geometric shapes, with paths and planting areas mulched. "It's hard
to keep up with it on only three hours a day," she sighed. Rather, it's
amazing what you can accomplish on only three hours a day.
Tickets cost $5 and all proceeds from the garden tours will benefit the
Auxiliary's Bethany College scholarship fund.
More About Midsommardag
The story of Midsommardag
In Sweden, Midsommar celebrates the summer solstice-a magical time when daylight lasts nearly all night long-through a day of music and dancing.
At the center of the festivities in nearly every village is the majstång (or maypole) trimmed with garlands of flowers, often in the form of two circlets of flowers hung from its crossbar. In addition to decorating the pole, townspeople see to it that every house gets a row of twigs around the front door, and even boats and cars are festooned. Once the maypole is raised, usually in the center of a park, the music and dancing begin a celebration that lasts well into the bright night.
Midsommardag in Lindsborg
Midsommar is one of the most popular holidays in Sweden, heralding the coming of the summer solstice. It is a time of joyful celebration throughout Sweden. Since June 1971 Midsummers has been revived in Lindsborg to become a part of the community's annual calendar of Swedish-American festivals. Some aspects are uniquely Lindsborg's, such as arts and crafts displays and sales, and others are more traditional, such as the raising of the maypole. As in Sweden, Lindsborg welcomes arrival of the summer solstice with this community "Midsommarsdag" festival. Join us for the fun!
The Midsummer's weekend in Lindsborg takes place in several venues: Swensson Park, the downtown area, Pihlblad Memorial Union, the Old Mill Historical Complex and Bethany Lutheran Church. On Saturday start at the park - which will have an air of summer celebration with music, arts, crafts, food concessions, attractive booths, storytellers and humor. Swedish costume is the dress of the day for many! Refer to the schedule (elsewhere in this document) or the program (available the weekend of the event) for full details.
More to See and Do in Lindsborg
See the many uniquely painted Wild Dala sculptures around town. Many shops and galleries will have extended hours. You can experience Lindsborg often - by attending our community ethnic festivals and events, musical events of many types including the Easter-week Messiah Festival of Music and Art, the year-around visual arts exhibitions and gallery events, educational opportunities both short-term (camps, seminars, etc.) and long-term (at Bethany College and elsewhere in the community), sports and recreational offerings, religious activities, the various lodging and food experiences, shopping, museums, theatrical productions, and more!
Midsummer Information
_ Festival contact: MIDSUMMERS COMMITTEE, c/o Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce
104 E. Lincoln St.
Lindsborg, Kansas 67456.
Phone 785-227-3706, 1-888-227-2227. Fax (c/o City): 785-227-4128.
Website:
_ Midsummer Festival chairperson: Margo Lysell
_ Mid-summer Festival PR chair: Mike Rodriquez
msd06@littleswedenusa.com
785-227-2928
_Midsummer Sponsors:
Erik Peterson, DDS
Bethany Home
-END-
Posted by mike at 12:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
