Little Sweden USA

Lindsborg kicked off the holiday season with the annual Bridge Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, November 25th at 5:30pm. Observers and participants met at the bridge for the ceremony, which was followed by a procession north on Main Street.

The walk concluded at Swensson Park, where there was a brief ceremony that included carols, lighting of the Heritage Tree and refreshments. The Lindsborg Youth Choir performed a few carols; Moneka is in the choir and performed a duet with Anita.

This was a nice way to begin the holiday season and one could easily imagine similar ceremonies stretching back in time, with the only real difference being the use of fire to light the crowd and performers.

Larger versions of these images are available at my Flickr Bridge Lighting set.

Lighting of the Smoky Hill Bridge marks the beginning of the holiday season in Lindsborg.
::

The procession begins with flatbed trucks loaded with happy celebrants.
::

The more athletically inclined start their march towards Swensson Park.
::

The ceremony begins with a reading of the history of early holiday celebrations near Lindsborg.
::

The Lindsborg Youth Choir performs as the Heritage Tree at Swennson Park is lit up with bright holiday lights.
::

I love this intimate view of the audience and the Lindsborg Youth Choir.
::

Lindsborg Youth Choir performing at the lighting of the Heritage Tree.
::

Lindsborg Youth Choir performing at the lighting of the Heritage Tree.
::

Hello everyone,

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, come to the Courtyard Gallery in Lindsborg on Sunday for their annual Holiday Open House from 1 to 5 pm. Batik artist Ortrud “Tutti” Hauptli will meet guests and discuss her work while guests enjoy the provided refreshments. Hauptli’s work covers a wide range of subjects, including fairy tales, natural subjects such as flowers and landscapes.

Lindsborg kicks off the holiday season with the annual Bridge lighting ceremony on Saturday, November 25th at 5:30pm. Observers and participants should meet at the bridge for the ceremony, which will be followed by a procession north on Main Street. The walk will conclude at Swensson Park, where there will be a brief ceremony that includes carols, refreshments and the lighting of the Heritage Tree. This is a family event and everyone is welcome!

Area residents now have a chance to relive history! Commemorative sweatshirts from area schools are now available as part of a fundraising effort by the Smoky Valley Education Foundation. Featuring school colors and mascots, sweatshirts from Falun, Lindsborg, Marquette, Roxbury and Smolan are available for order through November 29th. Call (785) 227-2981 for ordering information.

December 2nd is a big day in Lindsborg. The Snowflake/Tomte parade, featuring the the Snowflake King and Queen, the Jule Tomte and more, begins at 11am in front of the Bethany Lutheran Church and proceeds south on Main Street. There’s a special treat for the young ones as Santa makes his first appearance at the Lindsborg City Council chambers immediately following the parade.

Also on Saturday, everyone is invited to the third annual Lindsborg Artists Studio Open House. From 10am to 5pm, most area artists will open their studios to the public and serve holiday refreshments.

Till next week, this is Mike Rodriquez with the Lindsborg update.

Hello everyone,

Bethany College is presenting an intriguing play, Two Rooms, this Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30pm at the Burnett Theater which is located on the Bethany Campus. Admission is 5$ for the general public and free for Bethany College students, faculty and staff.

Two Rooms is a play about an American professor at a university in Beirut, who is taken hostage and held in a tiny cell. Back in the US, his wife clears out his office and spends all of her time the empty room, trying to feel what he is feeling. It promises to be a moving experience.

The Raymer Red Barn Studio has announced that Linda Baranski is returning as an Artist in Residence for the second time this year. On Saturday, November 11th, she will be offering a Holiday Card Printmaking Workshop.

From 1 to 4pm workshop participants will have the opportunity to make several prints that may be attached to the front of notecards or scanned into their computer for use on multiple cards.

The event promises to be a fun and easy way to learn the art of printmaking while creating your own festive holiday cards. Call (785) 227-2217 for more information.

On Tuesday, November 14th, the Bethany College Symphonic Band, directed by Doug Talbott, will present its second concert of the fall season. The concert is free and open to the public, and begins at 7:30pm at Presser Hall.

Erickson’s Art Corner, Lindsborg’s newest gallery, is holding a public reception on Saturday, November 18th, from 3 to 7pm. The gallery is located at 231 N. Main in Lindsborg. Owner Mary Erickson has moved to Lindsborg from Grand Junction Colorado. She works primarily in pastels and has won many awards for her work. Her method of layering pastels lends an impressionistic quality to her works. Everyone is welcome!

Mark your calendars! Lindsborg’s annual winter Artists Studio Open House is coming up on December 2nd, from 10am to 5pm. We’ll have more details in the coming weeks.

Till next week, this is Mike Rodriquez with the Lindsborg update.

Hello everyone,

This Saturday, November 4th, the Swedish Genealogy Research Group will hold their quarterly meeting, beginning at 10am, in the Meeting Room at the Bank of America in downtown Lindsborg.

There will be a presentation on searching military records by Lenora Lynam, archivist for the Old Mill Museum. In addition, she will report on her recent trip to a Swedish Genealogy conference.

The Swedish Genealogy Research group is open to anyone interested in the topic. Members meet quarterly to share research methods and receive assistance with their genealogy projects. For more information call (785) 227-3595.

The Raymer Red Barn Studio has announced that Linda Baranski is returning as an Artist in Residence for the second time this year. On Saturday, November 11th, she will be offering a Holiday Card Printmaking Workshop.

From 1 to 4pm workshop participants will have the opportunity to make several prints that may be attached to the front of notecards or scanned into their computer for use on multiple cards.

The event promises to be a fun and easy way to learn the art of printmaking while creating your own festive holiday cards. Call (785) 227-2217 for more information.

The Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce is holding their annual banquet on Saturday, November 11th, from 5:30 to 8:00PM at the Bethany College Main Dining Room. Jack Parr, leader of Jack Parr Associates, an internationally recognized human resources development firm, will be the featured speaker. Contact the Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce at (785) 227 3706 for more information and to order tickets, which are priced at 13$ per person.

Till next week, this is Mike Rodriquez with the Lindsborg update.